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HISTORY 


OF  — 

WAYNE  COUNTY 

OHIO 


VOLUME  I 


ILLUSTRATED 


1910 

B.  F.  BOWEN  & COMPANY 

INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA 


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DEDICATION. 


This  work  is  respectfully  dedicated  to 
THE  PIONEERS, 

since  departed.  May  the  memory  of  those  who  laid  down  their 
burdens  by  the  wayside  ever  be  fragrant  as  the  breath 
of  summer  flowers,  for  their  toils  and  sac- 
rifices have  made  Wayne  County 
a garden  of  sunshine 
and  delights. 


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v\|^- 

\A  Cl 


7 

’/ 

PREFACE. 


“jEFFRIES*  HISTORY  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY." 

The  above  title  of  the  “New  History  of  Wayne  County"  was  a dedication 
to  the  Jeffries,  the  father,  John  P.  Jeffries,  being  an  author,  resident  of  Wayne 
county  while  living,  of  whom  Lemuel  P.  Jeffries  was  the  only  surviving  son 
living  in  the  county.  Mr.  Lemuel  Jeffries  regarded  the  mention  of  the  family 
name  as  a compliment  to  his  father  and  himself,  and  was  taking  an  interest  in 
the  history  when,  after  a brief  illness,  he  died  in  the  summer  of  1909.  The 
title  of  the  New  History  is,  as  above,  still  preserved  as  a memorial  of  them. 

All  life  and  achievement  is  evolution;  present  wisdom  comes  from  past 
experience,  and  present  commercial  prosperity  has  come  only  from  past  exer- 
tion and  suffering.  The  deeds  and  motives  of  the  men  that  have  gone  before 
have  been  instrumental  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  later  communities  and 
states.  The  development  of  a new  country  was  at  once  a task  and  a privi- 
lege. It  required  great  courage,  sacrifice  and  privation.  Compare  the  pres- 
ent conditions  of  the  people  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  with  what  they  were  one 
hundred  years  ago.  From  a trackless  wilderness  and  virgin  prairie,  it  has 
come  to  be  a center  of  prosperity  and  civilization,  with  millions  of  wealth,  sys- 
tems of  railways,  grand  educational  institutions,  splendid  industries  and  im- 
mense agricultural  productions.  Can  any  thinking  person  be  insensible  to 
the  fascination  of  the  study  which  discloses  the  incentives,  hopes,  aspirations 
and  efforts  of  the  early  pioneers  who  so  strongly  laid  the  foundation  upon 
which  has  been  reared  the  magnificent  prosperity  of  later  days?  To  perpetu- 
ate the  story  of  these  people  and  to  trace  and  record  the  social,  political  and 
industrial  progress  of  the  community  from  its  first  inception  is  the  function 
of  the  local  historian.  A sincere  purpose  to  preserve  facts  and  personal  mem- 
oirs that  are  deserving  of  perpetuation,  and  which  unite  the  present  to  the 
past,  is  the  motive  for  the  present  publication.  The  work  has  been  in  the  hands 
of  able  writers,  who  have,  after  much  patient  study  and  research,  produced 
here  the  most  complete  history  and  collection  of  biographical  memoirs  of 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  ever  offered  to  the  public.  A specially  valuable  and 
interesting  department  is  that  one  devoted  to  the  sketches  of  representative 
citizens  of  this  county  whose  records  deserve  preservation  because  of  their 
worth,  effort  and  accomplishment.  The  publishers  desire  to  extend  their 


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thanks  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  so  faithfully  labored  to  this  end.  Thanks 
are  also  due  to  the  citizens  of  Wayne  county  for  the  uniform  kindness  with 
wdiich  they  have  regarded  this  undertaking  and  for  their  many  services 
rendered  in  the  gaining  of  necessary  information. 

In  placing  this  work  before  the  citizens,  the  publishers  can  conscientiously 
claim  that  they  have  carried  out  the  plan  as  outlined  in  the  prospectus.  Every 
biographical  sketch  in  the  work  has  been  submitted  to  the  party  interested,  for 
correction,  and  therefore  any  error  of  fact,  if  there  be  any,  is  solely  due  to  the 
person  for  whom  the  sketch  was  prepared.  Confident  that  our  efforts  to  please 
will  fully  meet  the  approbation  of  the  public,  we  are, 

Respectfully, 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


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CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I— THE  NORTHWEST  TERRITORY 17 

The  French  Coming  in  1604 — Grant  of  James  I — Forts  Built  from  Lakes  to 
the  Mississippi — New  France,  so-called — English  Claim  the  Territory — Treaty 
with  the  Six  Nations — The  Ohio  Company — Moravian  Missionaries — North- 
west Territory  Annexed  to  and  Made  a Part  of  the  Province  of  Quebec — Vir- 
ginia’s Claim  North  of  the  Ohio  River — Finally  Secured  to  the  United  States 
— Ordinance  of  1787 — Slavery  Excluded — Populations — Original  Squatters — 
Character  of  the  People — Organization  of  the  Ohio  Land  Company — New  F^g- 
landers  Come  in  Second  “Mayflower” — First  Settlement  Under  Ordinance  of 
1787 — Surveys  and  Public  Land  Grants — The  French  Grant — United  States 
Military  Lands — The  Moravian  Lands — The  Refugee  Tract — Dohrman’s  Grant 
— Indian*  Treaties — Treaty  of  Fort  Harmar — First  Territorial  Officers — Second 
Territorial  Government — Early  Territorial  Laws — Organization  of  Early  Coun- 
ties— Early  Ohio  Villages  and  Towns. 

CHAPTER  II— INDIAN  TRIBES  AND  MILITARY  CAMPAIGNS 32 

Military  Expeditions  Against  the  Indians — The  Greenville  Treaty  of  1795 — 
Governor* St.  Clair — Harmar’s  Defeat — Battle  of  Falling  Timbers — Peace  Se- 
cured— Second  Grade  of  Territorial  Government — First  Council  and  House  of 
Representatives — The  Territory  of  Indiana  Created  in  1800 — Wayne  County's 
Representatives — State  Government  Commenced  March  3,  1803 — Military  Cam- 
paigns in  Wayne  County — The  Burning  of  Colonel  Crawford — Beall’s  Cam- 
paign— Battle  of  the  Cow  Pens — Latest  Tribes  of  Wayne  County  Indians — The 
Delawares — Wyandots — Shawnees — Indians  of  Wayne  County,  Strictly  Speak- 
ing— Wayne  County  Indian  Trails — Chief  Killbuck — Massacre  of  Sixteen  Indi- 
ans at  Wooster. 

CHAPTER  III— GLACIATION,  ARCHAEOLOGY,  MOUND  BUILDERS,  ETC 55 

Widely  Separated  Geological  Formations — Opinions  as  to  Dividing  Line — Pre- 
glacial Topography — Nature  and  Magnitude  of  the  Glacial  Effects — An  Island 
in  a Silurian  Sea — Altitudes  in  Wayne  County — Preglacial  Streams  and  their 
Outlets — The  First  Dry  Land  in  the  United  States — Long  Periods  of  Waiting — 
Nature’s  Convulsions — Formation  of  Coal  Deposits — A River  that  No  Man  ever 
Saw — Preglacial  Drainage  Lines — Current  of  Streams  Reversed — Glaciation 
in  Wayne  County — Lakes  and  Swamps — Early  Wild  Game — A Remarkable 
Pigeon  Roost — Human  Relics  Found  in  the  Drift  of  Wayne  County — The 
Moccasin  Last  Stone — Geology  of  the  District — Description  of  the  Stone — Con- 
clusions— Other  Evidences — Animal  Remains  Found  in  the  Muck  Swamps — 

The  Indians  of  Wayne  County — Prominent  Indian  Chiefs — Fortifications  and 
Enclosures — Mounds — Implements  and  Artifacts  of  the  Aborigines — Village 
Sites — General  Reliquia — Pottery — Burials. 


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CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV— TOPOGRAPHY  AND  GENERAL  FEATURES 98 

Surface  Once  Covered  by  Deep  Sea — Composition  of  Soil — Area  of  County  and 
Townships — Once  Heavily  Timbered — Streams  of  the  County — Surface  of  the 
County — Prairies — The  Lakes — Newman’s  Creek  Swamp — Once  a Favorite 
Retreat  for  Wild  Animals  and  Game— Killbuck  Swamp — Coal  Mines  of  the 
County. 

CHAPTER  V— EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  COUNTY 108 

Pioneers  Largely  from  Pennsylvania — Character  of  the  Pioneers — Early  Con- 
ditions— Hospitality  Ever  Foremost — Old  Ways  Superseded  by  New  Methods 
— First  Settlements  in  the  County — Pioneer  Families. 

CHAPTER  VI— ORGANIZATION  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY 114 

Appointment  of  Governor  St.  Clair— Wayne,  the  Third  County  Formed  in  the 
Northwest  Territory— Early  Boundaries— Old  Greenville  Treaty  Line— Detroit, 
the  County  Seat — The  Connecticut  Western  Reserve — Boundaries  of  Wayne 
County  in  1808— Ashland  County  Taken  from  Wayne^Wayne  County  Organ- 
ized in  1812— Organization  of  Townships — Origin  of  Name  of  Wayne  County. 

CHAPTER  VII— COUNTY  GOVERNMENT 122 

First  Election  of  County  Officers — Commissioners  Form  First  Four  Town- 
ships— First  County  Seat — Court  House  History — Wayne  County  Jails — Old 
and  New  County  Office  Buildings — County  Infirmary — The  Children’s  Home — 
Property  Valuation  of  County. 

CHAPTER  VIII— CIVIL  AND  POLITICAL  HISTORY  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY 130 

The  Present  Generation’s  Indebtedness  to  the  Past — Early  Civilization  and 
Pioneer  Renown  Attributable  to  Great  Ancestry — Education — The  Revolu- 
tionary Purpose — The  Constitution — Founders  of  Government  in  the  North- 
west— Pioneer  Mothers — Indian  Government — Their  Customs — Treaty  Nego- 
tiations— Organized  Government  in  Wayne  County — Territorial  Council — Ter- 
ritorial Legislature — Early  Laws — The  Constitution  of  1802 — Elective  Fran- 
chise of  the  Constitution  of  1802 — The  City  of  Wooster — Township  and  Town 
Government — Our  Great  Constitutional  System — Early  Method  of  Enforcing 
the  Law — Professional  Influences — Early  Lawyers  and  Physicians — The  Con- 
stitution of  1851 — Influence  of  Party  Organization  Among  the  People — The 
Heredity  of  Governing  Capacity — Organization  of  Townships  Completed — 
Forty  Years  of  Government — Able  County  Administrations — Clean  Judicial 
Record — Wayne  County  as  the  Source  of  Northwestern  Government — Indi- 
vidual and  Social  Life — Great  Principles  of  the  Pioneer  Fathers  and  Mothers 
— Wayne  County  Centennial  Celebration — Wayne  and  Associate  Counties  Pro- 
lific of  Great  Men. 

CHAPTER  IX— COUNTY,  STATE  AND  NATIONAL  REPRESENTATION 174 

Members  of  Congress — Members  of  the  Constitutional  Convention — State  Sena- 
tors— Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives — General  Representation  from 
Wayne  County — The  Circuit  Court — Judges  of  Common  Pleas  Court — Asso- 
ciate Judges — Clerks  of  Common  Pleas  Court — County  Treasurers — County 
Auditors — Probate  Judges — Sheriffs — County  Commissioners — County  Survey- 
ors— County  Recorders — Prosecuting  Attorneys — Infirmary  Directors. 


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CHAPTER  X— EDUCATIONAL 185 

Early  Attention  to  Education — Primitive  Schools — The  Pioneer  Instructors — 

The  Public  School  System — Smlthville  High  School — First  Schools  of  Wayne 
County  Townships — Schools  at  Shreve — Canaan  Academy — School  Statistics 
of  Wayne  County — Present  Standing  of  Wayne  County  Schools — Centralization 
of  Rural  Schools — Advantages  of  Centralization. 

CHAPTER  XI— AGRICULTURE 193 

The  Soil — The  Waverly  Floor — Glacial  Influence  of  the  Soil — Early  Settle- 
ments Near  Springs — The  Progress  of  Agriculture — The  Pioneer  Period — 
Primitive  Implements — Little  Market  Demand  for  Early  Products — Comple- 
tion of  Ohio  Canal . Affords  Outlet — Production  of  Cereal  Crops,  1851-9 — The 
Development  Period — Production  of  Cereal  Crops,  18G0-9  and  1870-9 — The  Ex- 
pansion Period — Production  of  Cereal  Crops,  1880-9,  1890-9  and  1900-9 — Live- 
stock Statistics — The  Scientific  Period — Minor  Crops — Average  Areas — The 
Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment  Station — Litigation  over  Bond  Issue — The  In- 
stitution’s Work  of  Great  Value  and  Importance — The  Future  of  Agriculture 
In  Wayne  County — Yields  of  Unfertilized  Land — Average  Yield  of  Crops — 
Yields  from  Acid  Phosphate — Yields  from  Complete  Fertilizer — Yields  from 
Unfertilized  Land — Yields  from  Open-yard  and  Fresh  Manure,  and  from  Phos- 
phated  Manure — Station  Experiments  a Safe  Guide  to  General  Practice — Possi- 
Agricultural  Society — Progressive  Farmers’  Association — Plain  Township 
bility  of  Larger  Yields — Demonstration  of  Means  nd  Methods — Wayne  County 
Farmers’  Club. 

CHAPTER  XII— MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY 218 

Wayne  County  Block  Houses — Necessity  for  Protection — Fort  Stidger — Con- 
struction of  Forts — Revolutionary  Pensioners  in  1840 — Pensioners  of  the  War 
of  1812 — Wayne  County  in  the  Mexican  War — List  of  Soldiers  from  this 
County — Wayne  County  and  the  Civil  W’ar — The  First  Volunteers — Fourth 
Ohio  Regiment — Its  History — Sixteenth  Ohio  Regiment — Noted  for  its  Fine 
Discipline — Forty-first  Ohio  Regiment — One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regi- 
ment— One  Hundred  and  Second  Regiment — One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regi- 
ment— Ninth  Ohio  Cavalry — Miscellaneous  Detachments  from  Wayne  County 
— In  Memoriam — The  First  Soldier  Wounded  from  Wayne  County — Soldiers 
of  the  Spanish-American  War — Officers  and  Members  of  Company  D,  Eighth 
Ohio  Regiment. 

CHAPTER  XIII— THE  CHURCHES  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY 241 

High  Moral  Sentiment  and  Respect  for  Sacred  Things  Among  Pioneers — Bap- 
tist Church — First  Church  Formed  in  Wayne  County — The  Wooster  Church — 
Baptist  Church  of  Millbrook — Second  Baptist  Church  at  Wooster,  Colored — 
Reformed  Church  at  Wooster — Reformed  Church  of  Reedsburg — Reformed 

Church  of  Marshallville — Reformed  Church  of  Orrville Reformed  Church, 

Canaan  Township — Reformed  Church,  Milton  Township — Reformed  Church, 
East  Union  Township — Zion’s  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Wooster — Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Christ  Church — Lutherans  in  Plain  Township — Salem  Luther- 
an Church,  Wayne  Township — Canaan  Lutheran  Churches — Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church — Lutheran  Church,  Plain  Township — St.  Paul’s  Reformed  Luther- 
an Church — English  Lutheran  Mission  Church — West  Lebanon  Evangelical 


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CONTENTS. 


Church — Jacob’s  Lutheran  Church — Trinity  English  Lutheran  Church — Evan- 
gelical Churches — Evangelical  Association — Church  cf  Christ — Shreve  Chris- 
tian Church — Disciple  Church,  Plain  Township — First  Presbyterian  Church, 
Wooster — Westminster  Presbyterian  Church — Marshallville  Presbyterian 

Church — Sugarcreek  Presbyterian  Church — Orrville  Presbyterian  Church — 
Presbyterians  in  Canaan  Township — Wayne  Presbyterian  Church — Presbyter- 
ianism in  Greene  Township — Applecreek  Presbyterian  Church— Paintville  Pres- 
byterian Church — Other  Presbyterian  Churches  in  the  County — United  Pres- 
byterian Church — Fredericksburg  United  Presbyterian  Church — Dalton  United 
Presbyterian  Church — Church  of  God — Franklin  Township  Church  of  God— 

St.  James  Episcopal  Church — Methodist  Episcopal  Church — First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Wooster — Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Woos- 
ter— Fredericksburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Canaan  Township  Method- 
ism— Bend  Church — Methodism  in  Franklin  Township — Creston  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church — Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Orrville,  and  Other  Churches 
— The  Catholic  Church — St.  Mary’s  Church,  Wooster — St.  Michael’s  Church — 
Milton  Township  Catholic  Church — Sts.  Peter  and  Paul’s  Church — French 
Settlement  Church — At  Sterling — Died  Among  Strangers — Sonneberg  Swiss 
Mennonite  Congregation — Amish  Mennonite  Church — Mennonite  Church  of 
Sugarcreek  Township — Salem  Mennonite  Church — Congregational  Church — 
Other  Early  Churches. 

CHAPTER  XIV— FRATERNAL  SOCIETIES 280 

Freemasonry — Various  Bodies  at  Wooster — West  Salem  Lodge — Oddfellow- 
ship — Knights  of  Pythias — Improved  Order  of  Red  Men — Royal  Arcanum — 
Knights  of  Honor — Grand  Army  of  the  Republic — Woman’s  Relief  Corps, 
Ladles  of  the  Grand  Army,  and  Daughters  of  Veterans. 

CHAPTER  XV— BENCH  AND  BAR 287 

A Proud  Record  and  Interesting  History — Character  of  the  Bar — Judges  of 
Common  Pleas — Circuit  Judges,  Fifth  District — Early  Prosecuting  Attorneys 
— Lawyers  of  1812 — Present-day  Wayne  County  Attorneys — Former  Members 
of  Wayne  County  Bar  Practicing  Elsewhere — Lawyers  Who  Died  While  Mem- 
bers of  the  Bar  of  Wayne  County — Members  of  the  Wayne  County  Bar  who 
Died  Elsewhere. 

CHAPTER  XVI— NEWSPAPERS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY 312 

Ohio  Spectator — Ohio  Oracle — Wooster  Journal  and  Democratic  Times — Woos- 
ter Democrat — Wooster  Republican,  Weekly  and  Daily — Wooster  Correspond- 
ent— Republican  Advocate — Western  Telegraph — Democratic  Republican — 
Present  Wayne  County  Democrat  and  Daily  News — The  Wayne  County  Stand- 
ard— American  Eagle — Wayne  County  Herald — Wooster  Journal — The  Jack- 
sonian— The  Evening  News — The  Evening  Journal — The  Orrville  Crescent  and 
Orrville  Courier — The  Dalton  Gazette — The  Creston  Journal — The  Doylestown 
Journal — West  Salem  Reporter— Shreve  News. 

CHAPTER  XVII— THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION 322 

Pioneer  Doctor  Early  in  the  New'  Settlements — Their  Heroism  and  Sacrifice — 
Brilliant  and  Eminent  Men  in  the  Ranks  of  Wayne  County  Physicians — 
Often  Hard  Work  and  Poor  Pay — Early  Treatment — Deceased  Early  Physi- 
cians— Present-day  Physicians. 


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CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVIII— RAILROADS,  CANALS  AND  TURNPIKES 342 

Legislative  Enactment — The  Ohio  Canal — The  Railroad  Era — Mass-meetings 
in  the  Interest  of  Railroads — Much  Opposition,  but  Successful  Outcome — Pitts- 
burgh, Fort  Wayne  & Chicago  Railroad — Other  Railroads  of  Wayne  County — 
Navigating  the  Killbuck  and  Salt  Creek — A Reminiscence. 

CHAPTER  XIX— TOWNSHIP  HISTORY 353 

Chippewa  Township — First  Settlements — Doylestown — Milton  Township — First 
Events — Towns  of  the  Township — Fatal  Boiler  Explosion — Reminiscence  by 
Philip  Fritz — Canaan  Township — A Reminiscence  by  Isaac  Notestine — Canaan 
Academy — Congress  Township — Pioneer  Happenings — Congress  Village — Ches- 
ter Township — Earliest  Settlers — Towns  and  Villages — Wayne  Township — 

The  Pioneer  Band — The  Wasson  Family — Greene  Township — First  Settlement 
— Other  Early  Events — Smithville — Baughman  Township — Marshallville — Fair- 
view,  or  Burton  City — Sugarcreek  Township — Early  Settlements — Towns  and 
Villages — Dalton — Sonneberg  Settlement — East  Union  Township — An  Early 
Indian  Scare — Recollections  of  Noah  Brown — Towns  of  the  Township — Wooster 
Township — Benjamin  Jones — Plain  Township — First  Settlers — Towns  and 
Villages — Remains  of  Buffaloes  and  Cedar  Trees — Clinton  Township — First 
Happenings — Franklin  Township — Indians  Burn  the  Butler  Cabin — The  Mor- 
gan Block  House — Death  of  Old  Chief  Lyon — Moreland  Village — Salt  Creek 
Township — Fredericksburg — Paint  Township — Facts  of  Early  History — Mount 
Eaton — West  Lebanon. 

CHAPTER  XX— MISCELLANEOUS  SUBJECTS 391 

Early-day  Market  Frices — Market  Quotations  for  1909 — First  White  Man  to  Die 
in  Wayne  County — Two  Noted  Characters,  Driskel  and  Brawdey — Weather 
and  Crops  Years  Ago — Adam  Poe,  the  Indian  Fighter — Poe  Whips  Five  Indi- 
ans— Concerning  Adam  Poe’s  Death — Wayne  County  Man  Hung  Lincoln  Con- 
spirators— Salt  Works  on  the  Killbuck  in  1815 — Population  of  Wayne  County 
by  Decades — By  Townships — City,  Town  and  Village  Population — City  of 
Wooster — Village  Plats  of  the  County— Indians  Cause  Powder  Explosion — 

The  Fuller  Sisters — An  American  “Ole  Bull” — “Johnny  Appleseed.” 

CHAPTER  XXI— THE  CITY  OF  WOOSTER 410 

Its  Naming — Its  Selection  as  County  Seat — Location — First  Events — Wooster 
Incorporated — Election  of  March,  1824 — Entries  in  Record  of  Board  of  Trus- 
tees— Town  Presidents — Mayors  of  Wooster — Present  City  Officers — The  Fire 
Department — Wooster  Opera  Houses — The  City  Hall — Paving,  Sidewalks  and 
Sewers — City  Water  Works — Wooster  Gas  Light  Company — Electric  Light 
Plant — Wooster  Postoffice — Board  of  Trade — Public  Library — Old  Market 
House  Destroyed  by  a Mob — Oak  Hill  Cemetery — Soldiers’  Monument — The 
Metal  Band  Stand — Wooster  Brush  Works — Wooster  Nursery  Company — Pio- 
neer Mill  of  Wayne  County — Snowflake  Flouring  Mills — Other  Industries — 
Banks  of  Wooster — An  Early  Bank  Failure — Building  and  Loan  Companies — 
Present  Banks  of  Wooster — Public  Schools — The  Jacksonian  Celebrations — 
Wayne  County’s  Centennial  Celebration — Days  of  Mourning  in  Wooster — 
Deaths  of  Garfield  and  McKinley. 


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CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXn— UNIVERSITY  OF  WOOSTER 439 

The  Period  of  Inception  and  Preparation — Period  of  Experiment — Period  of 
Establishment — That  of  Maintenance — Period  of  Rapid  Development — The 
New  Wooster — The  Faculty — The  Trustees — The  Alumni — History  by  Depart- 
ments— Those  Which  Have  Disappeared — The  Medical  Department — The 
Military  Department — The  Post-graduate  Department — The  Library — The 
Preparatory  Department — The  Summer  School — The  Musical  Department — 
Homes  for  Children  of  Foreign  Missionaries — The  Florence  H.  Severance 
Bible  and  Missionary  Training  School — Miscellany — Honorary  Degrees — The 
College  Publications — The  School  of  Expression — The  Literary  Societies — 
Prizes  and  Honors — Vacations  and  Holidays — Dramatic  Productions — Physical 
Culture  and  Athletics — Fraternities  and  Sororities — Class  Spirit — Discipline — 
Co-education — Expenses — Department  of  Propaganda — Relations  of  the  Uni- 
versity to  the  City  and  County — A Prophecy. 

CHAPTER  XXIII— TOWNS  OF  THE  COUNTY 652 

Doylestown  Village — Postoffice — Churches — Lodges  and  Societies — Industries 
— Banking — Town  of  Creston — Postofflce — Incorporation — Banking — Town  of 
Orrville — Its  Industries — Banking — Orrville  Before  the  Civil  War — An  Orrville 
Reminiscence — Village  of  Shreve — Officers — Postofflce — Churches  and  Lodges 
— Industrial  Concerns — Village  of  West  Salem — Mayors  and  Town  Officers — 
Postal  History — Various  Industries — Churches  and  Lodges — Other  Interests. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 660 


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HISTORICAL  INDEX 


A 


Acreage  of  Wayne  County 99 

Adair,  John  S 297 

Adam  Poe,  the  Indian  Fighter 397 

Address  of  Lyman  R.  Critchlield . . . 103 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station . . . 203 
Agricultural  Society,  Wayne  County  216 

Agriculture  193 

Agriculture,  Future  of 207 

Agriculture,  Progress  of 195 

Allen,  Edward  1040 

Altitudes  in  Wayne  County 

Amish  Mennonite  Church 270 

Animal  Remains  in  Swamps 34 

An  American  “Ole  Bull” 407 

Apple  Creek  Presbyterian  Church. . . . 261 

Associate  Judges  178 

Artifacts  of  Aborigines 91 

Attorneys,  Prosecuting  183 

Auditors,  County  179 

Average  Crop  Areas 203 

B 

Band  Stand  426 

Banks  of  Wooster 431,  434 

Baptist  Churches  241 

Baptist  Church,  Milibrook 245 

Battle  of  Falling  Timbers 33 

Battle  of  the  Cow  Pens 46 

Battle  of  the  Maumee 33 

Battles,  William  S 334 

Baughman  Township  372 

Beall’s  Campaign  45 

Bench  and  Bar 286 

Bend  Church  271 

Big  Killbuck  59 

Bissell,  Samuel  Norton 327 

Blachley,  William  B 333 

Block  Houses  219 

Boiler  Explosion  358 

Boundaries  of  Wayne  County,  Early.  114 

Boundaries,  Wayne  County,  in  1808.  117 

Brawdey,  Steve  393 

Building  and  Loan  Companies 433 

Burbank  362 

Burials,  Ancient  96 


Burning  of  Butler  Cabin 385 

Burning  of  Colonel  Crawford 42 

Burton  City  373 

C 

Campaigns  32 

Canaan  Academy  190 

Canaan  Lutheran  Church 252 

Canaan  Township  360 

Canaan  Township  Methodism 270 

Canaan  Township  Presbyterians 260 

Canals  of  Wayne  County 342 

Carlin,  Eugene  298 

Catholic  Churches  272 

Centennial  Celebration  436 

Centralization  of  Schools 191 

Chester  Township 366 

Chief  Killbuck  51 

Chief  Lyon,  Death  of 38G 

Children's  Home  128 

Chippewa  Township  353 

Christian  Church,  Shreve 255 

Church  of  Christ 254 

Church  of  God 265 

Church  of  God,  Franklin  Township.  266 

Churches,  Early 278 

Churches  of  Wayne  County 241 

Circuit  Court  177,  288 

City  of  Wooster 410 

Civil  and  Political  History 130 

Education  132 

Revolutionary  Purpose  132 

The  Constitution 133 

Founders  of  Government 134 

Indian  Government  136 

Organized  Government  141 

Territorial  Council  141 

Territorial  Legislature  142 

Early  Laws  142 

Constitution  of  1802 143 

Elective  Franchise  of  Constitution 

of  1802  144 

City  of  Wooster.. 146 

Township  and  Town  Government.  147 
Early  Method  of  Enforcing  Law..  151 
Professional  influences  151 


Digitized  by  ^.ooole 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


Constitution  of  1851 153 

Influence  of  Party  Organization...  154 
Heredity  of  Governing  Capacity ...  155 

Forty  Years  of  Government 157 

Wayne  County  as  the  Source  of 

Northwestern  Government 101 

Individual  and  Social  Life 102 

Great  Principles  of  the  Pioneer 

Fathers  and  Mothers 103 

Wayne  and  Associate  Counties  Pro- 
lific of  Great  Men 172 

Civil  War,  Wayne  County  and  the. . . 223 

Clerks  of  Common  Pleas  Court 178 

Clinton  Township  382 

Coal  Mines  1U5 

Coe,  Silas  N 300 

Colonel  Crawford  37 

Commissioners,  County  130 

Common  Pleas  Court 177 

Common  Pleas  Court,  Clerks  of 178 

Company  D,  Eighth  Ohio  Regiment.  238 

Composition  of  Soil 08 

Congregational  Church  378 

Congressional  Representatives  174 

Congress  Township  302 

Congress  Village  305 

Connecticut  Western  Reserve 110 

Constitutional  Convention,  Members.  174 

Cornell,  Lorenzo  305 

County  Auditors  179 

County  Commissioners  180 

County  Government  132 

County  Infirmary  137 

County  Office  Buildings... 120 

County  Recorders  183 

County  Seat,  First 122 

County  Surveyors 182 

County  Treasurers  178 

Court  House  History 123 

Cow  Pens,  Battle  of  the 40 

Crawford,  Colonel,  Burning  of 42 

Crawford,  Colonel  William 37 

Crawford’s  Expedition  30 

Creston  554 

Creston  "Journal”  320 

Creston  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  271 

Critchfleld,  Lyman  R 292 

Critchfleld,  Lyman  R.,  Address  by..  103 

Critchfleld,  Lyman  R.,  Jr 295 

Critchfleld,  Reno  H 299 

Crop  Areas,  Average 203 


D 


Dalton  374 

Dalton  “Gazette”  319 

Dalton  United  Presbyterian  Church.  2b'4 

Day,  Stephen  F 320 

Days  of  Mourning 437 

Death  of  Old  Chief  Lyon 380 

Delawares  47 

Disciple  Church,  Plain  Township....  255 

Dohrman’s  Tract  20 

Doylestown  355,  552 

Doylestown  Industries 553 

Doylestown  “Journal”  320 

Doylestown  Postoffice 553 

Downing,  D.  T 298 

Drainage,  Preglacial 07 

Driskel,  John  3113 

E 

Early  Boundaries  of  Wayne  County  114 

Early  Churches  278 

Early  Counties,  Organization  of 29 

Early-day  Market  Prices 391 

Early  Ohio  Villages  and  Towns....  30 

Early  Prosecuting  Attorneys 289 

Early  Settlement  of  Wayne  County..  108 

Early  Territorial  Days 28 

Eason,  Benjamin  30i 

Eason,  Samuel  B 294 

East  Union  Township 375 

Educational  History  185 

Eighth  Ohio  Regiment 238 

Enclosures  88 

English  Claim  Northwest  Territory.  18 
English  Lutheran  Mission  Church..  253 

Episcopal  Church  200 

Evangelical  Association  254 

Evangelical  Church,  West  Lebanon.  253 

Evangelical  Churches  254 

Evangelical  Lutheran  Christ  Church  251 

Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 252 

Experiment  Station,  Agricultural...  203 

F 

Fairview  373 

Falling  Timbers,  Battle  of 33 

Farmers  Club,  Plain  Township 21T 

Fatal  Boiler  Explosion 358 

Fenwick,  Bishop,  Death  of 274 

Firestone,  Leander 329 

Firestone,  W.  W 330 

First  Council  34 


Digitized  by  CjOOQie 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


First  County  Seat 122 

First  English  Settlement 18 

First  House  of  Representatives 34 

First  Methodist  Church,  Wooster 266 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  Wooster.  256 

First  Schools 188 

First  Settlement  at  Marietta 24 

First  Settlements  in  Wayne  County.  112 
First  Soldier  Wounded  from  Wayne 

County  237 

First  Survey  of  Public  Lands 24 

First  Territorial  Officers 28 

First  Volunteers 224 

First  White  Man  to  Die  in  Wayne 

County  392 

Forest  Trees  99 

Former  Members  of  Wayne  County 

Bar  Practicing  Elsewhere 301 

Fort  Harmar,  Treaty  of 27 

Fortifications  88 

Fort  Recovery  33 

Forty-First  Ohio  Regiment 231 

Fourth  Ohio  Regiment 226 

Fox  Lake 102 

Franklin  Township 384 

Franklin  Township  Methodism 271 

Fraternal  Societies  281 

Fredericksburg  387 

Fredericksburg  Methodist  Episcopal 

Church  270 

Fredericksburg  United  Presbyterian 

Church  264 

Freemasonry  280 

French  Grant 25 

French  Settlement  Church 274 

Fuller  Sisters 405 

Future  of  Agriculture 207 

G 

Gallagher,  Joseph  298 

General  Features  of  Wayne  County.  98 

General  Rellquia 94 

General  Representation  from  Wayne 

County  176 

General  St.  Clair 33 

Geology  of  District . 80 

Glaciation  in  Wayne  County 69 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 285 

Greene  Township 369 

Greene  Township  Presbyterians 261 


Greenville  Treaty  Line 115 

H 

Hay,  Benton  G 298 

Hubbell,  Harvey  H 299 

Human  Relics  77 

I 

Implements  of  Aborigines 91 

Improved  Order  of  Red  Men 284 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows..  282 

Indiana  Territory 35 

Indian  Chiefs 87 

Indian  Massacre  52 

Indian  Trails 50 

Indian  Treaties  27 

Indian  Tribes 32 

Indians  Cause  Powder  Explosion 405 

Indians,  Latest  Tribes 47 

Indians  of  Wayne  County 50,  85 

Infirmary  Directors  183 

Infirmary,  Wayne  County 127 

J 

Jacksonian  Celebration 436 

Jacob’s  Lutheran  Church,  Franklin 

Township  254 

Jails  of  Wayne  County 124 

“Johnny  Appleseed”  407 

Jones,  Charles  C 300 

Judges  of  Common  Pleas  Court..  177,  288 

K 

Keeler,  Thomas  B 294 

Killbuck,  Indian  Chief 51 

Killbuck  Swamp 104 

Knights  of  Honor 285 

Knights  of  Pythias 283 

L 

Lakes  and  Swamps 74,  102 

Latest  Tribes  of  Indians 47 

Lattasburg  367 

Lawyers  of  1812 289 

Lawyers  Who  Died  While  Members 

of  the  Wayne  County  Bar 304 

Lawyers  Who  Were  Members  of  the 
Wayne  County  Bar  and  Died  Else- 
where   309 

Legislative  Representatives  175 


Digitized  by  Cjooole 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


London  Company 18 

Lutheran  Church,  Plain  Township..  253 
Lutherans  in  Plain  Township 252 

Me 

McClure,  Addison  S 292 

McKinney,  John  R 299 

M 

Maag,  Edward 298 

Marietta,  First  Settlement  at 24 

Market  House  Destroyed 423 

Market  Prices,  Early  Day 391 

Market  Quotations  for  1909 390 

Marshallville  372 

Marshallville  Presbyterian  Church..  260 

Masons,  Free  and  Accepted 280 

Massacre  of  Sixteen  Indians 52 

Maumee,  Battle  of  the 33 

Mayors  of  Wooster 415 

Medical  Profession  322 

Meech,  James  B 296 

Mennonite  Church,  Amish 276 

Mennonite  Church,  Salem 277 

Mennonite  Church,  Sonneberg  Swiss.  274 
Mennonite  Church,  Sugarcreek  Town- 
ship   276 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church 266 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Cres- 

ton  271 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Fred- 
ericksburg   270 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Orrville  272 

Metz,  Asbury  Durbin 295 

Mexican  War,  Wayne  County  in 221 

Military  Campaigns 32,  36 

Military  History  of  Wayne  County..  219 

Military  Lands 25,  26 

Miller,  George  W 297 

Milton  Township 356 

Milton  Township  Catholic  Church...  273 

Moccasin  Last  Stone 78 

Moore,  W.  C 328 

Moravian  Lands  26 

Moreland  Village  386 

Morgan  Block  House 385 

Morr,  John  C 298 

Mounds 90 

Mount  Eaton  389 

Mullins,  Walter  J 300 


N 


Name  of  Wayne  County,  Origin  of..  121 

Navigation  349 

New  France  13 

Newkirk,  Eugene  W 294 

Newman’s  Creek  Swamp.... 103 

Newspapers  of  Wayne  County 312 

Ninth  Ohio  Cavalry  Regiment 236 

Northwest  Territory  17 

O 

Oak  Hill  Cemetery 423 

Odd  Fellows  282 

Office  Buildings,  County 126 

Ohio  Canal  342 

Ohio  Company  18 

“Ohio  Spectator”  312 

Old  Mohican  4 66 

One  Hundred  and  Second  Ohio  Regi- 
ment   234 

One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Ohio  Regi- 
ment   235 

One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Ohio 

Regiment  232 

Ordinance  of  1787 19 

Organization  of  Early  Counties 29 

Organization  of  Ohio  Land  Company  21 

Organization  of  Townships 118 

Organization  of  Wayne  County 114 

Origin  of  Name  of  Wayne  County..  121 

Original  Squatters  20 

Orrville  556 

Orrville  “Courier”  319 

Orrville  “Crescent”  318 

Orrville  Industries  557 

Orrville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  272 

Orrville  Presbyterian  Church 260 

Orrville  Reminiscence 559 

P 

Paint  Township  388 

Paintville  Presbyterian  Church 262 

Patton’s  Lake  103 

Pecklnpaugh,  Thomas  W 298 

Pensioners  of  War  of  1812 221 

Pensioners,  Revolutionary  220 

Physicians,  Early-day  325 

Physicians,  Present-day  339 

Pigeon  Roost  76 


Digitized  by  Google 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


Pioneer  Families  113 

Pioneer  Mill  of  Wayne  County......  428 

Pioneers,  Where  From 108,  195 

Plain  Township  380 

Plain  Township  Disciples  Church...  255 

Plain  Township  Farmers’  Club 217 

Plymouth  Company 18 

Poe,  Adam  397 

Population  by  City,  Towns  and  Vil- 
lages   403 

Population  by  Townships 403 

Population  in  1787 20 

Population  of  Wayne  County 403 

Population  of  Wooster 403 

Pottery  95 

Prairies  102 

Preglacial  Drainage  G7 

Preglacial  Topography  57 

Presbyterian  Church,  Apple  Creek..  261 
Presbyterian  Church,  Marshal lvil le. . 260 

Presbyterian  Church,  Orrville 260 

Presbyterian  Church,  Paintville. . . . 262 


Presbyterian  Church,  Sugarcreek . . . 260 
Presbyterian  Church,  Westminster..  259 
Presbyterian  Church,  Wooster,  First  256 
Presbyterians  in  Canaan  Township..  260 
Presbyterians  in  Greene  Township..  261 


Present-day  Lawyers  292 

Present-day  Physicians  339 

Probate  Judges  180 

Primitive  Schools  . 185 

Production  of  Crops 

197,  198,  199,  200,  201 

Process  of  Agriculture 195 

Progressive  Farmers’  Association...  217 

Property  Valuation  129 

Prosecuting  Attorneys  183,  289 

Public  School  System 187 

Public  Schools  of  Wooster 434 

R 

Railroad  Era  343 

Railroads  of  Wayne  County 342 

Ramsey,  Warren  297 

Recorders,  County  183 

Red  Men,  Improved  Order  of 284 

Reformed  Church,  Canaan  Township  250 
Reformed  Church,  East  Union  Town- 
ship   250 

Reformed  Church,  Marshallville. ....  249 


Reformed  Church,  Milton  Township.  250 


Reformed  Church,  Orrville 249 

Reformed  Church,  Wooster 245,  249 

Reformed  Lutheran  Church,  St. 

Paul’s  253 

Refugee  Tract  26 

Reminiscence  by  Philip  Fritz 358 

Representatives  in  Congress 174 

Representatives  in  Legislature 175 

Revolutionary  Pensioners  220 

Rider,  Cyrus  A 301 

Robison,  James  D 331 

Royal  Arcanum  284 

Russell,  Price  295 

S 

St.  Clair,  General 33 

St.  James  Episcopal  Church 266 

St.  Michael’s  Catholic  Church 273 

St.  Paul’s  Reformed  Lutheran  Church  253 
Sts.  Peter  and  Paul’s  Catholic  Church  273 
Salem  Lutheran  Church,  Plain  Town- 
ship   252 

Salem  Mennonite  Church 277 

Salt  Creek  Township 386 

Salt  Works  on  the  Killbuck 402 

School  Statistics  190 

School  System,  Public 187 

Schools  at  Shreve 189 

Schools,  Primitive 185 

Schools,  Rural,  Centralization  of 191 

Second  Baptist  Church,  Wooster 245 

Second  Grade  of  Territorial  Govern- 
ment   34 

Second  Survey  of  Public  Lands 24 

Second  Territorial  Government 28 

Senators  175 

Settlements,  First,  in  Wayne  County  112 

Shaffer,  Hiram  M 338 

Shaffer,  Moses  337 

Shawnees  49 

Sheriffs  • 180 

Shreve  5603 

Shreve  Christian  Church 255 

Shreve  “News” 321 

Shreve  Schools  189 

Sixteenth  Ohio  Regiment 228 

Smith,  Harry  R 296 

Smithville  371 

Smlthville  High  School 188 


Digitized  by  boogie 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


Smyser,  Martin  L 294 

Snyder,  James  E 300 

Soil  Composition  9o 

Soil  of  Wayne  County 193 

Soldiers’  Monument  420 

Sonneberg  Settlement 375 

Sonneberg  Swiss  Mennonite  Church.  274 

Spanish-American  War  238 

Spooner,  M.  L 297 

Starn,  George  A 298 

State  Senators  175 

Stone,  Edgar  E 297 

Streams  of  Wayne  County 100 

Sugarcreek  Presbyterian  Church....  200 

Sugarcreek  Township  373 

Sugarcreek  Township  Mennonite 

Church  270 

Surface  of  County 101 

Surveyors,  County  182 

Surveys  of  Public  Lands 24 

Symmes  Purchase  24 

T 

Territorial  Council,  First 34 

Territorial  Days  28 

Territorial  Government  Ended 30 

Territorial  Legislature,  Third  Session  35 

Territorial  Officers 28 

The  "Mayflower” 23 

Third  Session,  Territorial  Legisla- 
ture   35 

Thomas,  Alfred  J 299 

Topography,  Preglacial 57 

Topography  of  Wayne  County 98 

Township  Histories  353 

Townships,  Organization  of 118 

Trails,  Indian  50 

Treasurers,  County  178 

Treaties  with  Indians 27 

Treaty  of  Fort  Harmar 27 

Trees  of  Wayne  County 99 

Trinity  English  Lutheran  Church...  254 
Trinity  Methodist  Church,  Wooster.  269 

Turnpikes  of  Wayne  County 342 

Two  Noted  Characters 392 

U 

United  Presbyterian  Church 2G2 

United  Presbyterian  Church,  Dalton.  262 


United  Presbyterian  Church,  Freder- 


icksburg   264 

United  States  Military  Lands 26 

University  of  Wooster 438 

V 

Valuation  of  Property 129 

Village  Plats  404 

Village  Sites  93 

Virginia  Military  Lands 25 

Volunteers,  First 224 

W 

Warner,  Charles  J 336 

Water  Navigation 349 

Wayne  County  Agricultural  Society.  216 

Wayne  County  Boundaries,  1808 117 

Wayne  County  Early  Boundaries....  114 

Wayne  County  Indian  Trails 50 

Wayne  County  in  Mexican  War 221 

Wayne  County  Jails 124 

Wrayne  County  Lawyers 292 

Wayne  County,  Organization  of....  114 

Wayne  County  Organized 118 

Wayne  Presbyterian  Church 261 

Wayne  Township  368 

Weather  and  Crops  Years  Ago 396 

Wertz,  Ed.  S 299 

Welker,  Martin 293 

Wenger,  D 296 

West  Lebanon 390 

WTest  Lebanon  Evangelical  Church..  253 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church..  259 

West  Salem 560c. 

West  Salem  "Reporter” 320 

Western  Reserve 25,  116 

"Widow  Blockhouse”  Gets  Married.  430 

Wiley,  Aquila  300 

Wooster  Board  of  Trade 421 

Wooster  Brush  Works 426 

Wooster  City  Hall 418 

Wooster.  City  of 410 

Wooster  City  Water  Works 418 

Wooster  "Daily  News” 316 

Wooster  "Democrat” 315 

Wooster,  Election  of  1824 413 

Wooster  Electric  Light  Plant 420 

Wooster,  Fire  Department 416 

Wooster  Gas  Light  Company 419 

Wooster  Incorporated 412 


Digitized  by  boogie 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


Wooster  "Journal  and  Democratic 


Times"  313 

Wooster,  Mayors  of 415 

Wooster  Nursery  Company 427 

Wooster  Opera  Houses 417 

Wooster,  Population  of 403 

Wooster  Postoffice  421 

Wooster,  Present  City  Officers 415 

Wooster  Public  Library 422 

Wooster  Public  Schools 434 

Wooster  "Republican"  313 

Wooster,  Town  Presidents 414 


Wooster  Township  379 

Wooster  University  438 

Wyandots  48 

Y 

Yocum,  Charles  M 395 

Yost,  William  C 396 

Z 

Zion’s  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church, 
Wooster  250 


Digitized  by  boogie 


Digitized  by 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX 


A 


Adair  Family 560” 

Adair,  Robert  L 560” 

Addleman,  William  856 

Alcock,  Forbes  1284 

Alexander,  A.  S 1250 

Alexander,  Samuel  K 1262 

Ames,  Samuel  S 579 

Amstutz,  David  C 874 

Amstutz  Family  1386 

Amstutz,  Joel  B 953 

Anthony,  Frederick  1214 

Appleman,  Robert  S 582 

Appleman,  William  582 

Armstrong,  David  Calvin 1208 

Armstrong,  David  D 804 

Armstrong,  Joseph 960 

Armstrong,  Thomas,  Jr 880 

Aukerman,  Louis  Emerson 1063 

Ault,  Clement  L 929 

B 

Baker,  Harry  E 1404 

Barden,  Edwin  Albert 1128 

Barden,  William  1379 

Barden,  William  A 1374 

Barnard,  George  D 1108 

Barnard,  Martin  H 1130 

Barnhart,  William  Ralph,  Jr 1436 

Beal,  David 1380 

Beals,  Daniel  853 

Beals,  Jacob  854 

Beazell,  Matthew  827 

Bechtel,  John 734 

Bechtel,  Tillman  0 1243 

Beckley,  Conrad  Rumple 576 

Beekley,  Charles  Elmer 1094 

Beer,  James  Dinsmore 618 

Bell,  William  894 

Berger,  John  David 865 

Bertolette,  Harry  B 995 

Bevington,  Benjamin  S 730 

Biddle,  Charles  W 1125 


Bldle,  George  C 1010 

Bixler,  William  1351 

Blackwood,  David  G 749 

Bliss,  William  Herbert 587 

Blosser,  P.  S 802 

Blough,  David  5604T 

Bolen,  Charles  Wesley 584 

Boor,  John  N 600 

Bower,  Adam  B. 1167 

Bowman,  David 1292 

Bowman,  Theo.  P 653 

Braden,  David  H 646 

Brenizer,  George 1364 

Brenneman,  Amandus  W 1366 

Brenneman,  Daniel  Webster 1042 

Brenneman,  Samuel  M 792 

Brinkerhoff,  Amos  1154 

Brinkerhoff,  Ira 892 

Brinkerhoff,  Joseph  W 1184 

Brooks,  A.  A 678 

Brown,  Allen  1000 

Brown,  Elmer  780 

Brown,  Joseph  McCauley 1032 

Brown,  Thomas  Pendleton 1079 

Bruce,  Oliver  D 764 

Bryson,  Willis  B 1268 

Buchanan,  John  W 1002 

Bucher,  Levi  1156 

Burchfield,  Charles  E 794 

Burkholder,  Amos  979 

Burkholder,  Elmer  TJ 1222 

Burkholder,  Noah  S 951 

Burkholder,  Simon  D 1171 

Burkholder,  William  937 

C 

Cameron,  Robert,  Sr 660 

Campbell,  Alexander  Thompson...  742 

Campbell,  Archibald  B 654 

Camron,  W.  J 1398 

Carnahan,  Thomas  E 955 

Case,  S.  Grant 1411 

Caskey,  John  Snodgrass 624 


Digitized  by  boogie 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Caskey,  William  829 

Christy,  James  W 636 

Christy,  Raymond  F 708 

Christy,  Welker  G 635 

Coffman,  Henry 1150 

Conrad,  John  C 815 

Cook,  Sylvanus  G 738 

Cooney,  Nelson  R 1209 

Cope,  B.  G 1272 

Cramer,  John  850 

Cramer,  William  Albert 1100 

Crane,  Cyrus  G 1462 

Crater,  George  1162 

Craven,  John  1176 

Criley,  John  M 967 

Critchfield,  Mrs.  Adelaide  M 56012 

Critchfield,  Lyman  R 560* 

Critchfield,  Lyman  R.,  Jr 704 

Crosby,  Howard 1152 

Crummel,  John  W 775 

Curry,  David  C 1320 

Cutter,  John  W 728 

D 

Dague,  Gabriel  C 1328 

Dague,  Thomas  Jefferson 1424 

Danford,  John  H.  B 599 

Davis,  Thomas  Kirby 56044 

Dawson,  Norman  B 938 

DesVoignes,  W.  L 701 

Deuell,  William  Henry 878 

Dix,  Albert  796 

Dohner,  Harvey  B 932 

Douglas,  Ben  1080 

E 

Eason,  Samuel  Brown 832 

Emrich,  George  P 1115 

Etling,  Abram  1439 

Etling,  John  E 1352 

Evans,  David  G 783 

Evans,  William  S 787 

Ewing,  Thomas  E 860 

Eyman,  Charles  B 1023 

Evman,  Simon  B 1337 

F 

Fahr,  Charles 750 

Fair,  Andrew  A 1232 

Feeman,  William  E 668 

Felton.  A.  K 1225 


Ferguson,  James  Walter 1134 

Fetzer,  Jonathan  1302 

Fike,  Adam  W 694 

Fike,  George  A 1180 

Fike,  William  A 1181 

Fisher,  George  A 1256 

Fisher,  James  Howard 1016 

Flack,  Robert  C 784 

Fluhart,  Edmond  Z 688 

Fogel,  Adam 732 

Folsom,  Charles  E 1460 

Forrer,  George  F 1283 

Forrer,  Henry  H 1203 

France,  John  B 569 

Franks,  Louis  K 1419 

Frary,  Orange  W 884 

Frary,  William 760 

Frick,  Jacob  1376 

Fritz,  Joseph  Owen  658 

Fulton,  Luther  H 1133 

Funck,  Ross  W 1440 

Funk,  Laban  1005 

Funk,  Willis  D 1310 

G 

Garver,  William  Wallace 936 

Gaut,  Mathew  768 

Gearhart,  Jacob 926 

Geiselman,  Cyrenius  1173 

Geiselman.  John  Franklin 1065 

George,  Franklin  Warren 680 

Gerig,  Benjamin  1143 

Gerlach,  Albert  590 

Gilbert,  E.  E 1227 

Gill,  Samuel  George 1280 

Gill,  William  M . 1250 

Gindlesperger,  James  B 746 

Gish,  Jacob  945 

Gish,  Michael  S 944 

Good,  Clayton 747 

Graber,  Charles  A 1331 

Graber,  Daniel 1045 

Graber,  Rudolph  1258 

Grady,  Oliver  George 869 

Grant,  Edward  M 810 

Graven,  Marion  614 

Graven,  Thomas  Arthur 613 

Gray,  Charles  Milton 567 

Gray,  James  Lloyd 607 

Gregory,  Joseph  B 1319 

Grosjean,  Louis  Eugene 1086 


Digitized  by  boogie 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


H 


Hackenberg,  Adam 1453 

Haller,  Henry  A 674 

Halteman,  Ammon  S 966 

Hamilton,  James  A 676 

Hamlin,  Simon 1254 

Hammer,  Jacob  J 1348 

Hard,  Curtis  Volosco 800 

Harrison,  John  F 625 

Harrison,  Ohio  J 786 

Harrison,  Richard 759 

Harrison,  Stephen  626 

Ilarrold,  Christopher  John 638 

Hartel,  John  V 1332 

Hartzler,  Albert  1 1139 

Hartzler,  Gideon  957 

Hartzler,  John 1053 

Haskins,  Benjamin  Edward 943 

Haupert,  Charles 913 

Hay,  Benton  Givler 1384 

Heckman,  Frank 791 

Heckman,  Jacob  1255 

Heller,  A.  J 690 

Heller,  William  E 675 

Henry,  Stephen  M 824 

Herman,  Adam  George 1336 

Hills,  Oscar  Armstrong 1334 

Hoegner,  William  F 1446 

Hofacre,  Alonzo  Lawrence 1097 

Hoff,  Daniel  1341 

Hohenshil,  David  1295 

Holmes,  Franklin  864 

Hooke,  Joseph  William 725 

Horn,  Alonzo  D 1375 

Horn,  C.  Willis 1014 

Hostetler,  David  814 

Hostetler,  John  B 812 

Hostetler,  Jonathan  K 1174 

Hostetler,  Levi  F 806 

Hostetter,  Joseph  Warren 740 

Hostettler,  William  1358 

Hough,  Isaac  N 604 

Housel,  Peter 770 

Houser,  John  H 1211 

Hubbell,  Will  Herman 1437 

Huffman,  Daniel  V 948 

Hunsicker,  T.  C 1451 

Hunter,  Wellrose  1355 

I 

Irvin,  George  H 682 


J 


Jackson,  George  1236 

Jacot,  William  1021 

James,  David 752 

Jeffries,  Lemuel  P 1136 

Jennings,  Henry  996 

Jones,  Lake  F 1408 

Jontz,  Joseph 1048 

Jordan,  Willard  Brown 1050 

K 

Karch,  Frederick 964 

Kaufman,  Oscar  David 1140 

Kaufman,  Thomas  Johnson 1096 

Kean,  Olin  Lee  1040 

Kean,  William  F 1240 

Keck,  D.  B 1218 

Kepler,  Benjamin  F 1431 

Kersteter,  Samuel  1109 

Kister,  John  A 1378 

Knepp,  Henry  Milton 629 

Knight,  Lyman  C 1395 

Koebler,  John  P 1030 

Kollert,  Charles  J 1220 

Rosier,  William  D 1360 

Kountz,  Harry  798 

Krick,  Charles 578 

Krick,  Jacob  1076 

Krick,  Philip 1252 

L 

Lance,  Andrew  J 1400 

Lance,  Edwin 1339 

Lance,  James  . ! 1443 

I.ance,  Milward  1047 

Landes,  Elmer  S 593 

Landis,  George 1036 

LaViers,  William  N 952 

Lawrence,  Abbott 1069 

Lawrence,  Mrs.  David 1172 

Lawrence,  Martin  1224 

Lehr,  Joseph  Wellington 620 

Leickheim,  Max  J 710 

Leiner,  Daniel  1019 

Lewis,  William  A 1248 

Lindsey,  Harvey  1146 

Litsinger,  Thomas  H 1077 

Long,  William  L 588 

lxmgenecker,  H.  F * 1382 

Longenecker,  Samuel  B 1119 


Digitized  by  LjOOQie 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX, 


Lowe,  John  Jacob 756 

Lupoid,  Robert  L 724 

Me 

McCance,  Hiram 1061 

McClaran,  John  C 1264 

McConahay,  Hugh 1448 

McConnell,  David  W 1346 

McFadden,  Howard  Roy 1039 

McGuff,  John  950 

Mcllvaine,  Daniel  W 922 

Mcllvaine,  David  E 672 

Mcllvaine,  George  A 871 

Mclntire,  Ezra  D 656 

McIntyre,  Gilbert  D 663 

McMillen,  DeWitt  Howard 719 

McSweeney,  John,  Jr 720 

M 

Marsh,  L.  Cody 1028 

Marthey,  Joseph  Peter 1102 

Martin,  John 1164 

Mateer,  Horace  Nelson 642 

Matty,  Samuel 1060 

Meech,  James  B 632 

Meese,  Ira  F 1444 

Meier,  Hugh  M 797 

Meier,  James  616 

Meier,  John 608 

Mellinger,  Benedict  876 

Mellinger  Family 876 

Mellinger,  Melchor  876 

Mellinger,  William  M 863 

Messner,  John 858 

Metsker,  Eli  925 

Mettetal,  Charles  Elmer 1082 

Miller,  Jacob  A 992 

Miller,  John  H 1127 

Miller,  Joseph  1188 

Miller,  Joseph  941 

Miller,  M.  M 931 

Miller,  Samuel  Harrison 648 

Minier,  James  B 1416 

Molne,  Charles  R 1347 

Moine,  Julius  1315 

Moomaw,  R.  M 1025 

Morgan,  Joshua  H 918 

Morganroth,  William 1407 

Morlan,  Micajah  Milo 727 

Moser,  David  P 1104 

Moser,  Jacob  A 1015 


Mougey,  Forest 1430 

Mougey,  Peter 1434 

Munson,  Charles 762 

Munson,  Isaac  763 

Musser,  William  1012 

Mussleman,  David  W 1463 

Myers,  David  610 

Myers,  Elmer  F 887 

Myers,  Isaac  A 1363 

Myers,  John  A 560” 

Myers,  William  C....* 650 

N 

Neumeyer,  Frederick  W 1189 

Neuroth,  Charles  970 

Nirode,  William  Franklin 1072 

Nolin,  John  Bunyan 627 

Nolt,  Samuel  A 1213 

O 

Odenkirk,  Homer  B 1413 

Oldman,  Willey  Sylvester 831 

Oldroyd,  Asbury  B 771 

Orr,  Abner  G 1204 

Orr,  Clinton  M 890 

Orr,  Dudley  S 1356 

Orr,  Smith,  560” 

Orr,  Thomas  W 1238 

Otto,  Michael  D 1267 

P 

Peake,  Henry  A 1393 

Perllstein,  Joseph 847 

Peterman,  Andrew  Jackson 664 

Pfeiffer,  George 1299 

Pinkley,  Orlando  George 1124 

Piper,  H.  Lincoln 1263 

Piper,  William 1293 

Plasterer,  George  W 928 

Pontius,  Isaac  684 

Porter,  Harvey  1433 

Power,  James  B 1106 

Putnam,  James  Bedell 1279 

Q 

Quinby,  Edward  M 808 

R 

Ramseyer,  Daniel  985 

Raudebaugh,  John  A 1317 


Digitized  by  boogie 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Rehm,  Andrew  J 1183 

Rehm,  George  W 1457 

Rehm,  Jacob 1197 

Rehm,  Jacob  F 1230 

Rehm,  John  W 692 

Reinhardt,  John  F 1349 

Rice,  T.  E 686 

Rickabaugh,  Francis  Lee 1044 

Rlckabaugh,  George 1381 

Rlckel,  Michael 1131 

Rleder,  Cyrus  A 836 

Ries,  William  Nicholas 56031 

Rittenhouse,  Joseph  H 1245 

Ross,  William  F 562 

Ross,  William  Howard 562 

Rouch,  Mahlon  1401 

Royer,  Joslah  F 1290 

Rudy,  Albert  M *.....  1371 

Rudy,  Clyde  E 1396 

Rudy,  Daniel  L 998 

Rudy,  David 1361 

Rudy,  Guy  M 1367 

Rudy,  Levi  S 1357 

Rumbaugh,  Miller  1 1308 

Ryland,  Ai  1314 

S 

Sanborn,  Joseph  G 988 

Sanderson,  Amos  698 

Sanderson,  John  C 1073 

Saurer,  Albert  S 630 

Saurer,  Arty  C 826 

Schauff,  Frank  E 1434 

Schmid,  Rudolph 1027 

Schmuck,  Samuel  1112 

Schollenberger,  H.  A 1219 

Schorger,  John  1343 

Schorle,  Jacob  956 

Schultz,  John  C 1233 

Scott,  James  Cutter  1008 

Seas,  J.  F 702 

Seelye,  William  James 56023 

Seiberling,  J.  H 744 

Seigley,  John  M 971 

Sell,  Charles  R 560<# 

Sell,  Jacob 883 

Sell,  W.  Frank 882 

Serfass,  Andrew  1344 

Shamp,  James  A 571 

Shank,  Charles  M 1034 

Shank,  William  W 1455 


Shelly,  Jacob  1261 

Shelly,  James  Garfield 1249 

Sheppard,  John  Wesley 1312 

Sherck,  Joseph  754 

Sherrick,  Joseph  S 667 

Shibler,  Jacob  S 821 

Shie,  David  P 867 

Shilling,  Jesse  R 1166 

Shisler,  John  W 823 

Sidle,  Lucurtis  P 670 

Sigler,  Henry  P. 1449 

Slemmons,  David  1 935 

Smedley,  Lehman  J 1020 

Smith,  Benjamin  H 1148 

Smith,  Cyrus  D 574 

Smith,  Robert  J 580 

Smucker,  Jonas 982 

Smyser,  Harmon  1330 

Smyser,  Martin  L 560M 

Snavely,  Chris.  R 1335 

Snure,  Jacob  C 980 

Snyder,  John  Robert 1068 

Soliday,  L.  Lyman 1303 

Soliday,  Sidney  Grant 1064 

Solliday,  William  A 991 

Sommer,  Daniel  A 1372 

Souers,  Solomon  1084 

Spangler,  Wesley  1024 

Spear,  Wesley  Wells 568 

Spencer,  Ezra  R 1286 

Stahl,  John  V 1414 

Stair,  Frederick  1091 

Stair,  Irvin  0 1011 

Stam,  Jacob  1054 

Steel,  Ephraim  J 820 

Steele,  Enoch 977 

Steele,  William  1340 

Steele,  Wilson  976 

Steiner,  Daniel  973 

Steiner,  John  S 1458 

Steiner,  ITlrich 1178 

Stepfleld,  Alexander  E 920 

Stewart,  Frank  E 700 

Stitt,  James  T 1144 

Stout,  Daniel  S 592 

Strauss,  Henry  H 5 603* 

Studer,  Benjamin  1056 

Studer,  L.  S 790 

Studer,  Rudolph  1326 

Swanson,  Swen  A 1142 

Swart,  Adrian  C.. 1111 


Digitized  by  boogie 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Swartz  Family  716 

Swartz,  Hiram  B 712 

Swartz,  Samuel  716 

Swinehart,  Benjamin  F 1323 

Swinehart,  John  1 1307 

T 

Taggart,  Frank  560’a 

Taggart,  James  1200 

Taggart,  Samuel  M 706 

Taggert,  John  William 1158 

Tate,  Michael 1160 

Tate,  William  1168 

Tawney,  Philip  G 1368 

Taylor,  Charles  E 1324 

Taylor,  James  B 5604t 

Taylor,  Kaiser  W 1122 

Thompson,  Ervin  W 696 

Thorne,  Charles  Embree 1316 

Todd,  J.  H 840 

Tschantz,  John  H 1092 

Tuttle,  Augustus  S 933 

V 

Van  Nest,  M.  M 560^ 

Vanover,  Francis  Marion 1296 

Villard,  John  Heinrich 968 

W 

Wagner,  Henry  1452 

Wagner,  Orrin  1454 

Walter,  Albert  P 984 

Ward,  James  M 848 

Warfel,  David  H 1353 

Wasson.  Rezin  B 1274 

Wayne  County  Democrat  Co 1399 

Weaver,  David  J 1191 

Weaver,  Thomas  A 1259 

Weidman,  Jesse  H 959 

Weiker,  Peter  872 

W'eiser,  Charles  A 564 

Wells,  Uriah  F 765 


Weltmer,  James  A 1270 

Welty,  Andrew  J 1327 

Welty,  Peter 838 

Wenger,  David 1206 

Wenger,  Emanuel  H 1241 

Wenger,  Frederick 1195 

Wertenberger,  Orlow  H 1304 

Wertz,  Edwin  S. 1088 

Wertz,  William  H.  H 888 

Weygandt,  William  Edwin 560Ti 

Wheeler,  Warden  776 

White.  William  F 947 

Whitmore,  Charles  Wesley 1192 

Whorton,  Robert  1246 

Wiler,  William  Henry 1159 

Wiley,  Aquila 736 

Wiley,  John  H 1300 

Williams,  O.  C 585 

Winkler,  Wesley  J 1288 

Wintersteen,  Henry  C 1311 

Wintersteen,  William  F 1199 

Wood,  Samuel  1216 

Woodward,  Davis  Dempsey 1291 

Wooster  Nursery  Company.......  860 

Wooster  Public  Library  1117 

Worst,  William  Henry 640 

Wright,  Elmer  Francis 940 

Wright,  William  Henry 1037 

Wyer,  Christian  A. 1392 

Y 

Yarger,  James  A 1006 

Yocum,  Lincoln  A 816 

Yocum,  Ohio  M 633 

Yoder,  Christian  Z 1228 

Yoder,  John  A 1278 

Yoder,  Menno  Peter 1057 

Young,  George  M 1459 

Z 

Zaring,  James  Lee 56014 

Zaugg,  Wesley  Henry 5604* 

Zimmerman,  Ezekiel  B 1410 

Zimmerman,  John  W 1422 

Zimmerman,  Nathan  R 1421 


Digitized  by  CjOOQie 


Digitized  by 


WAYNE  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 


HISTORICAL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 

The  discovery  of  what  is  now  known  as  North  America,  by  Se- 
bastian Cabot  in  1498,  was  at  a time  when  no  white  man  had  probably  trod- 
den upon  the  soil  of  this  country.  It  was  the  empire,  as  is  generally  believed, 
of  the  native  American,  a barbaric  people  who  roamed  not  unlike  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  field  over  its  extensive  domain,  all  untamed  and  ungovemed 
by  any  regular  type  of  civilized,  Christianized  life.  The  discoveries  of  both 
Columbus  and  Cabot  opened  up  the  immigration  for  the  European  countries. 
Soon  Spain,  England  and  France — the  great  rival  nations — vied  one  with 
the  other  for  possession  and  final  occupancy  of  the  New  World. 

It  was  Spain  that  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  founder  of  the  first 
colony  in  North  America,  the  same  being  established  at  St.  Augustine,  Flor- 
ida, in  1565,  it  being  by  forty  years  the  most  aged  city  in  the  United  States. 

The  second  colony  was  planted  by  the  French  people  in  1604,  at  Port 
Royal,  in  Acadia,  the  original  name  of  Nova  Scotia.  The  third  settle- 
ment was  effected  by  the  English  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  in  the  month 
of  April,  1607,  the  first  English  settlement  on  the  continent. 

The  French  people  had  commenced  to  make  rapid  strides  toward  settle- 
ment and  naturally  England  soon  became  alarmed  at  the  French  encroach- 
ments in  the  north  part  of  the  new-found  world,  as  then  known  and  styled. 
Hence  the  country  was  divided  into  two  grand  divisions,  that  portion  lying 
between  the  thirty-fourth  and  forty-fifth  degrees  of  northern  latitude,  and 
James  I by  grant  disposed  of  that  portion  of  the  country  included  between 
the  forty-fourth  and  forty-first  degrees  to  an  association  of  merchants,  called 
the  London  Land  Company,  and  to  the  Plymouth  Company,  which  later  set- 
tled New  England,  between  the  thirty-eighth  and  forty-fifth  degrees.  The 
Cabots  had  visited  Nova  Scotia  as  earlv  as  1498,  though  there  was  no 
(2) 


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i8 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


European  colony  established  until  the  above  named,  but  Henry  IV  of  France 
had  as  early  as  1603  granted  Acadia  to  De  Monts,  a Frenchman,  and  his 
followers,  and  some  Jesuits,  who  for  a number  of  years  tried  to  form  a 
settlement  in  Port  Royal  and  St.  Croix,  but  who  were  finally  expelled  from 
the  country  by  the  English  governor  and  colonists  of  Virginia,  who  claimed 
the  country  by  right  of  discovery  of  Sebastian  Cabot.  The  grant  to  De 
Monts  comprised  the  lands  between  the  fortieth  and  forty-sixth  degrees  of 
latitude,  and  hence  included  the  lands  at  present  composing  the  state  of  Ohio. 

The  grant  of  James  I of  England  to  the  London  Company  also  em- 
braced Ohio,  and  the  grant  of  the  same  monarch  to  the  Plymouth  Company 
compassed  a portion  of  it.  France,  much  desiring  to  hold  sway  and  possess 
this  domain,  sent  forth  her  boldest  adventurers  to  explore  and  really  possess 
the  country  in  question.  Among  these  men  may  be  mentioned  La  Salle, 
Champlain  and  Marquette.  Forts  were  built  by  them  on  the  lakes  and  the 
Mississippi,  Illinois,  Maumee  and  Wabash  rivers,  and  the  whole  Northwest 
Territory  was  included  by  them  in  the  province  of  Louisiana.  In  brief,  ac- 
cording to  the  geographers  the  entire  country  was  known  as  New  France, 
except  that  eajst  of  the  great  ranges  of  mountains  whose  streams  flow  into 
the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  of  this  portion  they  even  claimed  the  basin  of  the 
Kennebec  and  all  of  Maine  to  the  east  of  that  valley.  As  early  as  1720  they 
had  strong  and  well  fortified  posts  on  the  Wabash  river,  and  a line  of  com- 
munication was  established  to  Acadia  by  way  of  this  stream,  the  lakes  and 
the  St.  Lawrence.  The  English  not  only  claimed  the  Northwest  Territory 
by  reason  of  discovery  and  by  grant  of  the  King  of  England,  but  by  virtue 
of  the  purch’ase  of  the  same  from  the  Indians  by  treaty  at  Lancaster,  in  1744. 
By  that  treaty  the  Six  Nations  ceded  the  territory  to  the  English,  as  they 
claimed.  For  the  purpose  of  formally  possessing  it  and  vying  with  the 
French  in  its  settlement,  a company,  denominated  the  Ohio  Company,  was 
organized  in  1750  and  during  that  year  obtained  a grant  from  the  British 
Parliament  for  six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  on  or  near  the  Ohio  river, 
and  in  1750  the  English  built  and  established  a trading  post — “trading 
house” — at  a place  called  Loramie’s  Store,  on  the  Great  Miami  river,  and 
which  was  the  first  English  establishment  erected  in  the  Northwest  Territory, 
or  in  the  great  Mississippi  valley.  In  the  early  part  of  1752  the  French 
demolished  this  trading  house  and  carried  the  inhabitants  oflf  to  Canada. 
This  brought  on  somewhat  of  a conflict,  and  the  Ottawas  and  Chippeways 
assisting  the  French,  fourteen  of  the  Indian  warriors  were  killed  and  many 
more  wounded  before  the  affair  was  adjusted. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


19 


It  was  in  1762  that  the  Moravian  missionaries,  Post  and  Heckwelder, 
had  established  a station  upon  the  Muskingum  river.  One  year  later  the 
French  ceded  their  possessions  in  the  Northwest  and,  indeed,  in  North 
America,  to  Great  Britain,  and  from  that  time  forward  the  English  had 
only  the  natives  with  whom  to  contend.  After  many  conflicts  had  ensued 
and  much  blood  and  precious  life  had  been  lost,  the  English  became  masters 
of  the  soil.  In  1774,  by  act  of  Parliament  of  the  English  government,  the 
whole  of  the  Northwest  Territory  was  annexed  to  and  made  a part  of  the 
province  of  Quebec. 

July  4,  1776,  the  colonists  declared  their  independence  and  renounced 
further  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  each  colony  then  claimed  juris- 
diction over  the  soil  embraced  within  its  charter.  The  Revolutionary  war 
terminating  favorably  to  the  American  colonies,  the  King  of  England,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1783,  ceded  all  claim  to  the  Northwest  Territory  of  the  United 
States.  By  charter,  Virginia  claimed  that  portion  of  the  territory  which  was 
situated  northwest  of  the  river  Ohio,  but  in  1784  she  ceded  all  claim  to  the 
territory  to  the  United  States.  By  virtue  of  this  act  or  deed  of  cession  the 
General  Assembly  of  Virginia  did,  through  her  delegates  in  Congress  March 
1,  1784,  “convey  (in  the  name  of  and  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  said  com- 
monwealth), transfer,  assign  and  make  over  unto  the  United  States,  in 
Congress  assembled,  for  the  benefit  of  said  states,  Virginia  included,  all 
right  and  title  and  claim,  as  well  of  soil  as  of  jurisdiction,  to  the  territory 
of  said  state  lying  and  being  to  the  northwest  of  the  river  Ohio.,, 

After  this  great  northwestern  domain  had  been  secured  to  the  United 
States,  Congress  directed  measures  toward  the  permanent  organization  of 
civil  government  in  the  same,  it  now  being  within  the  legitimate  province  of 
its  legislation.  July  13,  1787,  Congress  passed  “An  Ordinance  for  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States,  Northwest  of  the  Ohio  river/' 
the  same  being  styled  “the  Ordinance  of  1787."  This  was  made  the  supreme 
law  of  the  territory,  and  from  its  principles  grew  all  further  legislation. 

The  ordinance  referred  to  provided  that  the  territory  should  be  divided 
into  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  five  states,  as  soon  as  Virginia  should 
alter  her  acts  of  cession  and  the  proper  bounds  should  be  fixed.  The  west- 
ern state  in  such  territory  should  be  bounded  by  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and 
Wabaish  rivers;  a direct  line  from  the  Wabash  at  Port  Vincent  due  north 
to  the  territorial  line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  by  said  line 
direct  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  the  Mississippi.  The  middle  state  was 
fixed  by  a direct  line  from  the  Wabash  at  Port  Vincent,  to  the  Ohio,  by  the 
Ohio,  by  a direct  line  drawn  due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the  Miami  to 


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20 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  said  territorial  line.  The  eastern  state  was  fixed  as  by  the  last  named 
direct  line,  the  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  and  to  the  said  territorial  line.  Pro- 
vision was,  however,  made  that  two  other  states  might  be  made  from  the 
territory  by  Congress;  further  that  when  any  one  of  these  states  has  sixty 
thousand  people  that  it  might  be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a state  and 
no  longer  be  under  a territorial  government. 

Article  six  of  the  ordinance  provided  that  “There  shall  be  neither  slav- 
ery nor  involuntary  servitude  in  the  said  territory  otherwise  than  in  the 
punishment  of  crimes,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted; 
provided,  always,  that  any  person  escaping  into  the  same  from  whom  labor 
and  service  is  lawfully  claimed  in  any  one  of  the  original  states,  such  fugi- 
tive may  be  lawfully  reclaimed,  and  conveyed  to  the  person  claiming  his 
labor  and  services  aforesaid.” 


POPULATION. 

It  is  estimated  that  at  the  date  of  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787 
the  entire  population  of  all  the  villages  and  settlements  of  the  territory 
in  question  did  not  exceed  three  thousand  souls.  These  settlements  were 
chiefly  made  in  the  northwest  and  western  portion  of  it.  The  French  were 
the  occupants  of  the  villages  and  environments,  chief  among  which  was 
Detroit,  on  the  Detroit  river;  St.  Vincent,  on  the  Wabash;  Cahokia,  a few 
miles  below  St.  Louis;  St.  Philip,  forty-five  miles  below  St.  Louis,  on  the 
Mississippi  river;  Kaskaskia,  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  stream  by 
the  same  name;  Prairie  du  Rocher,  near  Fort  Chartres;  and  Fort  Chartres, 
fifteen  miles  northwest  of  Kaskaskia. 

ORIGINAL  SQUATTERS. 

One  who  was  well  informed  wrote  of  these  people,  m^ny  years  ago,  as 
follows:  “Their  intercourse  with  the  Indians  and  their  seclusion  from 

the  world  developed  among  them  peculiar  characteristics.  They  assimilated 
themselves  with  the  Indians,  adopted  their  habits,  and  almost  uniformly 
lived  in  harmony  with  them.  They  were  illiterate,  careless,  contented,  but 
without  much  industry,  energy  and  forethought.  Some  were  hunters,  trap- 
pers and  anglers,  while  others  run  birch  bark  canoes  by  way  of  carrying  on 
a small  internal  trade,  and  still  others  cultivated  the  soil.  The  traders  or 
voyageurs  were  men  fond  of  adventure,  and  of  a wild,  unrestrained  Indian 
sort  of  life,  and  would  ascend  many  of  the  long  rivers  of  the  West,  almost  to 


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their  sources,  in  their  little  birch-bark  canoes  and  load  them  with  furs  bought 
from  the  Indians.  The  canoes  were  light  and  could  be  easily  carried  across 
the  portages  between  the  streams.,, 

There  was  attached  to  these  French  villages  a “common  field”  for  the 
free  use  of  the  villagers,  every  family,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  its  mem- 
bers, being  entitled  to  a share  of  it.  It  was  a large,  enclosed  tract  for  flairm- 
ing  purposes.  There  was  also  at  each  village  a “common,”  or  large  enclosed 
tract,  for  pasturage  and  feed  purposes,  and  timber  for  building. 

CHARACTER  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

The  Western  Annals  had  this  to  say  concerning  the  inhabitants  of  this 
territory:  “They  were  devout  Catholics,  who,  under  the  guidance  of  their 

priests,  attended  punctually  upon  the  holidays  and  festivals  and  performed 
faithfully  all  the  outward  duties  and  ceremonies  of  the  church.  Aside  from 
this,  their  religion  was  blended  with  their  social  feelings.  Sundays,  after 
mass,  was  their  special  occasion  for  their  games  and  assemblies.  The 
dance  was  the  popular  amusement  with  them,  and  all  classes,  ages,  sexes  and 
conditions,  united  by  a common  love  of  enjoyment,  met  together  to  partici- 
pate in  the  exciting  pleasure.  They  were  indifferent  about  the  acquisition  of 
property  for  themselves  or  their  children.  Living  in  a fruitful  country, 
which,  moreover,  abounded  in  fish  and  game,  and  where  the  necessaries  of 
life  could  be  procured  with  little  labor,  they  were  content  to  live  in  unambi- 
tious peace  and  comfortable  poverty.  Their  agriculture  was  rude,  their 
houses  were  humble,  and  they  cultivated  grain,  also  fruits  and  flowers;  but 
they  lived  on,  from  generation  to  generation,  without  much  change  or  im- 
provement. In  some  instances  they  married  and  intermarried  with  sur- 
rounding Indiana  tribes.” 

These  remote  villages  and  settlements  were  usually  protected  by  mili- 
tary posts — Detroit  especially,  which  in  1763,  when  held  by  the  English, 
had  resisted  the  assaults  of  the  great  Pontiac — and  had  witnessed  the  wrin- 
kled front  of  grim-visaged  war  a century  before  the  adoption  of  the  Ordi- 
nance of  1787. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  OHIO  LAND  COMPANY. 

The  best  description  of  this  great  company  is  found  in  the  secretary  of 
state’s  reports  of  1876,  and  is  from  the  pen  of  that  most  accurate  writer  and 
gatherer  of  statistics,  Hon.  Isaac  Smfucker,  of  Licking  county : 


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While  Congress  had  under  consideration  the  measure  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a territorial  government  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river,  the  preliminary 
steps  were  taken  in  Massachusetts  toward  the  formation  of  the  Ohio  Land 
Company,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a purchase  of  a large  tract  of  land  in 
said  territory  and  settling  upon  it.  Upon  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  by 
Congress,  the  aforesaid  land  company  perfected  its  organization  and  by  its 
agents,  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler  and  Maj.  Winthrop  Sargent,  made  applica- 
tion to  the  board  of  treasury  July  27,  1787,  to  become  purchasers,  said  board 
having  been  authorized  four  days  before  to  make  sales.  The  purchase, 
which  was  perfected  October  27,  1787,  embraced  a tract  of  land  containing 
about  a million  and  a half  acres  situated  within  the  counties  (as  now  known) 
of  Washington,  Athens,  Meigs  and  Gallia,  subject  to  the  reservation  of  two 
townships  of  land  six  miles  square,  for  the  endowment  of  a college,  since 
known  as  the  Ohio  University,  at  Athens;  also  every  sixteenth  section,  set 
apart  for  the  use  of  schools,  as  well  as  every  twenty-ninth  section,  dedicated 
to  the  support  of  religious  institutions;  also  sections  8,  11  and  26,  which 
were  reserved  by  the  United  States  for  future  sale.  After  these  deductions 
were  made,  and  that  for  donation  lands,  there  remained  only  nine  hundred 
and  sixty-four  thousand  acres  to  be  paid  for  by  the  Ohio  Land  Company, 
and  for  which  patents  were  issued. 

At  a meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  company,  held  in  November,  1787, 
Gen.  Rufus  Putnam  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  company,  and  he  ac- 
cepted the  position.  Early  in  December  six  boat  builders  and  a number  of 
other  mechanics  were  sent  forward  to  SimraH’s  Ferry  (now  West  Newton), 
on  the  Youghiogheny  river,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Haffield  White, 
where  they  arrived  in  January,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  build  a boat  for  the 
use  of  the  company.  Col.  Ebenezer  Sproat,  of  Rhode  Island,  Anselm  Tupper 
and  John  Matthews,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Col.  Return  J.  Meigs,  of  Con- 
necticut, were  appointed  surveyors.  Preliminary  steps  were  also  taken  at 
this  meeting  to  secure  a teacher  and  chaplain,  which  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  Rev.  Daniel  Story,  who  sometime  during  the  next  year  arrived  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum  in  the  capacity  of  the  first  missionary  and 
teacher  from  New  England. 

Early  in  the  winter  the  remainder  of  the  pioneers,  with  the  surveyors, 
left  their  New  England  homes  and  started  on  their  toilsome  journey  to  the 
western  wilderness.  They  passed  on  over  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and 
reached  the  Youghiogheny  about  the  middle  of  February,  where  they  rejoined 
their  companions  who  had  preceded  them. 


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The  boat,  called  the  “Mayflower,”  that  was  to  transport  the  pioneers 
to  their  destination,  was  forty-five  feet  long,  twelve  feet  wide  and  fifty  tons 
burden,  and  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain  Devol.  Her  bows 
were  raking,  or  curved  like  a galley,  and  strongly  timbered;  her  sides  were 
made  bullet  proof,  and  she  was  covered  with  a deck  roof,  so  as  to  afford 
better  protection  against  the  hostile  savages  while  floating  down  towards  their 
western  home,  and  during  its  occupancy  there  before  the  completion  of  their 
cabins.  All  things  being  ready,  they  embarked  at  Simrall’s  Ferry,  April  2, 
1788,  and  passed  down  the  Youghiogheny  into  the  Monongahela,  and  thence 
into  the  Ohio,  and  down  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  where 
they  arrived  April  7th,  and  then  and  there  made  the  first  permanent  settle- 
ment of  civilized  men  within  the  present  limits  of  Ohio. 

Many  of  the  Yankee  colonists  had  been  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and  were,  for  the  most  part,  men  of  intelligence  and  char- 
acter and  of  sound  judgment  and  much  ability.  In  short,  they  were  just 
the  kind  of  men  to  found  a state  in  the  wilderness.  They  possessed  great 
energy  of  character,  were  enterprising,  fond  of  adventure  and  daring  and 
were  not  to  be  intimidated  by  the  formidable  forests,  nor  by  the  ferocious 
beasts  sheltered  therein,  nor  by  the  still  more  to  be  dreaded  savages,  who 
stealthily  and  with  murderous  intent  roamed  throughout  their  length  and 
breadth.  Their  army  experiences  had  taught  them  what  hardships  and  pri- 
vations were,  and  they  were  quite  willing  to  encounter  them.  A better  set 
of  men  could  not  have  been  selected  for  pioneer  settlers  than  were  these  New 
England  colonists — those  brave-hearted,  courageous  hero-emigrants  to  the 
great  northwest,  who,  having  triumphantly  passed  the  fiery  ordeal  of  the 
Revolution,  volunteered  to  found  a state  and  to  establish  American  laws, 
American  institutions  and  American  civilization  in  the  wilderness  of  the 
uncivilized  West. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENT  UNDER  THE  ORDINANCE  OF  1 787. 

Of  course,  no  time  was  lost  by  the  colonists  in  erecting  their  habita- 
tions, as  wrell  as  in  building  a stockade  fort  and  in  clearing  land  for  the  pro- 
duction of  vegetables  and  grain  for  their  subsistence,  fifty  acres  of  corn 
having  been  planted  the  first  year.  Their  settlement  was  established  upon 
the  point  of  land  between  the  Ohio  and  Muskingum  rivers,  just  opposite  and 
across  the  Muskingum  from  Fort  Harmer,  built  in  1786  and  at  this  time 
garrisoned  by  a small  military  force  under  command  of  Major  Doughty. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


At  a meeting  held  on  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum,  July  2,  1788,  it  was 
voted  that  Marietta  should  be  the  name  of  their  town,  it  being  thus  named 
in  honor  of  Marie  Antoinette,  Queen  of  France. 

SURVEYS  AND  PUBLIC  LAND  GRANTS. 

The  first  survey  of  the  public  lands  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river  was 
the  seven  ranges  of  congressional  lands,  and  was  executed  pursuant  to  an 
act  of  Congress  of  May  20,  1785.  This  tract  of  “the  seven  ranges”  is 
bounded  by  a line  of  forty-two  miles  in  length,  running  due  west  from  the 
point  where  the  western  boundary  line  of  Pennsylvania  crosses  the  Ohio 
river;  thence  due  south  to  the  Ohio  river,  at  the  southeast  comer  of  Marietta 
township,  in  Washington  county;  thence  up  the  said  river  to  the  place  of 
beginning.  The  present  counties  of  Jefferson,  Columbiana,  Carroll,  Tus- 
carawas, Harrison,  Guernsey,  Belmont,  Noble,  Monroe  and  Washington  are, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  within  the  seven  ranges. 

The  second  survey  was  that  of  the  Ohio  Company’s  purchase,  made 
in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  Congress  of  July  23,  1785,  though  the  contract 
was  not  completed  with  the  Ohio  Company  until  October  27,  1787.  One 
hundred  thousand  acres  of  this  tract,  called  donation  lands,  were  received 
on  conditions  as  a free  gift  to  actual  settlers.  Portions  of  the  counties  of 
Washington,  Athens  and  Gallia  are  within  this  tract,  also  the  entire  county 
of  Meigs.  The  donation  lands  were  in  Washington  county. 

The  next  survey  was  the  Symmes  Purchase  and  contiguous  lands,  situ- 
ated to  the  north  and  west  of  it,  and  was  made  soon  after  the  foregoing. 
The  Symmes  Purchase  embraced  the  entire  Ohio  river  front  between  the 
Big  Miami  and  Little  Miami  rivers,  a distance  of  twenty-seven  miles,  and 
reaching  northward  a sufficient  distance  to  include  an  area  of  one  million 
acres.  The  contract  with  Judge  Symmes,  made  in  October,  1787,  was  later 
modified  by  act  of  Congress  bearing  date  of  May  5,  1792,  and  by  an  author- 
ized act  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  of  September  30,  1794,  so 
as  to  amount  to  only  three  hundred  eleven  thousand  six  hundred  eighty-two 
acres,  exclusive  of  a reservation  of  fifteen  acres  around  Fort  Washington,  of 
a square  mile  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  of  sections  16  and  29  in  each 
township,  the  former  of  which  Congress  had  reserved  for  educational  pur- 
poses and  religious  affairs ; exclusive  also  of  a township  dedicated  to  the  in- 
terests of  a college ; and  sections  8,  1 1 and  26,  which  Congress  reserved  for 
future  sale. 


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The  tract  of  land  situated  between  the  Little  Miami  and  Scioto  rivers, 
known  as  the  Virginia  military  lands,  was  never  regularly  surveyed  into 
townships,  but  patents  were  issued  by  the  President  of  the  United  States 
to  such  persons  (Virginians)  as  had  rendered  service  on  the  continental 
establishment  in  the  army  of  the  United  States  (hence  the  name),  and  in 
the  quantities  to  which  they  were  entitled,  according  to  the  previous  acts  of 
Congress  of  August  10,  1790.  It  embraces  a body  of  six  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  seventy  square  miles,  or  four  million  two  hundred  and  four  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  acres.  The  following  counties  are  situated  in  the  tract : 
Adams,  Brown,  Clermont,  Clinton,  Fayette,  Highland,  Madison  and  Union 
entirely,  and  greater  or  less  portions  of  Marion,  Delaware,  Franklin,  Pick- 
away, Ross,  Pike,  Scioto,  Warren,  Greene,  Clarke,  Champaign,  Logan  and 
Hardin. 

Connecticut  ceded  all  lands  in  the  Northwest  to  which  she  claimed  title 
to  the  United  States  (except  the  tract  which  has  been  known  as  the  West- 
ern Reserve),  by  deed  of  cession  bearing  date  September  14,  1786,  and  in 
May,  1800,  by  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  said  state,  renounced  all  juris- 
diction and  claim  to  the  “territory  of  the  Western  Reserve  of  Connecticut.” 
The  tract  of  land  was  surveyed  in  1796  and  later  into  townships  of  five  miles 
square,  and  in  the  aggregate  contained  about  three  million  eight  hundred 
thousand  acres,  being  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  long  and  lying  west  of 
the  Pennsylvania  state  line,  all  situated  between  forty-one  degrees  and 
forty-two  degrees  and  two  minutes  of  north  latitude.  Half  a million  of  acres 
of  the  foregoing  lands  were  set  apart  by  the  state  of  Connecticut,  in  1792, 
as  a donation  to  the  sufferers  by  fire  (during  the  Revolutionary  war)  of  the 
residents  of  Greenwich,  New  London,  Norwalk,  Fairfield,  Danbury,  New 
Haven  and  other  Connecticut  villages  whose  property  was  burned  by  the 
British;  hence  the  name  “firelands,”  by  which  this  tract  taken  from  the 
western  portion  of  the  Reserve  has  been  known.  It  is  situated  chiefly  in 
Huron  and  Erie  counties,  a small  portion  only  being  in  Ottawa  county.  The 
entire  Western  Reserve  embraces  the  present  counties  of  Ashtabula,  Cuya- 
hoga, Erie,  Geauga,  Huron,  Lake,  Lorain,  Medina,  Portage  and  Trumbull; 
also  the  greater  portion  of  Mahoning  and  Summit  and  very  limited  portions 
of  Ashland  and  Ottawa. 


THE  FRENCH  GRANT 

is  a tract  of  twenty-four  thousand  acres  of  land  bordering  on  the  Ohio 
river  within  the  present  limits  of  Scioto  county,  granted  by  Congress  in 


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March,  1795,  to  certain  French  settlers  of  Gallipolis  who,  through  invalid 
titles,  had  lost  their  lands  there.  Twelve  hundred  acres  were  added  to  this 
grant  in  1798,  making  a total  of  twenty-five  thousand  two  hundred  acres. 

THE  UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  LANDS 

were  surveyed  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  June  1,  1796, 
and  contained  two  million  five  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  acres.  This 
tract  was  set  apart  to  satisfy  certain  claims  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  hence  the  title  by  which  it  is  known.  It  is  bounded 
by  the  “seventh  range”  on  the  east,  by  the  Greenville  treaty  line  on  the 
north,  by  the  congressional  and  refugee  lands  on  the  south,  and  by  the  Scioto 
river  on  the  west,  including  the  county  of  Coshocton  entire,  and  portions 
of  the  counties  of  Tuscarawas,  Guernsey,  Muskingum,  Licking,  Franklin, 
Delaware,  Marion,  Morrow,  Knox  and  Holmes. 

THE  MORAVIAN  LANDS 

are  three  several  tracts  of  four  thousand  acres  each,  situated  respectively  at 
Shoenbrun,  Gnadenhutten  and  Salem,  all  on  the  Tuscarawas  river.  These 
lands  were  originally  dedicated  by  an  ordinance  of  Congress  of  June  1,  1796, 
and  were  surveyed  and  patents  issued  to  the  Society  of  the  United  Brethren, 
for  the  purpose  above  specified. 

THE  REFUGEE  TRACT 

is  a body  of  land  containing  one  hundred  thousand  acres,  granted  by  Con- 
gress February  18,  1801,  to  persons  who  fled  from  the  British  provinces 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  and  took  up  arms  against  the  mother  country 
and  in  behalf  of  the  colonies,  and  thereby  lost  their  property  by  confiscation 
This  tract  is  four  and  one-half  miles  wide  and  extends  forty-eight  miles 
eastward  from  the  Scioto  river,  at  Columbus,  into  Muskingum  county.  It 
includes  portions  of  the  counties  of  Franklin.  Fairfield,  Perry,  Licking  and 
Muskingum. 


dohrman's  grant 

is  a township  of  land  six  miles  square,  containing  thirteen  thousand  acres, 
situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Tuscarawas  county.  It  was  given  to 


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Arnold  Henry  Dohrman,  a Portuguese  merchant  of  Lisbon,  by  act  of  Con* 
gress  of  February  27,  1801,  “in  consideration  of  his  having  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  given  shelter  and  aid  to  the  American  cruisers  and  vessels 
of  war.” 

INDIAN  TREATIES. 

By  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  concluded  with  the  Iroquois 
or  Six  Nations  (Mohawks,  Onondagas,  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Tuscaroras  and 
Oneidas)  October  23,  1784,  the  indefinite  claim  of  said  confederacy  to  the 
greater  part  of  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  was  extinguished.  The  commissioners 
of  Congress  were  Oliver  Wolcott,  Richard  Butler  and  Arthur  Lee.  Corn- 
planter  and  Red  Jacket  represented  the  Indians. 

This  was  followed  in  January,  1785,  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  McIntosh, 
bv  which  the  Delawares.  Wyandots,  Ottawas  and  Chippewas  relinquished 
all  claim  to  the  Ohio  valley  and  established  the  boundary  line  between  them 
and  the  United  States  to  be  the  Cuyahoga  river,  and  along  the  main  branch 
of  the  Tuscarawas  to  the  forks  of  said  river,  near  Fort  Laurens,  thence 
vvestwardly  to  the  portage  between  the  headwaters  of  the  Great  Miami  and 
the  Maumee  or  Maumee  of  the  lakes,  thence  down  said  river  to  Lake  Erie, 
and  along  said  lake  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga  river.  This  treaty  was 
negotiated  by  George  Rogers  Clark,  Richard  Butler  and  Arthur  Lee,  for  the 
United  States,  and  by  the  chiefs  of  the  aforesaid  tribes. 

A similar  relinquishment  was  effected  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Finney  (at 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami),  concluded  with  the  Shawnees  January  31, 
1786,  the  United  States  commissioners  being  the  same  as  the  foregoing,  ex- 
cept the  substitution  of  Samuel  H.  Parsons  for  Arthur  Lee. 

THE  TREATY  OF  FORT  HARMAR, 

held  by  General  St.  Clair  January  9,  1789,  was  mainly  confirmatory  of  the 
treaties  previously  made.  So  was  also  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  of  August 
3,  1705,  made  by  General  Wayne,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
chiefs  of  eleven  of  the  most  powerful  tribes  of  the  northwestern  Indians, 
which  re-established  the  Indian  boundary  line  through  the  present  state 
of  Ohio  and  extended  it  from  Loramie  to  Fort  Recovery,  and  from  thence 
to  the  Ohio  river,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  river. 

The  rights  and  titles  acquired  by  the  Indian  tribes  under  the  foregoing 
treaties  were  extinguished  by  the  general  government  by  purchase  or  subse- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


quent  treaties.  The  Western  Reserve  tract  west  of  the  Cuyahoga  river  was 
secured  by  a treaty  formed  at  Fort  Industry,  in  1805.  The  lands  west  of 
Richland  and  Huron  counties  and  north  of  the  boundary  line  to  the  western 
limits  of  Ohio  were  purchased  in  1818.  The  last  possession  of  the  Dela- 
wares was  purchased  in  1829,  and  by  a treaty  made  at  Upper  Sandusky, 
March  17,  1842,  by  Col.  John  Johnston  and  the  Wyandot  chiefs,  the  last 
remnant  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  Ohio  sold  the  last  acre  of  land  they  owned 
within  the  limits  of  the  state  to  the  general  government,  and  retired  the 
next  year  to  the  far  West,  settling  at  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas 
river. 

FIRST  TERRITORIAL  OFFICERS. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1787,  Congress  appointed  Gen.  Arthur  St. 
Clair,  governor;  Maj.  Winthrop  Sargent,  secretary,  and  James  M.  Varnum, 
Samuel  H.  Parsons  and  John  Armstrong,  judges  of  the  territory;  the  latter, 
however,  declining,  John  Cleves  was  appointed  in  his  place.  July  9,  1788, 
Governor  St.  Clair  arrived  at  Marietta  and,  finding  the  secretary  and  a 
majority  of  the  judges  present,  proceeded  to  organize  the  territory.  The 
Governor  and  judges  were  the  sole  legislative  power  during  the  existence 
of  the  first  grade  of  territorial  government.  Such  laws  were  in  force  as 
were  in  other  states,  and  were  such  as  applied  to  the  people  of  the  territory. 

THE  SECOND  TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 

The  Ordinance  of  1787  provided  that  after  it  should  be  ascertained  that 
five  thousand  free  male  inhabitants  actually  resided  within  the  territory 
the  second  grade  of  government  could,  of  right,  be  established,  which  pro- 
vided for  a legislative  council,  and  also  an  elective  house  of  representatives, 
the  two  composing  the  law-making  power  of  the  territory,  provided  always 
that  the  governor’s  assent  to  their  acts  was  had.  He  possessed  the  abso- 
lute veto  power  in  each  branch,  and  nothing  could  become  a law  without  his 
sanction.  The  conditions  that  authorized  the  second  grade  of  territorial 
government,  however,  did  not  exist  until  1798,  and  it  was  not  really  put 
into  operation  until  September,  1799,  after  the  first  grade  of  government 
had  been  in  operation  eleven  years. 

EARLY  TERRITORIAL  LAWS. 

The  first  law  was  proclaimed  July  25,  1788,  and  was  entitled  “An  Act 
for  Regulating  and  Establishing  the  Militia.”  Two  days  thereafter  the 
Governor  issued  a proclamation  establishing  the  county  of  Washington, 


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which  included  all  the  territory  east  of  the  Scioto  river  to  which  the  Indian 
title  had  been  extinguished,  reaching  northward  to  Lake  Erie,  the  Ohio 
river  and  the  Pennsylvania  line  being  its  eastern  boundary;  Marietta,  the 
seat  of  the  territorial  government,  also  became  the  county  seat  of  Washing- 
ton county. 

Quite  a number  of  laws  were  necessarily  adopted  and  published  during 
1788  and  the  following  year.  From  1790  to  1795  they  published  sixty-four, 
forty-four  of  them  being  adopted  at  Cincinnati  during  the  months  of  June, 
July  and  August  of  the  year  last  named,  by  the  Governor  and  Judges 
Symmes  and  Turner.  They  are  known  as  the  “Maxwell  Code,”  from  the 
name  of  the  publisher,  and  were  intended,  says  the  author  of  Western  An- 
nals, “to  form  a pretty  complete  body  of  statutory  provisions.”  In  1798 
eleven  more  were  adopted.  It  was  the  published  opinion  of  Chief  Justice 
Chase  “that  it  may  be  doubted  whether  any  colony,  at  so  early  a period  after 
its  first  establishment,  ever  had  so  good  a code  of  laws.”  Among  them 
was  that  which  provided  that  the  common  law  of  England,  and  all  statutes 
in  aid  thereof  made  previous  to  the  fourth  year  of  James  I,  should  be  in 
full  force  within  the  territory.  Probably  four-fifths  of  the  laws  adopted  were 
selected  from  those  in  force  in  Pennsylvania,  and  others  were  mainly  taken 
from  the  statutes  of  Virginia  and  Massachusetts. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  EARLY  COUNTIES. 

Washington  county,  embracing  the  eastern  half  of  the  present  state 
of  Ohio,  was  the  only  organized  county  of  the  Northwest  Territory  until 
early  in  1790,  when  the  Governor  proclaimed  Hamilton  county,  which  em- 
braced all  the  territory  between  the  Big  and  Little  Miami  rivers,  and  ex- 
tended north  to  the  “Standing  Stone  Forks,”  on  the  first-named  stream. 

Undoubtedly  Wayne  county  was  the  third  in  order  of  organization.  The 
Ordinance  of  1787,  referring  to  the  territory  “Northwest  of  the  River  Ohio,” 
divided  it  into  three  divisions,  the  “Western,”  the  “Middle”  and  the  “Eastern.” 
Howe,  in  his  “History  of  Ohio,”  says:  “Wayne  county  was  established  by 
proclamation  of  Governor  St.  Clair,  August  15,  1796,  and  was  the  third 
county  formed  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  Its  original  limits  were  very  ex- 
tensive, and  were  thus  defined  in  the  act  creating  it : 'Beginning  at  the  mouth 

of  the  Cuyahoga  river,  upon  Lake  Erie,  and  with  said  river  to  the  portage, 
between  it  and  the  Tuscarawas  branch  of  the  Muskingum;  thence  down  the 
said  branch  to  the  forks  at  the  carrying  place  above  Fort  Laurens;  thence  by 
a west  line  to  the  east  boundary  of  Hamilton  county  (which  is  a due  north 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


line  from  the  lower  Shawnees  town  upon  the  Scioto  river) ; thence  by  a line 
west  northerly  to  the  southern  part  of  the  portage  between  the  Miamis  of 
the  Ohio  and  the  St.  Mary’s  river ; thence  by  a line  also  west  northerly  to  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  portage  between  the  Wabash  and  the  Miamis  of 
Lake  Erie,  where  Fort  Wayne  now  stands;  thence  by  a line  west  northerly 
to  the  southern  part  of  Lake  Michigan ; thence  along  the  western  shores  of  the 
same  to  the  northwest  part  thereof  (including  the  lands  upon  the  streams 
emptying  into  the  said  lake)  ; thence  by  a due  north  line  to  the  territorial 
boundary  in  Lake  Superior,  and  with  the  said  boundary  through  Lakes  Huron, 
Sinclair  and  Erie  to  the  mouth  of  Cuyahoga  river,  the  place  of  beginning.' 

“These  limits  embrace  what  is  now  a part  of  Ohio.  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wis- 
consin and  all  of  Michigan,  and  the  towns  of  Ohio  City,  Chicago,  Sault  St. 
Mary’s,  Mackinaw,  etc.”  The  same  is  given  in  the  “Hundred  Year  Book/’ 
issued  by  the  state  of  Ohio  in  1902. 

It  will  be  observed  that  Hamilton  was  the  second  county  organized 
in  Ohio.  There  were  situated  within  its  limits,  when  organized,  several 
flourishing  villages  that  had  their  origin  during  the  closing  months  of  1788 
and  early  in  1789. 

Cincinnati  was  laid  out  in  1789,  by  Col.  Robert  Patterson,  Mathias 
Denman  and  Israel  Ludlow.  Several  not  very  successful  attempts  had  also 
been  made  at  various  points  between  Cincinnati  and  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Miami  by  Judge  Symmes.  The  early  settlers  in  Hamilton  county  were 
mostly  from  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  The 
Scioto  valley  was  next  to  be  settled,  and  chiefly  by  persons  from  Virginia 
and  Kentucky. 

The  early  settlement  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  during  the  closing 
years  of  the  eighteenth  century,  had  such  representative  men  as  Governor 
Samuel  Huntington  and  Hon.  Benjamin  Tappan,  and  the  good  words  that 
General  Washington  said  of  the  New  Englanders  who  settled  at  Marietta 
could  with  a slight  modification  apply  to  the  pioneers  of  the  aforesaid  set- 
tlement. 

EARLY  OHIO  VILLAGES  AND  TOWNS. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  principal  villages  and  towns  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  started  and  built  up  during  territorial  rule,  with  the  time  of 
surveying  the  first  lots,  also  names  of  the  proprietors : 

Marietta,  laid  out  in  1788  b\  Rufus  Putnam  and  the  Ohio  Land  Com- 
pany. 


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Columbia,  laid  out  in  1788  by  Benjamin  Stites,  Major  Gano  and  others. 
Cincinnati,  laid  out  in  1789  by  Robert  Patterson,  Mathias  Denman  and 
Israel  Ludlow. 

Gallipolis,  laid  out  in  1791  by  the  French  settlers. 

Manchester,  laid  out  in  1791  by  Nathaniel  Massie. 

Hamilton,  laid  out  in  1794  by  Israel  Ludlow. 

Dayton,  laid  out  in  1795  by  Israel  Ludlow  and  Generals  Dayton  and 
Wilkinson. 

Franklin,  laid  out  in  1795  by  William  C.  Schenck  and  Daniel  C.  Cooper. 
Chillicothe,  laid  out  in  1796  by  Nathaniel  Massie. 

Cleveland,  laid  out  in  1796  by  Job  V.  Styles. 

Franklinton,  laid  out  in  1797  by  Lucas  Sullivant. 

Steubenville,  laid  out  in  1798  by  Bazaleel  Wells  and  Jamies  Ross. 
Williamsburg,  laid  out  in  1799. 

Zanesville,  laid  out  in  1799  by  Jonathan  Zane  and  John  Mclntire. 

New  Lancaster,  laid  out  in  1800  by  Ebenezer  Zane. 

Warren,  laid  out  in  1801  by  Ephraim  Quinby. 

St.  Clairsville,  laid  out  in  1801  by  David  Newell. 

Springfield,  laid  out  in  1801  by  James  Demint. 

Newark,  laid  out  in  1802  by  William  C.  Schenck.  G.  W.  Burnett  and 
John  N.  Cummings. 

At  the  time  the  territorial  government  ended  in  Ohio,  Cincinnati  was 
the  largest  town  within  the  territory  and  contained  about  one  thousand 
population.  It  was  incorporated  in  1802. 


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CHAPTER  II. 


INDIAN  TRIBES  AND  MILITARY  CAMPAIGNS. 

From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  government  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  in  1788,  until  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  Greenville, 
in  1795,  the  attitude  of  many  of  the  Indian  tribes  towards  the  white  settlers 
was  that  of  extreme  and  unrelenting  hostility.  The  military  organizations 
which  had  marched  against  them,  before  the  establishment  of  civil  govern- 
ment in  the  great  Northwest,  had  signally  failed  to  subjugate  them  or  secure 
a permanent  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  disastrous  expedition  of  General 
Braddock  in  1755,  °f  Major  Wilkins  in  1763,  of  Colonel  Bradstreet  in  1764, 
of  Colonel  Lochry  in  1781  and  of  Colonel  Crawford  in  1782,  and  the  dis- 
graceful and  murderous  expedition  against  the  Moravian  Indians  on  the 
Tuscarawas,  the  last  named  year,  only  tended  to  inflame  the  hostile  Indians 
and  inspire  them  with  greater  courage  in  their  hostile  movements  and 
aggressive  measures  against  the  white  settlers.  The  fruitless,  if  not  abortive, 
campaigns  of  Colonel  McDonald  in  1774,  of  General  McIntosh  in  1778  and 
of  General  Broadhead  in  1781,  of  course  led  to  no  salutary  results.  Even 
the  successful  campaigns  of  Colonel  Boquet  in  1763-4,  of  Lord  Dunmore 
and  General  Lewis  in  1774,  and  of  George  Rogers  Clark  in  1788,  failed  to 
secure  peace  with  the  western  tribes.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Northwest 
Territory  were  therefore,  from  the  7th  of  April,  1788,  when  the  first  immi- 
grants arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  until  the  treaty  of  Green- 
ville was  concluded  in  August,  1795,  constantly  liable  to  the  stealthy  but 
deadly  attacks  of  the  perfidious,  merciless  savages  of  the  Northwest.’  But 
they  met  their  deadly,  cruel,  relentless  foes  in  the  spirit  of  genuine  manhood 
— of  true,  determined,  unflinching  heroism.  They  were  men  worthy  of 
the  heroic  age  of  the  West.  Bravely  did  they  bear  themselves  during  those 
seven  years  of  toil  and  privations,  of  dread  and  apprehension,  of  suffering 
and  sorrow,  of  blood  and  carnage. 

To  secure  the  speedy  termination  of  these  savage  atrocities  the  national 
government  early  organized  a number  of  military  expeditions,  the  first  of 
which  being  that  of  General  Harmar.  in  1790,  who  was  then  commander- 


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in-chief  of  the  military  department  of  the  West.  He  had  a few  hundred  reg- 
ular troops  under  his  command,  stationed  chiefly  at  Fort  Harmar  and  Fort 
Washington,  which  served  as  the  nucleus  of  his  army.  The  great  body  of 
his  troops,  however,  numbering  about  fourteen  hundred,  were  Pennsylvania 
and  Kentucky  volunteers,  the  former  being  under  the  immediate  command 
of  Col.  John  Hardin  and  the  latter  of  Colonel  Trotter.  The  expedition  left 
Fort  Washington  and  marched  to  the  junction  of  the  St.  Joseph  and  St. 
Mary  rivers  (now  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana),  where  detachments  of  the  army, 
under  command  of  Colonel  Hardin,  on  the  19th  and  22d  of  October,  en- 
countered the  enemy  and  suffered  mortifying  defeats.  Of  course,  the  cam- 
paign failed  to  give  peace  or  relief  from  apprehended  barbarities. 

The  next  year  General  St.  Clair,  the  Governor  of  the  territory,  who 
had  had  a Revolutionary  record  of  patriotism  and  ability,  organized  an 
sole  purpose  of  this  military  movement  was  to  destroy  the  common  enemies 
expedition,  whose  strength  exceeded  somewhat  that  of  General  Harmar’s. 
It  met  with  a most  disastrous  defeat,  November  4,  1791,  near  the  head- 
waters of  the  Wabash,  now  in  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  the  battlefield  now 
being  known  as  Fort  Recovery.  Of  fifteen  hundred  men  in  the  battle,  more 
than  half  of  them  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  it  was  indeed  a great 
calamity  to  the  disheartened  and  greatly  harassed  pioneers  of  the  North- 
west Territory. 

Immediately  upon  the  defeat  of  General  St.  Clair,  the  federal  gov- 
ernment took  the  preliminary  steps  to  raise  a large  army  to  operate  against 
the  hostile  tribes  for  the  purpose  of  finally  and  permanently  subjugating 
them.  Military  preparations,  however,  progressed  slowly,  and  the  summer 
of  1794  had  nearly  passed  before  the  confederated  hostile  Indians  were  met 
in  battle  array  by  General  Wayne’s  army.  The  battle  was  fought  at  the 
Maumee  rapids  at  Fort  Meigs,  in  Wood  county,  Ohio.  The  same  is  known 
as  the  battle  of  Falling  Timbers,  though  sometimes  called  battle  of  the 
Maumee.  Wayne’s  army  numbered  about  three  thousand  men,  well  disci- 
plined and  ably  officered,  sixteen  hundred  of  whom  were  mounted  volun- 
teer troops  from  Kentucky,  commanded  by  Gen.  Charles  Scott,  of  said  state, 
who  was  the  second  ranking  officer  of  the  army.  The  choice,  however,  fell 
upon  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  the  old  comrade-in-arms  of  the  President,  and 
to  him  is  justly  ascribed  the  honor  of  defeating  the  Indians  commanded  by 
the  celebrated  chief,  Blue  Jacket,  on  the  Maumee,  August  20,  1794,  and  of 
permanently  breaking  the  power  of  a very  formidable  Indian  confederacy. 
Cessation  of  hostilities  followed  the  victory  and  a peace  was  secured  which 

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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  general  government  had  vainly  sought  by  friendly  negotiations — a peace 
that  continued  for  many  years,  even  until  after  the  Northwest  Territory 
had  ceased  to  be  and  the  important  incidents  and  events  connected  there- 
with had  passed  into  history. 

SECOND  GRADE  OF  TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 

The  Territory  of  the  Northwest  having  reached  a position  where  it 
contained  five  thousand  free  male  inhabitants,  on  the  29th  of  October,  1798, 
preliminary  steps  were  taken  to  cause  it  to  take  on  its  second  grade  in 
governmental  affairs,  by  proclaiming  a call  for  an  election  of  territorial  rep- 
resentatives, the  same  to  be  held  the  third  Monday  in  December,  1798.  The 
representatives  from  Wayne  county  were  Solomon  Sibley,  Jacob  Visgar  and 
Charles  F.  Chabert.  These,  with  nineteen  other  representatives,  met  at 
Cincinnati  January  22,  1799,  and  nominated  ten  men,  whose  names  they  for- 
warded to  the  United  States  Congress,  five  of  whom  were  to  be  selected  by 
that  body  to  constitute  the  Legislative  Council  of  the  territory.  They  then 
adjourned,  to  meet  September  16,  *799. 

March  22,  1799,  either  Congress  or  the  President  (it  is  not  known 
which)  chose  from  among  the  names  already  mentioned,  including  those 
from  Wayne  county,  the  following  gentlemen  to  compose  the  first  Legislative 
Council  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  their  term  of  office  to  continue  for  five 
years,  any  three  of  whom  to  form  a quorum:  Jacob  Burnet,  of  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  county;  Henry  Vanderburg,  of  Vincennes,  Knox  county;  Robert 
Oliver,  of  Marietta,  Washington  county;  James  Findley,  of  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  county;  David  Vance,  of  Vanceville,  Jefferson  county. 

The  Ordinance  of  1787  named  Congress  as  the  authority  in  whom  was 
vested  the  right  to  select  five  from  the  list  of  ten  persons  to  constitute  the 
Territorial  Council.  But  it  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  said  ordinance  was 
passed  by  a Congress  that  legislated  in  pursuance  of  the  articles  of  confedera- 
tion, while  yet  we  had  neither  President  nor  United  States  senators,  hence 
authority  was  given  to  Congress  to  make  a selection.  But  it  is  highly  prob- 
able that  the  aforesaid  authority  was  later  transferred  to  the  President,  or 
to  the  senate,  or  to  them  jointly. 

FIRST  COUNCIL  AND  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Both  the  Council  and  the  House  of  Representatives  met  at  Cincinnati; 
September  16,  1799,  and  effected  a permanent  organization.  The  president 
of  the  Council  was  Henry  Vanderburg:  the  secretary  was  William  C. 


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35 


Schneck ; doorkeeper,  George.  Howars,  and  sergeant-at-arms,  Abraham  Cary. 
The  officers  of  the  first  House  of  Representatives  were:  Speaker  of  the 

House,  Edwin  Tiffin;  clerk,  John  Riley;  doorkeeper,  Joshua  Rowland; 
sergeant-at-arms,  Abraham  Cary. 

Thirty  bills  were  passed  at  the  first  session  of  the  Territorial  Legisla- 
ture, but  the  Governor  vetoed  eleven  of  them.  They  also  elected  William 
Henry  Harrison,  then  secretary  of  the  territory,  a delegate  to  Congress,  by 
a vote  of  eleven  to  ten  that  were  cast  for  Arthur  St.  Clair,  Jr.,  a son  of 
General  and  Governor  St.  Clair.  The  first  session  of  the  Territorial  Legis- 
lature was  prolonged  until  November,  1800,  at  which  time  they  reassembled 
at  Chillicothe,  which  place  had  been  made  the  seat  of  the  territorial  govern- 
ment. The  second  session  only  lasted  about  one  month. 

On  May  9,  1800,  Congress  passed  an  act  establishing  Indiana  Territory, 
with  boundary  including  the  present  states  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison  having  accepted  the  office  of  governor  of  that  terri- 
tory, it  devolved  upon  the  Territorial  Legislature,  at  its  second  session,  not 
only  to  elect  a delegate  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  his  resignation,  but 
also  to  elect  a delegate  to  serve  during  the  succeeding  Congress.  William 
McMillan,  of  Cincinnati,  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  Paul  Fearing, 
of  Marietta,  was  elected  to  serve  from  March  4,  1801,  to  March  4,  1803. 
They  were  both  reputed  to  be  men  of  superior  ability. 

By  the  organization  of  Indiana  Territory,  the  counties  of  St.  Clair, 
Knox  and  Randolph  were  taken  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Northwest 
Territory,  and  with  them,  of  course,  Henry  Vanderburg,  of  Knox  county, 
president  of  the  Council;  also  Shadrack  Bond,  of  St.  Clair  county;  John 
Small,  of  Knox  county,  and  John  Edgar,  of  Randolph  county,  members  of 
the  popular  Legislature. 

November  23,  1801,  the  third  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  was 
commenced  at  Chillicothe,  pursuant  to  adjournment.  The  time  for  which 
the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  were  elected  having  expired, 
and  an  election  having  been  held,  quite  a number  of  new  members  appeared. 
The  Council  remained  nearly  as  it  was  at  the  previous  session,  there  being 
but  two  changes,  that  of  Solompn  Sibley,  of  Detroit,  Wayne  county,  who 
took  the  place  of  Henry  Vanderburg,  thrown  into  the  new  territory;  Robert 
Oliver,  of  Marietta,  was  chosen  president  of  the  Council. 

Wayne  county,  as  then  constituted,  was  represented  in  the  third  session 
by  Francois  Joncaire  Chabert,  George  McDonald  and  Jonathan  Schieffelin. 
This  was  the  last  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  of  the  Northwest 


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36 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Territory,  with  Ohio  as  a part,  because  Congress,  on  April  30,  1802,  passed 
an  act  “to  enable  the  people  of  the  eastern  division  of  the  territory  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  river  to  form  a constitution  and  state  government,  and 
for  the  admission  of  such  state  into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing  with 
the  original  states,  and  for  other  purposes.”  Members  of  the  constitutional 
convention  for  Ohio  met  at  Chillicothe,  November  1,  1802,  to  perform  the 
duty  assigned  them. 

The  territorial  government  was  ended  by  the  organization  of  the  state 
government,  March  3,  1803,  when  the  history  of  the  state  of  Ohio  com- 
menced in  fact. 


MILITARY  CAMPAIGNS  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

In  the  late  Ben  Douglas’s  history  of  Wayne  county,  issued  in  1878, 
the  description  of  the  various  campaigns  of  a military  nature  that  have 
taken  place  on  and  near  Wayne  county  soil  has  been  so  fairly  and  correctly 
treated  from  a true  historical  standpoint  that  it  has  been  thought  wise  to 
incorporate  much  of  the  chapter  in  this  work,  as  Mr.  Douglas  was  selected 
as  one  of  the  writers,  furnished  some  of  the  material  for  this  work  and 
died  before  the  work  was  completed. 

Crawford’s  expedition  was  under  direction  of  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment, and  not  under  the  black  flag,  as  has  sometimes  been  stated.  The 
of  the  frontier,  but  not,  as  has  sometimes  been  supposed,  to  destroy  the 
Indian  tribes  who  were  innocent  of  any  crime.  Mr.  Butterfield,  in  his 
"Crawford’s  Campaign  Against  Sandusky,”  cleared  up  many  of  the  hitherto 
mysteries  touching  this  much-talked-of  campaign. 

As  a matter  of  history,  startling  and  interesting  to  us  all,  and  to  expel 
uncertainty  concerning  the  occupancy  of  Wayne  county  by  soldiery  prior 
to  and  during  the  early  settlement  of  it,  this  brief  chapter  is  introduced. 
It  will  be  necessary  to  summarize,  as  this  section  was  not  the  theater  of  any 
signal  exploits,  but  simply  on  the  line  of  transit  to  the  subsequent  tragic 
field.  Researches  along  this  line  were  instigated  in  a measure  by  the  fact 
that  in  the  minds  of  many  people  they  have  been  associated  with  the  war  of 
1812.  In  this  search  for  material  there  have  been  frequently  pointed  out  a 
score  of  exact  spots  where  Crawford  encamped,  the  precise  place  where 
he  crossed  Killbuck,  the  Indian  trail  that  he  followed,  or  the  road  that  he 
had  cut  through  the  woods,  etc.  All  of  which  opinions  are  honestly  enter- 
tained, but  altogether  incorrect.  Heckwelder,  Doddridge  and  dozens  of 
others  have  denounced  and  defamed  the  organization  as  bandits,  a troop  of 


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37 


murderers,  intent  on  slaughtering  the  rest  of  the  Christian  Indians,  and 
repeating  the  massacre  of  Gnadenhutten,  with  which  the  brave  Williamson 
was  identified.  To  place  Crawford  and  the  purpose  of  his  campaign  fairly 
before  the  public,  it  is  only  necessary  to  allude  to  the  instructions  of  Gen. 
William  Irvine,  commander  of  the  western  department,  located  at  Fort  Pitt, 
addressed  to  the  officer  that  might  be  appointed  to  command  the  expedition 
against  the  Indian  town,  or  in  proximity  to  Sandusky: 

“The  object  of  your  command  is  to  destroy  with  fire  and  sword  (if  prac- 
ticable) the  Indian  town  and  settlement  at  Sandusky,  by  which  we  hope  to 
give  ease  and  safety  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  country;  but  if  impracticable, 
then  you  will  doubtless  perform  such  other  services  in  your  power  as  will, 
in  their  consequences,  have  a tendency  to  answer  this  great  end.  * * * 

“And  it  is  indispensably  necessary  that  subordination  and  discipline 
should  be  kept.  The  whole  ought  to  understand  that,  notwithstanding  they 
are  volunteers,  yet  by  this  tour  they  are  to  get  credit  for  it  in  their  tours  of 
military  duties;  and  that  for  this  and  other  good  reasons  they  must,  while 
out  on  this  duty,  consider  themselves  to  all  intents  subject  to  military  laws 
and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  militia  when  in  active  service. 
You  must  always  have  in  view  laws  of  arms,  of  nations,  or  independent 
states.” 

The  volunteers  constituting  the  force,  numbering  about  four  hundred 
and  eighty  men,  were  principally  Pennsylvanians,  in  the  vigor  and  bloom  of 
their  active  life.  Butterfield  asserts  that  two-thirds  of  them  were  from  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania.  In  a manuscript  letter,  written  November  io, 
1799,  General  Irvine  says:  “The  troops  were  volunteer  militia,  part  Penn- 

sylvanians and  part  Virginians,  and  a few  continental  officers  whom  I sent.” 

By  the  25th  of  May,  1782,  the  river  had  been  crossed  and  the  men  mus- 
tered at  the  old  Mingo  towns  west  of  the  Ohio.  Immediately  an  election 
was  had  for  officers,  William  Crawford  being  chosen  colonel,  by  five  of  a ma- 
jority, over  David  Williamson,  his  competitor,  who  had  many  persistent 
friends. 

The  dauntless  commander  of  the  ill-starred  expedition  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parentage,  but  a native  of  Orange  county,  Virginia,  where  he  was  born 
in  1732.  He  was  a companion  and  associate  of  Washington,  with  whom  he 
had  acquired  a knowledge  of  land  surveying.  He  was  commissioned  an 
ensign  when  twenty-three  years  old,  in  1755,  by  the  governor  of  Virginia. 
Subsequently  he  served  under  General  Forbes,  and  in  January,  1776,  as  a 
lieutenant-colonel,  he  joined  the  Revolutionary  army.  He  crossed  the  Dela- 


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38 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ware  with  Washington  Christmas  day  and  rejoiced  with  him  in  Trenton  over 
victory  the  following  day.  He  was  retired  in  October,  1781. 

But  soon  a scheme  was  discussed,  in  view  of  the  threatening  aspect  of 
the  border  and  Indian  troubles,  especially  the  tribes  in  the  vicinity  of  San- 
dusky. Against  his  fixed  determination  to  remain  in  private  life  were  ar- 
rayed the  public  exigency,  his  powerful  impulse  of  patriotism,  and  the  warm 
friendship  he  had  for  General  Irvine.  With  severe  reluctance  he  accepted 
the  command  to  which  he  had  been  elected  May  24,  1782.  So  it  was  that 
the  sunlight  of  the  following  morning  found  William  Crawford,  then  fifty 
years  of  age,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  four  columns  marching  from  Mingo 
Bottom  for  Sandusky,  its  objective  point,  a distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles.  Here  the  description  of  Mr.  Butterfield  concerning  the  movement  of 
this  campaign  will  be  given  in  his  own  language,  as  follows: 

“The  route  lay  through  what  is  now  the  counties  of  Jefferson,  Harrison, 
Tuscarawas,  Holmes,  Ashland,  Richland  and  Crawford,  nearly  to  the  center 
of  Wyandot  county,  Ohio.  A direct  course  would  have  led  near  the  present 
towns  of  New  Philadelphia,  Millersburg,  Loudonville  and  Gabon,  but,  as 
will  hereafter  be  seen,  this  straight  line  was  not  followed.  The  whole  dis- 
tance, except  about  thirty  miles  at  the  end  of  the  route,  was  through  an 
unbroken  forest. 

“The  principal  impediments  to  a rapid  march  were  the  hills,  swamps  and 
tangled  growth  of  forests.  The  Muskingum,  Killbuck,  forks  of  the  Mohican 
and  Sandusky  were  the  streams  to  be  crossed,  all  of  which,  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  and  especially  in  the  spring  of  1782,  were  not  fordable  without 
difficulty.  As  the  cavalcade  moved  up  over  the  bluff,  an  almost  due  west 
course  was  taken,  striking  at  once  into  the  wilderness,  now  deepening  and 
darkening  around  it.  The  army  progressed  rapidly  at  first,  moving  along  the 
north  side  of  Cross  creek,  which  had  already  received  the  name  it  still 
bears.  After  leaving  what  is  now  Steubenville  township,  it  passed  through 
the  present  township  of  Crosscreek,  and  Wayne,  to  the  western  boundary  of 
Jefferson  county,  as  at  present  defined,  crossing  into  what  is  now  Harrison 
county,  in  German  township:  thence  across  the  summit  to  the  spot  where 
the  town  of  Jefferson  now  stands.  From  this  point  a straight  course  would 
have  led  them,  at  no  great  distance,  into  what  is  now  Carroll  county.  But 
their  horses  had  tired  under  their  heavy  loads  in  the  hills  and  swamps. 
This  obliged  them  to  incline  to  the  southward,  toward  the  wasted  Moravian 
towns,  into  a more  level  country,  though  more  frequented  by  hunters  and 
warriors.  This  alternative  was  accepted  by  Crawford  with  great  reluctance, 
as  his  policy  was  to  avoid  trails  and  the  region  infested  bv  the  enemy. 


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39 


relying  for  success,  as  already  stated,  upon  effecting  a surprise.  Otherwise 
he  would  have  followed  Williamson’s  trail  from  Mingo  Bottom  to  the  Mus- 
kingum, which  led  along  a considerable  distance  south,  near  where  Smiths- 
field,  in  Jefferson,  and  Cadiz,  in  Harrison  counties,  now  stand,  through  a 
region  not  so  difficult  to  be  traversed,  but  on  the  line  of  the  Indian  traces 
between  the  Ohio  and  Muskingum  rivers.” 

From  the  moment  of  starting,  every  precaution  was  taken  against  sur- 
prises, or  ambuscades,  and  this  too  although,  as  yet,  not  an  Indian  had  been 
seen.  The  wily  nature  of  the  savage  was  too  well  understood  by  the  com- 
mander of  the  expedition  to  allow  of  any  confidence  of  security  because  no 
foe  had  been  discovered.  Nothing  worthy  of  note  transpired  until  Monday 
night,  the  27th,  while  at  their  third  encampment.  Here  a few  of  the  men  lost 
their  horses,  and  as  their  continuing  with  the  army,  unable  as  they  were  to 
carry  little  besides  their  arms,  would  only  prove  a source  of  embarrass- 
ment, they  reluctantly,  therefore,  retraced  their  steps  to  Mingo  Bottom. 

Sixty  miles  had  been  made  in  four  days’  march,  when  the  fourth  en- 
campment was  made  upon  the  charred  remains  of  New  Schonbrunn.  “Dur- 
ing the  evening,”  continues  the  same  author,  “Major  Brinton  and  Captain 
Bean  went  some  distance  from  camp  to  reconnoiter.  When  but  a quarter 
of  a mile  away  they  espied  two  savages,  upon  whom  they  immediately  fired, 
but  without  effect.  These  were  the  first  hostile  shots  fired  at  the  foe.  It 
was  supposed  by  Crawford  that  the  army  had  not  before  been  discovered  by 
the  enemy.  Fallacious  belief!  Secrecy  now  being  out  of  the  question,  as 
the  two  Indians  had  made  their  escape,  it  only  remained  for  Crawford  to 
press  forward,  with  all  possible  dispatch,  to  afford  the  enemy  as  little  time 
as  possible  for  defensive  preparations.  The  march  was  therefore  continued 
on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  rapidly,  but  with  greater  precaution  than  had 
previously  been  observed.  The  guides,  taking  a northwest  course  through  the 
wilderness  from  the  Muskingum,  brought  the  army  to  the  Killbuck,  some 
distance  above  the  present  town  of  Millersburg,  the  county  seat  of  Holmes 
county.  Thence  they  marched  to  the  Killbuck.  At  a short  distance  the  army 
reached  a large  spring,  later  known  as  Butler's  or  Jones’  spring,  near  the 
line  of  Wayne  county,  ten  miles  south  of  Wooster,  where,  on  the  evening 
of  May  30th,  the  volunteers  encamped.  At  this  spring  one  of  the  men  died 
and  was  buried,  his  name  being  cut  on  the  bark  of  a tree  close  by  his  grave. 

“From  this  point  the  army  moved  westward  along  the  north  side  of  what 
is  known  as  Odell's  lake,  passing  between  two  small  lakes,  where  they  found 
the  heads  of  two  large  fish,  freshly  caught,  lying  on  the  ground,  which 
awakened  suspicion  that  Indians  were  near.  Thence  they  passed  the  spot 


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40 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


where  afterward  was  founded  the  village  of  Greentown,  in  Ashland  county, 
as  now  known.  From  this  point  they  struck  across  to  the  Rocky  Fork  of 
the  Mohican,  up  which  stream  they  traveled  until  a spring  was  reached,  near 
where  the  city  of  Mansfield  now  stands,  in  Richland  county ; thence  a little 
north  of  west,  to  a fine  spring  five  miles  farther  up  in  what  is  known  as 
Spring  Mills,  on  the  line  of  the  present  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  & Chicago 
railroad,  eight  miles  east  of  the  town  of  Crestline,  in  Crawford  county.  The 
army  halted  and  pitched  camp  there  for  the  night. 

“It  forcibly  pressed  forward  into  what  is  now  Crawford  county,  to  a 
point  on  the  Sandusky  river  a short  distance  west  of  Crestline,  where  a brief 
halt  was  made  and  enjoyed.  Although  on  the  enemy's  threshold,  being  then 
but  twenty-five  miles  from  the  contemplated  point,  there  was  not  visible  the 
face  of  a solitary  red  devil.  Their  march  was  vigorously  conducted,  leaving 
Bucyrus  about  three  miles  to  the  north,  when  a rest  was  made  near  the 
present  village  of  Wyandot.  After  extraordinary  caution  and  the  most  cir- 
cumspect care,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  June  the  expedition — then  but 
ten  miles  from  its  destination — opened  march.  This  was  executed  with 
considerable  celerity,  and  the  Wyandot  town  was  soon  in  possession  of 
Crawford  and  his  men.  But  the  artful  and  wary  Copper  Cheeks  were  not 
there ! The  cunning  of  the  wily  savages  was  demonstrated  and  the  surprise 
strategy  forestalled  and  outwitted ! 

“The  abandoned  Indian  village  was  occupied  but  a few  brief  hours  by 
the  somewhat  disappointed  but  indomitable  commandant  and  his  troops.  He 
resolved  upon  pursuit,  which  was  commenced.  But  before  much  progress 
in  this  respect  had  been  made,  and  for  prudential  and  grave  reasons,  he 
checked  his  advance  and  convened  his  subordinates  for  purposes  of  con- 
sultation. The  substance  of  their  deliberations  was  to  not  much  longer 
continue  in  the  pursuit,  as  the  absence  of  the  Indian  force  on  the  plain  lands 
induced  the  sober  conjecture  that  they  were  concentrating  their  hordes  for 
bloody  and  stubborn  opposition.  For  such  is  the  antithesis  of  the  Indian 
character,  such  its  fecundity  of  plot  and  design,  such  its  fertility  in  original 
conception,  that  to  circumvent  it  is  no  easy  task — and  with  this  vast  central 
fact  was  Crawford  familiar.  As  a consequence  a body  of  light  horse  was 
utilized  as  scouts.  Their  reconnoiterings  soon  developed  the  locality  and 
position  of  the  tawny  warriors,  of  which  fact  Crawford  was  immediately  ap- 
prized. The  advance  of  the  savages  was  slow  but  determined.  Crawford 
prepared  for  battle  and  ordered  a forward  movement.  Sharp  volleys  from 
his  ranks  soon  caused  them  to  withdraw  from  a grove  which  they  had 
selected,  a most  favorable  position.  Captain  Pipe,  or  The  Pipe,  commanded 


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41 


the  Delawares,  the  van  of  the  assailants,  and  with  him  were  Girty  and  Win- 
genttnd.  Soon  the  Delawares  were  reinforced  by  the  Wyandots,  the  whole 
force  being  under  the  command  of  the  infamous  Elliott,  a white  demon, 
who  ordered  a flank  movement,  which  for  a while  tasted  mightily  like  dis- 
aster to  the  brave  boys  who  mustered  on  Mingo  Bottom.  But  the  American 
position,  in  spite  of  the  craft  of  the  enemy,  was  valorously  maintained.  From 
four  o’clock,  when  the  gauntlet  of  the  battle  was  accepted,  until  the  shadows 
of  the  night  were  descending  the  conflict  was  carried  on,  and  very  frequently 
with  ambiguous  success  to  our  arms.  However,  as  night  approached,  the 
firing  perceptibly  diminished  and  by  daybreak  it  had  substantially  subsided. 

“The  victory  was  clearly  with  the  Americans,  and  although  Crawford 
was  left  in  full  possession  of  the  battlefield,  yet  the  Indians  were  far  from 
being  dispirited.  They  well  knew  that  reinforcements  were  hastening  to 
their  relief — that  these  would  certainly  reach  them  on  the  morrow. 

“The  next  day,  June  5th,  irregular  and  random  interchanges  of  mus- 
ketry were  indulged  in  without  serious  ‘hurt  or  inconvenience’  to  either  side. 
Meanwhile  plans  had  been  consummated  for  a desperate  and  decisive  assault. 

“‘Alas!  how  hope  is  born  to  expire.’ 

“This  project  was  dashed  in  its  inception,  crushed  in  embryo.  Mounted 
Assyrians  from  a British  camp  made  their  appearance  in  the  interests  of 
the  barbaric  wretches  whom  they  were  inciting  to  cruelty  and  revenge.  Here 
was  an  element  of  resistance  on  which  Crawford  had  not  calculated,  and 
which  had  not  excited  the  remotest  suspicion.  That  night  a council  of  war 
resolved  that  prudence  dictated  retreat,  and  when  orders  were  issued  to  that 
effect,  the  same  took  place  at  9 P.  M.  Suspecting  a retreat  and  general  back- 
ward movement,  the  Indians  began  a sharp  fire,  which  produced  some  tem- 
porary confusion  and  consternation,  but  which  was  unaccompanied  with  any 
stirring  results.  This  was  but  a slight  impediment  to  the  retreat,  as  it  was 
soon  undertaken,  with  Crawford  in  the  front.  The  Delawares  and  Shawnees 
interposed  prompt  and  stout  resistance.  Flank  and  rear  of  the  army  were 
sorely  harassed.  A portion  of  it  had  become  considerably  demoralized.  For 
the  first  time  it  was  now  discovered  that  Colonel  Crawford  was  missing,  as 
was  also  Doctor  Knight,  the  surgeon  of  the  command. 

“David  Williamson,  on  whom  devolved  the  control  of  the  force,  dis- 
played great  activity  and  zeal  in  restoring  order  and  dispelling  confusion. 
Nor  was  the  jewel  of  good  luck  to  be  awarded  him  either,  for,  on  the  6th  of 
the  month,  he  was  ‘brought  up  standing’  by  his  persistent  pursuers.  Yet 
he  delivered  heroic  battle,  and  although  attacked  on  the  front,  left  flank  and 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


rear,  his  assailants  soon  inclined  to  withdraw.  As  the  retreat  continued,  at 
intervals  the  enemy  would  pour  a destructive  fire  into  our  ranks,  but  through 
the  chivalrous  efforts  of  Williamson  and  Lieutenant  Rose  any  rout  or  stam- 
pede was  avoided. 

“After  the  final  shots  were  exchanged  the  boys  who  had  escaped  the 
torment  and  the  tormentors  were  permitted  to  return  to  the  Ohio  as  best 
they  could  through  the  wilderness,  without  any  serious  molestation  or  fear.” 

Of  this  ill-turned  military  campaign  it  is  useless  to  write  further,  than 
to  describe  as  best  we  can  from  the  writing's  of  others  the  harrowing  catas- 
trophe which  befell  the  bold  and  gallant  leader,  Crawford. 

THE  BURNING  OF  COLONEL  CRAWFORD. 

Col.  William  Crawford’s  capture  and  cruel  death  by  burning  paints  one 
of  the  darkest  pictures  in  the  great  Indian  warfare  of  this  country.  His 
capture  resulted  from  the  confusion  incident  to  the  retreat  and  the  solicitude 
he  had  for  his  son  John,  his  son-in-law  and  nephew,  from  whom  he  had 
become  separated.  He  was  ambuscaded  by  a gang  of  Delawares  about  twen- 
ty-eight miles  east  of  the  battlefield,  and  borne  to  an  Indian  camp  where,  be- 
sides the  Colonel  and  Dr.  Knight,  were  nine  other  prisoners.  On  the  ioth 
of  June  the  prisoners  were  marched  to  Sandusky,  over  thirty  miles  distant, 
accompanied  by  seventeen  Delawares,  who  carried  the  scalps  of  four  white 
men.  The  next  day,  The  Pipe  and  Wingenund  visited  them,  The  Pipe  paint- 
ing the  faces  of  all  the  prisoners  black.  They  were  then  marched  to  Wyan- 
dot, a distance  of  eight  miles,  and  thence  to  Tymochtee  creek,  where  it  was 
distressingly  evident  that  their  doom  was  sealed.  Here  an  Indian  took  pos- 
session of  Knight,  who  was  to  escort  him  to  the  Shawnees’  towns,  distant, 
as  the  Indian  said,  forty  miles.  The  Doctor  became  somewhat  sociable  with 
his  red  companion,  and,  as  it  was  the  12th  of  June,  the  mosquitoes  were 
rather  bothersome,  so  they  concluded  to  build  a fire  to  banish  the  little  tor- 
mentors. The  Doctor,  in  poking  up  the  fire,  managed  to  secure  a good  dog- 
wood club  and,  vigilant  of  an  opportunity,  delivered  a staggering  blow  upon 
the  head  of  his  custodian,  precipitating  him  to  the  ground.  Recovering  from 
the  blow,  the  Indian  sprang  to  his  feet  and  scampered  away,  yelling  in  true 
Indian  fashion.  This  was  Knight’s  moment  of  escape,  and  gloriously  did 
he  embrace  it.  Narrow  indeed  was  his  escape  from  the  fagot  and  the  tor- 
mentor’s flame!  Doctor  Knight,  after  passing  through  Wayne  county, 
reached  Fort  Pitt  July  4th,  just  twenty-one  days  after  his  escape. 


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But  no  such  story  is  to  be  recorded  concerning  poor  Colonel  Crawford. 
Butterfield  describes  the  inhuman  burning  of  Crawford  in  these  graphic 
words : 

“Crawford  was  stripped  naked  and  ordered  to  sit  down.  The  Indians 
now  beat  him  with  sticks  and  their  fists.  The  fatal  stake — a post  about  fifteen 
feet  high — had  been  set  firmly  in  the  ground.  Crawford’s  hands  were  bound 
behind  his  back,  and  a rope  fastened,  one  end  to  the  foot  of  the  post  and 
the  other  to  the  ligature  between  his  wrists.  The  rope  was  long  enough  for 
him  to  sit  down  or  walk  around  the  post  once  or  twice,  and  return  the  same 
way.  Crawford  then  called  to  Girty  and  asked  if  they  intended  to  burn  him. 
Girty  answered  ‘Yes.’  He  then  replied  he  would  take  it  all  patiently.  Upon 
this  Captain  Pipe  made  a speech  to  the  Indians,  who,  at  its  conclusion,  yelled 
a hideous  and  hearty  assent  to  what  had  been  said. 

“The  spot  where  Crawford  was  now  to  be  immolated  to  satisfy  the  re- 
vengeful thirst  of  the  Delawares  for  the  blood  of  the  borderers,  was  in  what 
is  now  Crawford  township,  Wyandot  county — a short  distance  northeast 
from  the  present  town  of  Crawfordsville. 

“About  four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  Tuesday,  June  n,  1782,  the 
awful  torture  began.  The  Indian  men  took  up  their  guns  and  shot  powder 
into  Crawford’s  naked  body,  from  his  feet  as  far  up  as  his  neck.  It  was  the 
opinion  of  Knight  that  not  less  than  seventy  loads  were  discharged  upon 
him ! They  then  crowded  about  him  and,  to  the  best  of  Knight’s  observation, 
cut  off  both  of  his  ears,  for  when  the  throng  dispersed,  he  saw  blood  run- 
ning from  both  sides  of  his  head. 

“The  fire  was  about  seven  yards  from  the  post  to  which  Crawford 
was  tied.  It  was  made  of  small  hickory  poles,  burnt  quite  through  in  the 
middle,  each  end  of  the  pole  remaining  about  six  feet  in  length.  Three  or 
four  Indians,  by  turns,  would  take  up,  individually,  one  of  these  burning 
pieces  of  wood  and  apply  it  to  his  naked  body,  already  burnt  black  with 
powder. 

“These  tormentors  presented  themselves  on  every  side  of  him,  so  that 
whichever  way  he  ran  around  the  post,  they  met  him  with  the  burning  fagots. 
Some  of  the  squaws  took  broad  boards,  upon  which  they  carried  a quantity 
of  burning  coals  and  hot  embers,  and  threw  the  same  on  him,  so  that  in  a 
short  time  he  had  nothing  but  coals  of  fire  and  hot  ashes  to  walk  on. 

“In  the  midst  of  these  extreme  tortures,  Crawford  called  to  Girty  and 
begged  of  him  to  shoot  him.  Girty,  by  way  of  derision,  told  him  he  had  no 
gun.  Crawford,  at  this  period  of  his  suffering,  besought  Almighty  God  to 


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44 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


have  mercy  on  his  soul,  spoke  very  low,  and  bore  his  torments  with  the  most 
manly  fortitude.  He  continued  in  all  the  extremities  of  pain  for  an  hour  and 
three-quarters  or  two  hours  longer,  as  near  as  Knight  could  judge,  when 
at  last,  being  almost  spent,  he  lay  down  upon  his  stomach. 

“The  savages  then  scalped  him,  and  repeatedly  threw  the  scalp  into  the 
face  of  Knight,  telling  him  that  was  his  great  captain.  An  old  squaw  whose 
appearance,  thought  Knight,  every  way  answered  the  ideas  people  entertain 
of  the  devil,  got  a board,  took  a parcel  of  coals  and  ashes  and  laid  them  upon 
his  feet  and  began  to  walk  around  the  post.  She  next  put  burning  sticks 
to  him,  but  he  seemed  more  insensible  of  pain  than  before.  Knight  was 
now  taken  away  from  the  dreadful  scene. 

“Tradition  is  that  Crawford’s  life  went  out  with  the  setting  of  the  sun. 

“The  next  morning  in  passing  the  spot,  Knight  witnessed  the  bones  of 
his  old  comrade  and  commander  lying  among  the  debris  of  the  wasted  flames 
of  the  day  before. 

“Who  that  admires  valor  in  the  human  breast  can  fail  to  appreciate,  aye 
even  love,  the  God-like  fortitude  of  this  man.  To  be  shot  in  battle,  to  be 
stabbed  to  the  heart  by  an  assassin,  would  be  a glorious  release  from  the 
bondage  of  a life  compared  with  the  damnable  and  diabolical  process  of  dis- 
possessing the  startled  soul  of  its  raiment  of  flesh.” 


While  it  is  true  that  the  Indians  did  not  follow  the  retreating  army  as 
a body  farther  than  the  eastern  line  of  Crawford  county,  some  of  the  strag- 
glers were  pursued  much  farther.  A party  of  six  was  overtaken  in  Wayne 
county  by  some  Shawnee  scouts,  and  two  of  them  murdered.  Their  names 
are  not  now  known. 

The  story  of  Philip  Smith,  who  was  shot  in  his  arm  and  who  became 
separated  from  the  command,  is  one  of  unusual  interest.  He  was  but  a young 
man,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1761.  He  was  likewise  a pioneer 
of  Ohio,  and  came  to  Wayne  county  in  1811.  He  was  the  father  of  Nathan 
W.  Smith,  of  Wooster  township. 

Isaac  Newkirk,  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  grandfather  of 
John  W.  Newkirk,  of  Clinton  township,  and  Narcissa  L.,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Douglas  (recently  deceased),  was  a volunteer  in  this  expedition,  and  it  is 
believed  that  it  was  he  who  discovered,  during  their  encampment  there,  near 
Odell’s  lake,  the  widely  known  Newkirk  spring.  He  was  so  delighted  with  it 
and  the  beautiful  surrounding  prairies  and  wooded  uplands,  that  he  subse- 
quently entered  a section  of  these  lands. 


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The  above  account  of  the  famous  Crawford  campaign  has  been  largely 
quoted  from  the  extracts  and  radical  historical  points,  as  given  in  Butter- 
field’s and  Ben  Douglas’s  account  of  it,  and  will  no  doubt  ever  be  considered 
the  true  statement  of  fact  as  to  the  points  visited  and  the  movements  made 
by  this  little  pioneer  army  who  sought  to  defend  the  frontier  settlers  as 
against  the  cruel  Indian  tribes. 

BEAl/s  CAMPAIGN l8l2. 

What  was  and  is  still  referred  to  as  “Beall’s  army,”  consisted  of  a regi- 
ment of  raw,  undisciplined  Ohio  militia,  with,  perhaps,  an  ingredient  of 
similar  material  from  some  of  the  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania.  But 
little  can  be  obtained  from  the  government  archives  or  state  papers  concern- 
ing this  campaign — indeed  Ben  Douglas  almost  gave  the  task  up  as  useless. 
However,  to  his  labors  are  we  indebted  for  the  knowledge  we  do  possess, 
and  which  is  here  imparted  to  the  reader. 

Prior  to  the  war  of  1812  General  Beall,  who  had  served  in  the  regular 
army  and  who  had  removed  to  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  1803,  was  made 
colonel  of  the  militia  of  said  county,  and  subsequently  a brigadier-general. 
After  the  surrender  of  Hull,  August  16,  1812,  a terrible  consternation  seized 
upon  the  whole  community,  whereupon  a detachment  of  the  militia  was  or- 
ganized under  Beall  and  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  western  frontier. 
He  marched  his  detachment  to  Canton,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  additions 
were  made  to  it  from  Stark  and  Jefferson  counties,  etc.,  enlarging  its  rank 
and  file  to  the  dimensions  of  a full  regiment.  No  time  was  lost  in  organiz- 
ing the  new  militia  companies,  when  a regular  frontier  campaign  was  inaug- 
urated. Reaching  the  Wayne  county  line,  they  passed  through  Sugarcreek 
township  and  Paint  township,  thence  on  to  Wooster  where  they  made  a 
brief  encampment;  thence  to  the  northwest,  crossing  the  Big  Killbuck  a few 
rods  north  of  the  old  salt  works,  on  the  line  of  the  Indian  trail ; thence  west 
and  south  to  the  farms  of  John  A.  Lawrence,  Esq.,  and  Joshua  Warner,  Sr., 
about  two  miles  west  of  Wooster;  thence  due  west,  near  the  line  of  the  state 
road,  passing  through  or  near  the  present  site  of  Jefferson  and  Reedsburg, 
in  Plain  township;  thence  on  to  Jeromeville,  and  going  to  the  north  of 
Hayesville,  Ashland  county ; thence  to  the  Huron,  Sandusky  and  Fort  Meigs. 
Throughout  this  march  General  Beall  accompanied  the  army  to  Camp  Huron, 
where  he  joined  the  troops  of  the  Western  Reserve,  under  Gen.  Elijah  Wads- 
worth and  Gen.  Simon  Perkins.  Here  they  were  personally  visited  by  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


commander-in-chief,  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison,  who  organized  all  the 
troops  into  a single  brigade,  devolving  the  command  upon  General  Perkins. 
From  this  point  General  Beall  returned  home. 

A detachment  of  three  hundred  men,  under  Major  Cotgreve,  were  at  one 
time  ordered  to  the  relief  of  General  Winchester,  but,  hearing  of  the  disaster 
that  had  befallen  that  officer,  they  retreated  to  the  Rapids  where  General 
Harrison  was  stationed,  and  who  retired  to  Carrying  river,  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  a junction  with  the  troops  in  the  rear  and  favoring  the  convoy 
of  artillery  and  stores  then  coming  from  Upper  Sandusky.  What  proportion 
of  the  army  of  General  Beall  was  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Meigs  is  not  now 
known,  but  possibly  all  of  them.  His  army  was  an  eager,  patriotic  band, 
composed  largely  of  farmers  and  their  sons,  though  their  march  was  seem- 
ingly an  irregular  one  and  at  times  widely  scattered  and  without  the  order 
of  military  discipline,  but  their  patriotism  was  none  the  less  genuine.  As 
far  as  Camp  Huron  it  presented  but  few  obstacles,  and  was  characterized  by 
sudden  alarms,  scouts,  scares  and  skirmishes.  Beyond  that,  its  part  in  the 
drama  is  only  seen  by  dim  lights  and  almost  disappears  in  the  excitement 
of  the  actors  in  the  heavier  scenes. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  transit  of  this  army  through  the  country 
was  a source  of  terror  to  the  Indians,  and  that  its  very  presence  was  a great 
protection  to  the  early  settlers  against  their  murderous  invasions. 

Thomas  Eagle,  who  settled  in  Mohican  township,  then  Wayne,  but 
now  in  Ashland  county,  in  May,  1809,  piloted  Beall’s  army  from  Wooster 
to  Jeromeville  and  on  farther  west,  and  it  was  by  the  direction  of  this  officer 
that  the  old  fort  at  Jeromeville  was  built.  He  also  took  the  Jerometown  In- 
dians prisoners,  and  Baptiste  Jerome’s  wife  and  daughter,  who  shortly  after 
died,  an  act  for  which  the  General  was  criticized. 

General  Beall,  during  the  earlier  stages  of  the  war,  caused  the  arrest 
of  Jerome  on  the  grounds  of  disloyalty  and  had  him  incarcerated  in  Fort 
Stidger  for  a short  period. 

BATTLE  OF  THE  COW  PENS. 

The  following  concerning  the  battle  of  the  Cow  Pens  is  the  account 
given  in  Knapp’s  History  of  Ashland  County,  and  also  verified  by  others : 

“In  the  summer  of  1812  General  Beall  passed  through  Ashland  county 
with  the  army,  composed  mostly  of  the  militia  and  mounted  volunteers,  on 
their  way  to  Fort  Meigs.  They  encamped  for  two  weeks  upon  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Griffin  farm,  about  one  mile  and  a half  northeast  of  the  present 


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village  of  Haysville.  While  there  one  dark  night,  when  it  was  raining,  when 
the  army  was  \vrapped  in  slumber  and  not  dreaming  of  war,  when 
nothing  was  heard  but  the  patter  of  the  rain  and  the  sentinel’s  cry  'AH  is 
well/  there  came,  borne  upon  the  damp  night  air,  the  sharp,  shrill 
crack  of  a rifle.  The  sentinels  rushed  in  and  reported  the  enemy  upon  them. 
The  drums  beat  to  arms,  horses  neighed,  bugles  sounded.  The  ground  trem- 
bled with  the  dull  thud  of  squadrons  tramping.  The  order  was  given  to 
'Fire/  and  never  before  or  since  was  such  a noise  and  din  heard  in  Ver- 
million as  there  was  on  that  eventful  night.  The  cavalry  charged  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  supposed  enemy,  but,  finding  no  person  or  thing,  they  returned 
from  the  charge  and  reported  that  the  foe  had  retreated ; but  when  the  first 
gray  of  morning  appeared,  the  outposts  discovered  that  they  had  been  firing 
upon  a herd  of  cattle  belonging  to  the  settlers,  which  had  been  roam- 
ing through  the  woods,  and  had  slaughtered  seventeen.  This  was  afterward 
known  among  the  soldiers  as  'The  battle  of  the  Cow  Pens/  and  was  the  only 
engagement  in  which  many  of  them  were  employed,  although  others  gave 
vent  to  the  patriotism  that  filled  their  bosoms  and  yielded  up  their  lives  upon 
the  bloody  ramparts  of  Fort  Meigs.” 

LATEST  TRIBES  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY  INDIANS. 

Fortunate  indeed  it  was  that  the  early  settlers  did  not  have  to  fight 
and  defend  themselves  against  the  savage  Indians  as  did  the  pioneers  in 
other  sections  of  Ohio  and  farther  west,  especially  in  Indiana,  where  the 
Prophet  and  his  brother,  old  Tecumseh,  made  long  and  bloody  war  upon 
the  whites.  But  little  Indian  blood  was  shed  by  the  early  settlers  among  the 
few  skirmishes  that  occasionally  took  place. 

The  Delawares,  Wyandots,  Shawnees,  etc.,  were  among  the  most  nu- 
merous and  the  last  tribes  of  the  red  race  to  roam  over  Wayne  county  soil, 
as  they  gave  a last  farewell  look  upon  this  fertile  and  goodly  domain  and 
receded  to  the  far-off  West. 


THE  DELAWARES. 

According  to  Heckwelder,  the  Moravian,  the  Delawares,  from  a tradi- 
tion of  their  tribe,  possessed  the  western  portion  of  this  continent, — the 
Lenni  Lenape  supposed  to  be  residing  there, — but  in  the  distant  and  receding 
ages  they  traveled  eastward  to  the  Mississippi,  where  they  encountered  the 
warlike  Iroquois,  with  whom  they  formed  a league  against  other  tribes. 


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Successful  in  their  achievements,  they  arrogated  to  themselves  all  the  territory 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  whereupon  a division  was  made,  in  which  the  Dela- 
wares extended  themselves  to  the  Potomac,  Susquehanna,  Hudson  and  Dela- 
ware rivers. 

In  1650  the  Five  Nations  subjugated  them  and  they  were  again  reduced 
to  vassalage  by  their  old  confederates,  the  Iroquois.  A westward  movement 
was  afterwards  made  by  the  larger  portion  of  them,  when  they  recrossed  the 
Alleghany  mountains  and  finally,  about  1768,  made  their  chief  settlements 
in  Ohio.  In  the  Revolutionary  struggle  with  England  these  Indians  stood 
with  Great  Britain.  They  grew  riotous  over  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair  and 
danced  and  yelled  and  got  drunker  than  King  Bacchus  himself. 

In  1795  the  United  States  obtained  possession  of  their  lands  on  the  Mus- 
kingum and  they  were  removed  to  the  Wabash  valley  in  Indiana,  where  they 
remained  until  1819,  when  they  went  toward  the  setting  sun.  Some  of  the 
branch  tribes  did  not  follow  the  main  tribe,  however,  but  for  a time  remained 
in  the  East,  hovering  around  Pittsburg,  but  ultimately  journeyed  West.  The 
Wolf  tribe  was  one  of  the  branches  of  which  Captain  Pipe  was  a notable  chief, 
and  who  experienced  much  savage,  delirious  joy  in  the  roasting  of  Colonel 
Crawford,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  Of  this  tribe  and  quality 
were  the  Delawares,  who  roamed  over  Wayne  county  at  an  early  day  and 
were  here  when  the  whites  first  came  in. 

THE  WYANDOTS. 

These  Indians  were  a fragmentary  tribe  from  out  the  Tobacco  nation  of 
the  great  Hurons.  Judge  Jeffries  is  authority  for  the  following  concerning 
these  people. 

“In  the  dispersion  of  the  Hurons,  after  halting  for  a time  at  Michilli- 
mackinac,  being  there  attacked  by  the  Iroquois,  they  removed  to  the  islands 
at  the  mouth  of  Green  bay,  where  they  fortified  on  the  main  land.  Here  they 
were  pursued  by  the  Iroquois  and  for  safety  went  southward  to  the  domains 
of  the  Illinois,  from  thence  westward  to  the  Mississippi  and  country  of  the 
Sioux,  where  their  stay  was  very  short,  as  the  Sioux  soon  drove  them  beyond 
their  lines.  Their  next  place  of  residence  was  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Superior,  which  country  they  abandoned  in  1671  and  emigrated  to 
Michillimackinac.  They  did  not  remain  upon  this  land,  but  located  in  the 
northern  part  of  Michigan,  and  later  many  of  the  tribe  settled  near  Detroit 
and  on  the  Sandusky  river  in  Ohio.  There  they  went  by  the  name  of  the 
Wyandots.  They  wielded  great  influence  over  the  neighboring  tribes.  Tra- 


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dition  traces  them  back  no  farther  than  the  landing  of  the  French  at  Quebec 
in  1535.  They  were  many  years  neighbors  and  friendly  with  the  Senecas, 
and  left  their  ancient  lands  and  took  up  a residence  near  Green  bay.  After 
the  French  had  supplied  the  Senecas  with  guns,  powder  and  lead,  they  made 
another  attack  upon  the  Hurons  at  Green  bay  and  at  first  were  entirely  suc- 
cessful, but  by  the  strategem  of  the  Hurons  all  the  Senecas  were  cut  off,  not 
one  of  the  war  party  remaining  alive  to  tell  the  sad  tale  of  blood. 

“The  Wyandots  thereafter,  also  being  furnished  with  arms  and  muni- 
tions of  war,  resolved  to  return  to  their  own  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit. 
On  the  way  thither  they  encountered  the  Senecas  on  the  lake,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Long  Point,  where  a desperate  battle  was  fought  upon  the  water,  in  which 
the  Wyandots  were  victors.  Not  a single  Seneca  escaped  and  the  Wyandots’ 
loss  was  very  heavy.  This  was  the  last  battle  between  the  Wyandots  and 
Senecas.  The  former  took  an  active  part  on  behalf  of  the  French  in  the  war 
which  resulted  in  the  reduction  of  Canada  by  the  English,  and  were  a potent 
power  against  the  English  in  Pontiac’s  war. 

“By  the  timely  treaty  of  September  29,  1817,  between  the  Wyandots  and 
the  federal  government  there  was  granted  to  the  former  a body  of  land  twelve 
miles  square,  the  center  of  which  was  the  fort,  now  the  site  of  Upper  San- 
dusky, the  county  seat  of  Wyandot  county,  Ohio.  Also,  at  the  same  time, 
was  granted  them  a tract  of  a mile  square  on  Broken  Sword  creek.  They 
occupied  these  lands  until  July,  1843,  when  they  emigrated  to  their  present 
place  of  residence  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  having  disposed  of  their  lands 
by  treaty  in  1842.  At  the  time  of  their  emigration  they  numbered  about 
seven  hundred.” 

THE  SHAWNEES. 

The  Shawnees  were  called  the  Bedouins  of  the  American  wilderness,  and 
were  a savage,  bloodthirsty  and  warlike  tribe.  Their  blood  leaped  with  the 
hot  blood  of  the  South,  whence  they  came.  From  Georgia  they  were  driven 
to  Kentucky  by  other  and  more  peaceful  tribes,  and  from  Kentucky  they  came 
North,  some  of  their  number  settling  in  Chillicothe,  on  the  Scioto  river,  while 
others  centered  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Their  territory  extended  from 
Sandusky  and  westward  toward  the  great  Miami.  They  were  ever  at  war. 
The  great  war  chief,  Tecumseh.  was  of  this  tribe,  as  was  also  his  brother, 
the  great  Indian  Prophet,  who  fought  the  famous  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  in 
Indiana,  November  7,  1811,  against  General  Harrison. 

Taylor  in  his  “History  of  Ohio,”  says,  “For  forty  years  the  Shawnees 
were  in  almost  perpetual  warfare  with  America,  either  as  British  colonies  or 

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as  independent  states.  They  were  among  the  most  active  allies  of  the  French 
during  the  Seven  Years  war,  and  after  the  conquest  of  Canada,  continued, 
in  concert  with  the  Delawares,  hostilities  which  were  only  terminated  after 
the  successful  campaign  of  General  Boquet.  Under  the  treaty  of  Greenville, 
in  1795,  they  lost  nearly  the  whole  of  the  territory  which  they  held  from  the 
Wyandots,  and  a part  of  them,  under  the  guidance  of  old  Chief  Tecumseh, 
again  joined  the  British  standard  during  the  war  of  1812-14.” 

Thus  it  will  be  observed  that  the  Delawares,  Wyandots  and  Shawnees 
— the  first  to  occupy  the  valley  of  the  Muskingum  and  thence  to  Lake  Erie 
and  the  Ohio  river,  asserting  possession  over  nearly  one-half  of  the  domain 
contained  now  within  Ohio — were  asserting  possession  through  a stubborn 
antagonism  to  the  American  people  and  the  cause  of  our  national  independence. 
Their  fiendish  cavorts,  warring  and  plundering  raids  included  vast  areas,  and 
to  this  hour  fading  and  unfading  drops  of  blood  mark  the  line  of  their  ac- 
cursed marauds. 

* INDIANS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY,  STRICTLY  SPEAKING. 

The  Indians  that  inhabited  Wayne  county,  as  now  bounded,  when  the 
first  settlers  came  in  to  make  for  themselves  homes  and  to  develop  the  country, 
seemed  to  exist  by  an  implied  tenure.  A dread  of  the  whites,  akin  to  fear, 
apparently  possessed  these  Indians.  Something  like  a haunting  memory  of 
the  crimes  of  their  race  was  ever  upon  them.  Not  mutual  or  even  tribal 
relations  existed  among  them,  and  their  pacific  dispositions  towards  the 
early  settlers  presented  but  another  distinctive  characteristic  of  the  Indian — 
the  cunning  caution  and  self-interest  begotten  of  fear  itself.  They  roamed 
in  pairs,  or  squads  of  a half  dozen,  though  in  some  of  their  villages  and  set- 
tlements they  would  collect  together  to  the  number  of  two  hundred,  three 
hundred  and  sometimes  as  high  as  four  hundred.  In  Clinton,  East  Union, 
Franklin  and  Chippewa  townships  they  congregated  in  largest  numbers. 
Their  sudden  disappearance  from  the  county  was  most  remarkable,  occurring, 
as  it  were,  in  a single  night,  and  that,  too,  soon  after  the  war  of  1812-14  had 
been  announced.  They  scented  the  bad  breath  of  the  coming  carnival  and 
hastened  westward  to  deepen  the  blood  stain  of  their  hands. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  INDIAN  TRAILS. 

The  trail  of  the  American  Indian  was  to  be  plainly  seen  on  every  hand 
when  the  first  pioneers  came  to  Wayne  county,  but  with  the  passing  of  the 
decades  they  have  become  forever  lost,  living  only  in  tradition  and  for  the 


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most  part  in  surmise.  In  Hutchins’  history  of  the  celebrated  expedition  of 
General  Boquet  against  the  western  Indians  in  1764,  in  which  the  English 
marched  an  army  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  men  into  and  through  what 
is  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  to  the  forks  of  Muskingum  river,  he  refers  to 
five  different  routes  from  Fort  Pitt  (Pittsburg)  through  the  Ohio  wilder- 
ness. The  route  that  most  concerns  this  county  and  its  people  was  as  follows : 

“Second  route,  west-northwest,  was  twenty-five  miles  to  the  mouth  of  . 
Big  Bever,  ninety-one  miles  to  Tuscaroras  in  Stark  county,  sixty  miles  to 
Mohican  John’s  Town  (in  Mohican  township,  near  Jeromeville),  forty-six 
miles  to  Junandat,  or  Wyandot  Town ; four  miles  to  Fort  Sandusky,  twenty- 
four  miles  to  Fremont,  Sandusky  county.  The  total  distance  from  Fort 
Pitt  was  two  hundred  and  sixteen  miles  to  Fort  Sandusky;  to  Sandusky  river 
two  hundred  and  forty  miles.” 

This  trail  penetrated  Wayne  county  in  section  12,  Paint  township;  thence 
in  a northwesterly  direction,  crossing  over  sections  32,  31  and  30  in  Sugar- 
creek  township;  thence  entering  East  Union  township  on  section  25,  bearing 
north  to  section  24;  thence  more  directly  west,  passing  about  a mile  north 
of  Edinburg;  thence  to  Wooster  township,  entering  it  from  the  east  in  sec- 
tion 13,  and  thence  to  the  Indian  settlement  south  of  Wooster  and  on  the 
site  of  the  old  Baptist  burying  ground.  From  that  point  in  a northwesterly 
direction,  cutting  zig-zag  through  the  southwestern  part  of  what  is  now  the 
city  of  Wooster,  crossing  the  Henry  Myers  farm,  passing  the  old  salt-lick; 
thence  crossing  the  Killbuck  creek  a few  rods  north  of  the  public  bridge  on  the 
Ashland  highway;  thence  west  across  the  old  Hugh  Culbertson  farm;  thence 
for  quite  a distance  along  the  line  of  the  Ashland  road;  thence  in  a north- 
western direction  to  Reedsburg,  in  Plain  township;  thence  to  Mohican  John’s 
Town,  and  thence  on  to  Fort  Sandusky. 

INDIAN  CHIEF  KILLBUCK. 

This  noted  Indian  was  of  the  Delaware  tribe  and  was  much  displeased 
at  the  action  of  Braddock’s  army,  and  at  a war  council  he,  in  conjunction  with 
another  chief,  Shingiss,  made  the  following  scathing  speech : 

“We  know  well  what  the  English  want.  Your  own  traders  say  that  you 
intend  to  take  all  our  lands  and  destroy  us.  It  is  you  who  have  begun  the 
war.  Why  do  you  come  here  to  fight?  How  have  you  treated  the  Dela- 
wares? You  know  how  the  Iroquois  deceived  us  into  acting  as  peace  media- 
tors; how  they  shamed  us,  and  took  our  arms;  put  petticoats  on  us;  called 
us  women,  and  made  us  move  three  times  away  from  our  homes.  And  whv? 


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Because  the  English  paid  them  a few  beads  and  blankets,  and  paint,  and  when 
their  senses  were  stolen  away  with  fire-water  they  sold  our  lands ; but  we  tell 
you  this  must  cease.  We  are  no  longer  women,  but,”  striking  his  breast, 
“men — men  who  can  strike,  and  kill  and — Yes,”  hissed  out  old  Shingiss, 
springing  to  his  feet,  rising  to  his  full  stature,  his  wicked  little  eyes  flashing 
a venomous  fire,  “we  are  men  and  no  longer  women!  We  have  thrown  off 
the  petticoat  of  the  squaw,  and  have  seized  the  keen  tomahawk  of  the  brave. 
I speak,”  stamping  his  foot,  “as  one  standing  on  his  own  ground.  Why  do 
you  come  to  fight  on  our  land?  Keep  away!  French  and  English.  The 
English  are  poor  and  stingy.  They  give  us  nothing  but  a few  beads,  some 
bad  rum,  and  old  worn-out  guns,  which  kick  back  and  break  to  pieces;  and 
their  traders  cheat  us  and  fool  us  and  our  squaws  and  maidens.  But  I tell 
you  we  won’t  suffer  it  longer.” 

MASSACRE  OF  SIXTEEN  INDIANS  AT  WOOSTER. 

The  following  account  of  an  Indian  massacre  at  Wooster  was  so  graph- 
ically given  in  Ben  Douglas's  History  of  Wayne  County  (1878)  that  it 
is  here  reproduced : 

“As  we  have  said,  our  early  settlements  were  made  pretty  generally  in 
peace,  and  therefore  we  are  barren  of  anything  thrilling  and  startling  in  way 
of  border  strife.  One  hostile  demonstration,  however,  occurred,  which  we 
propose  to  narrate,  within  the  present  corporation  of  Wooster,  with  the  cir- 
cumstances and  details  of  which  but  few  if  any  of  the  surviving  pioneers 
of  Wayne  county  have  any  knowledge. 

“This  incident  itself  so  little  resembles  a fierce  Indian  struggle,  the 
heroes  of  which  sensational  and  resolute  narrators  too  frequently  seek  to  invest 
with  apotheosis,  that  only  in  its  more  liberal  interpretation  can  be  embraced 
in  the  catalog  of  great  border  exploits.  It  is  the  only  violent  collision  that  we 
have  to  chronicle  transpiring  within  the  present  limits  of  the  county  between 
the  pale  and  the  copper  faced. 

“A  gang  of  Indians  intent  on  a foraging  expedition  started  from  the 
region  of  Sandusky  in  an  easterly  direction,  and  in  the  course  of  their  hunt- 
ing and  predatory  peregrinations  succeeded  in  reaching  the  white  settle- 
ments on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  near  Raccoon  creek,  some  distance  from 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Their  sole  object  being  plunder  and  theft,  without 
regard  for  sacrifice  of  human  life,  they  crossed  the  river  in  bark  canoes  and 
for  a while  mingled  with  the  whites,  in  apparent  friendship,  who  had  estab- 
lished quite  a colony  there.  When  opportunity,  ‘foul  abettor,’  furnished  a 
safe  occasion  for  it,  these  remorseless  devils  and  incarnate  fiends,  with  their 


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antipathy  and  hatred  of  the  pale  face,  pounced  upon  and  murdered  five  of 
their  number,  and  burned  to  the  ground  seven  dwellings,  together  with  the 
families  they  -sheltered.  This  act  of  diabolism  and  hellish  slaughter  very 
naturally  aroused  the  community.  Blood  called  for  blood.  The  insulted 
silence  of  the  air  broke  into  echoes  of  revenge. 

“A  company  of  thirty  men,  fearless  of  flints  and  fate,  was  immediately 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  pursuit  and  punishment.  The  command  was 
taken  charge  of  by  Capt.  George  Fulkes,  the  peer  of  Brady  in  Indian  war- 
fare. Better  indeed  than  Brady  did  he  know  their  character,  for  at  the  age 
of  three  years  he  had  been  stolen  by  the  Indians  from  his  father,  then  living 
on  the  Raccoon  creek,  they  retaining  charge  of  him  until  he  was  a man, 
when  his  father  bought  him  from  them  and  restored  him  to  his  family.  Later 
Brady  became  an  expert  Indian  fighter.  After  crossing  the  river  with  their 
plunder,  and  apprehensive  that  they  might  be  followed,  the  Indians  observed 
the  precaution  of  cutting  the  bottoms  out  of  their  canoes,  and  made  great 
haste  to  retrace  their  steps  in  the  direction  from  which  they  came.  Could 
they  but  reach  Sandusky  with  their  stolen  goods  they  would  be  safe  enough. 

“Keenly  alive  to  the  immediate  pursuit  that  might  take  place  and  de- 
termined to  run  down  and  exterminate  the  murderers,  no  time  was  lost  in 
the  outset.  The  river  was  dashed  over.  The  track  of  the  fleeing  assassins 
was  soon  scented.  Indications  eventually  pointed  to  the  fact  that  they  were 
in  proximity  to  the  fugitives,  but  whether  the  Indians  knew  this  or  not  we 
are  not  apprized.  Late  one  evening.  Captain  Fulkes  and  his  men,  from  what 
is  known  now  as  Robinson's  Hill,  a short  distance  south  from  Wooster,  dis- 
covered the  camp  fires  of  the  enemy  on  what  is  now  the  Point,  or  Flat-iron, 
at  the  intersection  of  South  Bever  street  and  Madison  avenue,  in  the  present 
limits  of  the  city  of  Wooster.  Avoiding  all  rashness  and  adopting  the  policy 
of  caution,  he  concluded  to  make  no  attack  that  evening.  So.  to  elude  de- 
tection, they  crossed  over  to  Rice’s  hollow,  remaining  there  for  the  night,  or 
until  the  moon  arose,  when  preparations  were  made  for  the  assault.  The 
arrangements  completed,  the  advance  was  made  and  the  Indian  camp  sur- 
rounded. At  a given  signal  they  fired  upon  them,  killing  fifteen,  all  of  the 
party  with  the  exception  of  one  who  had  gone  to  the  bottoms  to  look  after 
the  traps.  Hearing  the  noise  of  the  musketry  he  rushed  in  the  direction  of 
the  camp  and,  calling  to  Captain  Fulkes,  who  understood  some  dialect,  asked, 
‘What’s  the  matter?’  ‘Come  on,’  shouted  Fulkes,  ‘nothing  is  the  matter.' 
The  Indian  advanced  toward  Fulkes,  but  when  within  a few  paces  of  him  an 
unruly  lad  perforated  his  carcass  with  a bullet. 


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“A  shallow  grave  was  scooped  upon  the  Point  before  described,  and 
here  the  sixteen  Indians  were  rolled  together  and  earthed  over,  their  spirits 
having  been  unceremoniously  delivered  to  the  keeper  of  the  Happy  Hunting 
Ground. 

“Of  Captain  Fulkes  we  know  but  little,  save  that  he  was  a bold  Indian 
fighter.” 


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MW  AND  SCALE 

3 t / o * * 

*- — tr — 


PtrStUT  CRUM Jf  — ' — 

WreMfiiiM/i/wet 

GLACIAL  CHS  -Of'" 


PRESENT  AND  PREGLACIAL 

DRAINAGE 

V/AYffEAVD  ASSOCIATE  CQUNTYS 

■ IN  OHIO 

^x^Ccrafiiltri  frwn  fi(M  nefo  V drawn 

i.H^TCDD 


\ 


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CHAPTER  III. 


GLACIATION,  ARCHAEOLOGY,  MOUND  BUILDERS,  ETC. 

By  J.  H.  Todd,  M.  D. 

INTRODUCTION. 

In  Douglas’  History  of  Wayne  County  there  is  a very  concise  descrip- 
tion of  the  geological  structure,  but  not  a clear  differentiation  of  the  two 
almost  equal  halves  of  the  county. 

It  is  generally  known  that  in  the  south  and  east  half  of  the  county  is 
found  coal  (all  of  the  seven  veins  being  represented)  and  many  hilltops  are 
capped  with  lime,  while  in  the  north  and  west  there  is  no  coal  and  no  lime- 
stone. Now  the  dividing  line  between  these  widely  separated  geological  for- 
mations is  a preglacial  river  bed  extending  from  Loudonville  to  Shreve  and 
on  by  Wooster  and  Orrville  to  Sterling  and  from  here,  my  own  observations 
lead  me  to  believe,  it  went  north  through  Chippewa  lake  and  the  old  and  deep 
channel  of  Rocky  river  to  Lake  Erie.  But  Frank  Leveret,  of  the  United 
States  geologic  survey  and  who  has  examined  the  ground,  favors  a route 
from  Sterling  by  Warwick  and  the  Copley  marsh  to  the  Cuyahoga  river  and 
through  it  to  Lake  Erie. 

Leveret  says  (pages  163-5,  Monographs  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Sur- 
vey)  : “J.  H.  Todd  has  recently  called  attention  to  evidence  that  the  lower 
courses  of  these  tributaries  of  the  Mohican  creek  had  an  eastward  discharge. 
There  is  a continuous  valley  or  lowland  with  an  average  width  of  about  a 
mile  following  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad  from  Mans- 
field to  Wooster,  Ohio.  East  of  Wooster  there  is  a great  drift  accumulation, 
rising  nearly  two  hundred  feet  above  Killbuck  valley,  but  it  is  Todd’s  opinion 
that  the  old  valley  continued  in  that  direction  about  ten  miles,  to  the  vicinity 
of  Orrville,  where  a valley  is  found  with  very  low  rock  floor. 

“This  valley  seems  to  have  drained  northward  either  to  Rocky  river 
or  the  Cuyahoga,  passing  Sterling. 

“The  writer  is  inclined  to  favor  the  view  that  this  valley  had  a course 


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eastward  from  Sterling  to  Warwick,  and  thence  north  past  New  Portage  and 
Copley  marsh  into  the  old  Cuyahoga,  that  being  a larger  valley  than  the  old 
Rocky  river  valley. 

“Todd,  however,  favors  the  Rocky  River  valley  as  the  line  of  discharge 
into  Lake  Erie. 

“The  valley  under  discussion,  with  its  deep  filling  of  drift,  shows  general 
eastward  descent,  as  indicated  in  the  table  given  later.  The  available  data 
concerning  the  rock  floor  shown  in  the  table,  though  meager,  also  favor  the 
view  that  it  slants  eastward.  It  furnishes  a more  natural  trunk  line  than 
any  other  old  line  of  drainage  yet  found  in  that  region.  The  several  tribu- 
taries of  the  Mohican  creek  converge  toward  this  old  valley  and  seems  to  find 
in  it  a natural  line  of  discharge.  This  old  line  may  properly  be  termed  the 
Old  Mohican." 

Further,  Leveret  says,  in  writing  of  Killbuck : “It  is  quite  certain 

that  the  old  valley  which  leads  northward  along  the  Killbuck  as  above  noticed 
from  Shreve  to  Wooster,  did  not  continue  along  this  creek  beyond  Wooster. 
* * * * The  continuation  of  that  old  valley  (the  Old  Mohican)  was 

probably  eastward,  as  suggested  by  Todd.” 

Again  Leveret  says:  “A  large  part  of  Killbuck  valley  apparently  once 

discharged  northward  to  the  Old  Mohican,  for  there  is  a marked  narrowing 
of  the  valley  in  passing  southward  down  the  present  stream.” 

So  here  we  have  our  pre-glacial  river  authoritatively  established  from 
Loudonville  to  Sterling  at  least,  and  supplemented  by  the  Killbuck  channel 
from  the  col  near  Killbuck  village  in  the  coal  region  to  where  it  joins  the 
axial  channel  six  miles  below  Wooster,  developing  a tripod  lake  two  by  three 
miles  in  extent,  and  this  river  is  now,  although  no  man  ever  saw  it,  named 
the  Old  Mohican. 

We  have  found  from  investigation  and  examination  of  fossils,  that  this 
ancient  river  ran  exactly  around  the  northeast  head  of  an  island  that  repre- 
sents the  oldest  dry  land  in  the  United  States — an  island  standing  sentinel  in 
both  a Silurian  and  Devonian  sea — ages  before  the  Alleghany  mountains 
were  evolved  or  the  coals  of  the  carboniferous  age  had  filled  the  Allegheny 
basin,  to  form,  out  of  carboniferous  conglomerate,  an  eastern  bank  to  our 
river. 

I also  find  the  line  of  the  Old  Mohican  marked  by  the  Waverly  clay  (as 
reported  in  the  “Soil  Survey"  of  the  county).  The  Waverly  shale  was 
ground  to  clay  in  the  glacial  mill  as  it  came  up  our  valley  from  Sterling  to 
Orrville,  and  erosive  streams  have  since  carried  the  Waverly  sand  over  the 
new  valley  and  deposited  it  as  a soil  nine  to  twelve  inches  in  depth. 


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It  really  makes  no  difference  to  Wayne  county  whether  the  waters  in 
the  Old  Mohican  went  from  Sterling  by  the  Rocky  river,  or  the  Cuyahoga, 
to  Lake  Erie,  for  all  the  writer  claims,  from  original  investigation,  is  that 
there  is  a deep  and  wide  preglacial  river  bed,  now  filled  with  drift,  from 
Loudonvillc,  through  Wayne  county  to  Sterling,  and  that  the  channel  passes 
exactly  between  the  Waverly  hills  of  the  Cincinnati  incline  and  the  coal 
measure  conglomerate,  and  that  it  carried  all  the  waters  of  all  Mohican’s 
branches,  together  with  the  reversed  Killbuck  and  Sugar  creek,  north  to  the 
bed  of  Lake  Erie. 

PREGLACIAL  TOPOGRAPHY. 

In  order  to  give  any  clear  idea  of  the  glaciation  of  Wayne  county  it  is 
necessary  to  take  into  consideration  the  preglacial  topography,  of  not  only 
Wayne,  but  of  all  the  adjacent  counties,  for  the  drainage  streams  derive 
their  headwaters  in  almost  all  instances  from  springs  in  neighboring  counties, 
and  many  of  the  streams  are  reversed  in  at  least  part  of  their  flow, — the  red 
lines  in  the  accompanying  map  indicate  the  preglacial,  and  the  black  the 
present  drainage  of  the  district, — while  the  highest  hills  and  practically  all 
drainage  lines  have  been  so  modified  by  the  glacial  drift — in  some  places  four- 
hundred  feet  thick — that  the  preglacial  aspect  of  the  county  is  not  now  recog- 
nizable. 

The  nature  and  magnitude  of  the  glacial  effects  are  beyond  conception. 
You  must  give  wings  to  your  imagination  to  contemplate  the  picture,  even 
after  carefully  considering  the  altitudes  and  depressions  I will  give  you. 

Wayne  county  rests  on  the  northeast  face  of  what  was,  in  the  dawn  of 
the  earth’s  organic  history,  an  island  in  a Silurian  sea,  and  a large  arm 
of  the  Atlantic,  known  as  the  “trough  of  the  coal  measures/’  which  was  a 
warm  sea  with  only  the  lowest  order  of  life  existing  in  its  depths,  afterwards 
surrounded  it.  This  island,  or  low  mountain  chain,  extended  from  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  far  into  Kentucky,  while  its  breadth  was  from  forty  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  it  is  now  known  geologically  as  the  “Cincin- 
nati Arch,”  or  “Anticline:”  poetically  it  has  been  called  the  “Lost  Atlantis.” 

In  Ohio,  and  particularly  in  Wayne  county,  it  presents  in  relief,  and 
shows  bold  headlands,  while  in  Kentucky  it  is  in  intaglio  and  was  once  sub- 
merged to  receive  the  limestone  that  constitutes  the  “Blue  Grass  region.” 
Here,  in  Wayne  county,  the  arch  is  capped  by  Waverly  sandstone  and  shale, 
as  can  be  seen  at  the  Reddick  quarry,  the  Coe  quarry,  along  the  Christian 
run  and  at  the  shale  brick  works  west  of  the  city,  where  many  characteristic 


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fossils  are  to  be  found,  particularly  crinoidea,  conularia  and  productus.  At 
these  points  there  seems  to  be  an  association  with  the  Devonian  and  lower 
carboniferous  ages. 

In  studying  the  Waverly  group  of  rocks  in  this  part  of  the  island,  I find 
a crescent  of  highest  rock  hills  in  the  state,  extending  by  Smithville  Summit 
in  Wayne  to  West  Salem,  Polk,  in  Ashland,  and  Mansfield,  Belleville,  and 
Independence,  in  Richland  counties,  which  constitute  a continental  divide 
from  which  the  rock  strata  dips  away  on  the  west  under  the  coal  fields  of 
Indiana,  on  the  north  under  the  bed  of  Lake  Erie,  while  on  the  east  they 
decline  gradually  into  the  synclinal  trough  of  the  Allegheny  coal  basin.  This 
constitutes  a watershed  in  three  directions  and  Professor  Newberry  says  (in 
Vol.  1 of  Geological  Survey  of  Ohio),  “It  will  be  noticed  that  the  direction 
of  the  drainage  streams,  which  follow  the  strike  of  the  strata  on  either  side, 
indicate  that  it  once  formed  a watershed  that  gave  the  initial  bearing  to  their 
flow.” 

It  did  more,  for  the  fresh  water  from  these  many  streams  meeting  the 
water  of  different  density,  temperature  and  chemic  composition  would  create 
a current  around  the  shore  of  the  island. 

If  you  will  go  with  me,  carrying  an  aneroid  barometer  to  note  elevations, 
from  Wooster,  by  Mifflin,  to  Belleville,  in  Richland  county,  you  will  cross 
all  the  streams  at  points  of  original  scoring  that  drained  the  northeast  face 
of  this  headland  and  carried  their  waters  to  the  channel  of  the  Old  Mohican. 

Starting  at  Wooster  University,  we  find  it  stands  five  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-two feet  above  Lake  Erie;  Killbuck  valley,  three  hundred  and  thirty-two 
feet;  Jefferson,  near  rock  summit  of  plateau,  six  hundred  feet;  the  flood  plain 
of  Muddy  fork,  four  hundred  and  thirty-two;  and  the  divide  between  this 
and  the  Jerome  fork  of  the  Mohican,  six  hundred  and  fifty,  while  its  flood 
plain  is  four  hundred  and  fifty;  Hayesville,  on  the  summit  of  the  divide  be- 
tween the  Jerome  and  Black  forks,  seven  hundred,  and  the  flood  plain  of  the 
Black  fork  at  Mifflin  is  five  hundred  feet ; the  depot  at  Mansfield,  five  hundred 
and  eighty-one:  the  plateau  south  of  the  city,  eight  hundred,  and  above  Belle- 
ville, nine  hundred.  In  the  cross  section  from  Ashland  to  Loudonville  the 
divide  between  the  Jerome  and  Black  forks — independent  of  glacial  deposit — 
is  nearly  a level  plain,  with  only  a gradual  descent  of  fifty  to  seventy-five 
feet.  But  these  elevations  do  not  mark  the  summit  of  our  present  hills  nor 
the  heads  of  present  streams,  neither  do  they  cover  the  preglacial  drainage 
of  Congress  and  Chester  townships.  The  old  divide  entered  the  county  two 
miles  south  of  West  Salem,  and  crossed  the  township  diagonally  south  of 
Congress  village  and  crosses  what  is  nowr  the  Killbuck  one  mile  north  of 


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Overton,  and,  entering  Wayne  township,  it  intersects  a north  and  south  divide 
from  Burbank  to  Wooster,  but  continues  on  across  Wayne  into  Greene  town- 
ship, ending  With  and  marking  the  head  of  the  island  east  of  Smithville, 
where  the  strata,  badly  crushed  and  eroded,  dips  under  the  bed  of  the  Old 
Mohican.  The  north  and  south  divide  is  a continuance  of  the  divide  between 
the  Black  and  Rocky  rivers  and  passing  east  of  Lodi  and  Burbank 
nearly  parallels  the  Killbuck  from  Burbank  to  Overton,  but  here  deflects 
southeast  to  Wooster,  where  Wooster  University  stands  on  a pinnacle  of  Wa- 
verly  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  feet  above  the  city’s  square.  By  this  cross- 
ing of  the  divides  near  Overton  we  had  in  evidence  a range  of  highest  pre- 
glacial hills  in  the  county.  The  rocks  here  banking  the  Killbuck  are  now  less 
than  eighty  rods  apart,  although  nearly  two  hundred  feet  high,  and  the  stream 
runs  on  a rock  bottom  for  half  a mile,  while  from  the  crests  of  the  hills  drain- 
age lines  were  projected  in  four  directions.  All  the  waters  of  northeastern  Con- 
gress township  were  carried,  with  the  waters  of  Killbuck  from  Overton, 
through  an  old  preglacial  channel  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Burbank 
to  the  Black  river,  west  of  Lodi  and  thence  to  Lake  Erie.  The  district  south 
of  the  divide  in  Chester  and  Congress  townships — save  a fringe  of  drainage 
into  the  Muddy  fork  of  the  Mohican — was  carried  into  a preglacial  channel 
leading  by  Ft.  Hill  to  Wooster  and  ending  in  the  Old  Mohican  near  the  Ap- 
ple creek  bridge.  This  channel  is  now  followed  by  the  Little  Killbuck  to  Ft. 
Hill  and  drains  a large  territory,  carrying  pure  spring  water  that  could  and 
should  be  utilized  by  Wooster,  for  it  is  gravel  and  sand  filtered,  and  is  avail- 
able either  by  artesian  or  pump  wells. 

This  Little  Killbuck  was  in  preglacial  times  the  Big  Killbuck — in  fact, 
the  only  Killbuck,  for  the  drainage  south  from  Overton  was  only  a rivulet. 
The  Little  Killbuck  is  now  an  anomaly,  reversing  the  common  law  of  creeks ; 
it  is  a creek  turned  upside  down.  Its  gravel  bottom  is  now  on  top,  supported 
by  a shelf  of  boulder  clay  and  sand,  and  the  water  runs  beneath  except  in 
springtime  freshets  when  its  torrential  waters  carry  great  loads  of  gravel  and 
clay  to  its  mouth  and  there  bank  it.  In  this  way  it  has  driven  the  channel 
of  Killbuck  across  the  plain  half  a mile,  where  it  is  now  eating  out  a bed  from 
the  Waverly  shale  and  sandstone  on  the  Eicher  farm,  section  5.  Two  miles 
to  the  south  the  new  Apple  creek  has  sent  the  Killbuck  across  the  valley  to  the 
western  hills  in  the  same  manner,  as  I have  found  evidence  of  three  distinct 
channels  of  the  Killbuck — each  one  long  used — between  the  Cemetery  hill  and 
its  present  bed,  which  hugs  the  shale  and  glacial  hills  on  the  west  three-quarters 
of  a mile  away,  and  between  these  old  channels  and  the  Apple  creek  the  bea- 
vers had  their  home-life  fun  in  the  quiet  waters,  held  by  the  dams  they  built 
from  cedar  logs  which  are  now  found  in  the  buried  channels. 


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The  drainage  of  the  northeast  section — that  bounded  by  the  Continental 
and  the  north  and  south  divide — included  the  bulk  of  Wayne  and  Canaan 
townships.  The  three  heads  of  the  present  and  old  Killbuck  followed  the 
line  of  least  resistance  with  the  strike  of  the  strata  to  near  Jackson  where 
they  united  and  carried  their  waters  to  the  Old  Mohican,  near  Sterling.  But 
in  glacial  times  this  channel  was  blocked  by  drift  above  Jackson  and  the  waters 
turned  west  to  cut  a new  channel  through  the  -shale  of  the  north  and  south 
divide  to  Burbank,  nearly  seven  miles  away,  where  the  stream  was  again 
turned  at  an  obtuse  angle  into  the  old  Killbuck  channel,  passing,  after  travel- 
ing twenty-four  miles,  within  one  mile  of  the  springs  that  form  its  head. 

The  drainage  from  the  southwest  of  the  divide  from  Overton  to  Wooster 
is  represented  by  the  Clear  creek  and  the  Christmas  run.  The  Clear  creek 
follows  the  strike  of  the  strata  in  an  old  pfeglacial  scoring  to  section  31  in 
Wayne  township,  where  the  old  channel  to  the  fair  ground  by  the  shale  works 
was  blocked  by  hundreds  of  feet  of  drift,  creating  beautiful  terraces  over  the 
John  McSweeny  and  Yoder  farms  on  section  5,  Wooster  township,  and  there 
had  to  cut  its  way  through  the  shales  of  the  Eicher  farm,  section  6,  to  the 
channel  of  the  little  Killbuck. 

The  Christmas  run  practically  follows  a preglacial  over  a boulder  and 
boulder  clay  bed,  but  now  cuts  into  the  shale  on  the  Byres  farm,  southeast 
quarter  section  5,  making  a bed  of  the  rock  and  giving  the  student  a wealth 
of  Devonian  fossils — stone  lilies,  productus  shells  and  conularia  for  his 
cabinet. 

The  drainage  from  Wooster  University  to  the  divide  east  of  the  summit 
near  Smithville,  where  the  dip  of  the  strata  of  stone  determines  the  end  of 
the  Cincinnati  Arch,  or  Silurian  island,  the  primitive  rocks  ran  under,  or  were 
torn  out  by  the  floods  of  the  Old  Mohican,  and  all  drainage  from  the  island 
v as  sucked  into  it.  The  Quimby's  run  and  the  Wayne  county  head  of  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Little  Sugar  creek  were  directed  to  the  axial  channel 
around  the  head  of  the  island,  and  their  channels  tell  the  story  by  their  deep 
dippings  into  the  silurian  rocks. 

The  rivulets  and  creeks  that  formed  the  heads  of  all  preglacial  streams 
started  from  the  rock  with  the  dip  of  the  rock  and  only  marred  the  strike 
of  the  strata  by  erosion  as  they  proceeded.  The  valleys  in  which  the  larger 
streams  now  run  average — from  rock  summit  to  rock  summit — about  three- 
fourths  of  a mile,  but  the  rock  floor  averages  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  to 
two  hundred  feet  below  the  flood  plain  of  the  streams,  the  old  channel  being 
filled  to  that  depth  with  drift  over  which  the  present  streams  meander  from 
side  to  side  like  the  wanderings  of  the  old  time  snake,  or  even  the  present 
black  ones  near  Overton. 


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This  gives  you  a descriptive  picture  of  the  northeast  face  of  this  primi- 
tive island,  the  first  dry  land  in  the  United  States;  but  can  you  reproduce  it  in 
your  minds?  Can  you  contemplate  it?  The  elements  had  been  warring 
on  its  sides  and  summits  for  thousands  of  years.  Its  pinnacles  were  eaten  by 
the  winds  as  by  acids.  Its  rocks  were  disintegrating.  Its  sides  were  scarred 
with  deep  gullies,  like  miniature  canyons,  by  erosion  as  the  floods  carried  the 
degraded  rocks  to  the  sea.  The  island  was  an  empire  of  silence  save  for  the 
wild  waves  dashing  against  its  scabrous  sides,  but  there  was  no  sense  to  feel 
and  no  ear  to  hear  save  God’s.  Desolation  marked  each  nook  and  cranny. 
There  was  no  motion  or  sound  of  any  living  thing,  for  the  atmosphere  was 
but  a paste  of  carbon  which  no  living  beast  nor  creeping  thing  could  breathe. 
And  yet!  here  is  the  foundation  upon  which  God  built  up  the  northwest  half 
of  Wayne  county. 

“The  ways  of  the  Maker  are  dark; 

Who  knows  how  God  will  bring  them  about?” 

Professor  Newbury  again  says,  “A  current  from  the  south  swept  the  east- 
ern shore  of  our  ‘Ancient  Atlantis/  that  floated  the  trunks  of  tree  ferns  and 
branches  of  lepidodendron  to  Sandusky.”  The  waters  were  warm  in  this 
Silurian  sea  and  receiving  the  wild  water  from  the  island,  with  its  load  of  de- 
grant rock,  coupled  with  the  difference  of  temperature,  specific  gravity  and 
chemic  composition  refused  to  mingle  and  a current  round  the  shore  resulted, 
and  this  current  gave  the  initial  direction  to  the  preglacial  stream  which  we 
now  denominate  the  Old  Mohican,  and  which  in  after  time  carried  not  only 
the  waters  of  the  Waverly  capped  island,  but  of  the  virgin  coal  fields  as  well 
exactly  between  them  to  the  great  channel  in  the  bed  of  Lake  Erie. 

As  previously  stated,  a fringe  of  the  drainage  from  the  crest  of  the 
continental  divide  south  of  West  Salem  was  carried  into  the  Muddy  fork  of 
the  Mohican.  Now  this  stream  follows  a preglacial  channel  that  drained  the 
southeast  face  of  the  incline  from  Perrysburgh  to  Polk  and  Rowsburgh  in 
Ashland  county  and  passing  between  Rowsburgh  in  Ashland  and  Little  Pitts- 
burgh in  Wayne  county,  it  proceeded  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Chester  town- 
ship, where  it  entered  Wayne  county,  and  became  a part  and  parcel  of  it.  It 
then  continued  in  a slightly  irregular  course  southeast  to  near  Blachleysville. 
on  the  bank  of  the  Indian  “Big  Meadow”  and  the  white  man’s  “Big  Prairie” 
in  Plain  township.  Here  it  may  have  joined  the  large  preglacial  channel  from 
Ashland,  passing  by  Jeromesville  to  the  village  of  Big  Prairie,  or  Custaloga. 
on  the  Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad,  where  it  entered  the  axial 
channel  from  Loudonville,  now  known  as  the  Old  Mohican. 


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But  there  is  another  possible,  if  not  probable,  way  which  I will  try  to 
explain.  The  entire  south  front  or  mouth  of  the  Big  Prairie  was  blocked  by 
glacial  drift  piled  into  hills  hundreds  of  feet  high  which  turned  the  waters  of 
both  the  Jerome  and  Muddy  forks  of  the  Mohican  back  upon  themselves,  cre- 
ating a lake  three  hundred  feet  deep  and  one  to  three  miles  wide  from  Shreve 
and  Big  Prairie  to  near  Jeromesville. 

Now  through  this  lake-creating  barrier  a deep  and  wide  preglacial  chan- 
nel has  been  discovered  at  the  “Heller's  Tavern"  cross  roads,  about  one  mile 
east  of  the  Camp  Station  on  the  Ashland  & Wooster  railroad  and  this 
channel  continues  to  the  old  town  of  Millbrook  and  on  across  the  D.  Myres 
farm  (section  6,  Franklin  township)  and  connects  with  the  Old  Mohican  near 
Millbrook  Station  on  the  Pittsburg,  Ft.  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad. 

This  valley  would  have  been  followed  by  the  Ashland  & Wooster  rail- 
road to  the  Camp  clay  plant  from  Millbrook  village  instead  of  from  Custaloga, 
had  not  the  engineer  informed  the  projectors  that  their  track  could  not  be 
maintained,  for  the  waters  of  the  Big  Prairie  would  rush — in  spring  floods — 
into  the  half-mile  cut  they  would  have  to  make  through  the  glacial  barrier, 
thus  creating  a col  through  which  the  waters  would  not  only  flood  the  railroad, 
but  probably  turn  the  Muddy  fork  of  the  Mohican  into  the  Killbuck  by  Mill- 
brook village,  as  the  flood  plain  of  the  Big  Prairie  is  over  one  hundred  feet 
higher  than  the  plain  of  the  Killbuck. 

The  north  end  of  this  buried  channel  so  nearly  meets  a projection  of  the 
Muddy  fork  near  Blachlevsville  across  sections  29  and  31  of  Plain  township 
that  I think  it  probable  the  pre-glacial  Muddy  fork  had  its  continuance  to 
the  axial  channel — the  Old  Mohican — by  this  route,  leaving  the  Jerome  fork 
pass  singly  to  some  point  between  Shreve  and  Custaloga. 

This  completes  my  simple  sketch  of  the  northwest  half  of  Wayne  coun- 
ty’s native  rock  formation  and  drainage  lines  and  includes  the  townships  of 
Congress,  Chester,  Plain,  Clinton,  Wooster,  Wayne  and  Canaan;  also  parts 
of  East  Union,  Greene  and  Milton. 

There  was  a long  time  of  waiting  for  the  other  half  of  Wayne  county 
to  be  created.  The  years  are  marked  by  the  million,  for  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains were  yet  under  the  sea,  their  picturesque  peaks  were  only  a dream  in 
the  plan  of  evolution,  and  even  when  they  were  up  in  the  mist  of  the  dense 
atmosphere,  there  was  a still  longer  wait  before  the  broad  arm  of  the  ocean 
fretting  between  our  primitive  island  and  the  west  Alleghanies  gave  way 
to  the  carboniferous  flora  that  preceded  the  formation  and  building  up  of  the 
Alleghany  coal  fields,  with  the  seven  veins  of  coal  and  the  intervening  strata 
of  shale,  sand  and  conglomerate  that  now  form  the  hills  and  vales  of  north- 


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eastern  Wayne  county,  and  include  the  townships  of  Paint,  Sugar  Creek, 
Baughman,  Chippewa,  Salt  Creek  and  Franklin,  with  parts  of  East  Union, 
Greene  and  Milton.  Each  of  these  is  underlaid  with  coal,  with  occasional 
dove-tailings  into  the  eroded  channels  of  the  Waverly. 

Now  that  the  rock  foundation  of  half  our  county  is  completed,  might  it 
not  be  well  to  contemplate  the  structure  and  its  surroundings  while  waiting 
the  evolution  of  the  other  half  and  note  the  methods  of  the  Maker  and  Keeper 
and  Controller  of  the  universe  in  His  creation  of  a continent? 

Let  us  place  on  a pinnacle  of  the  rock  which  is  now  graced  by  Wooster 
University,  a primitive  man — a multi-millionaire  (in  years,  not  gold) — and 
push  his  “nature's  place”  back  in  time  a million  years,  but  give  him  the  sense 
of  a troglodyte,  for  he  must  have  a sentience  sufficient  to  feel  the  moving  of  the 
spirit  of  God  upon  the  waters  around  him  and  a perception  of  the  spirit  of 
development  under  his  feet  in  the  island,  the  first  dry  land  in  the  United 
States,  and  which  was  then  as  a “babe  in  the  womb,”  but  possessed  of  an  in- 
distinct uneasiness,  waiting,  but  pulsing  for  the  light  that  it  might  have  life 
in  the  open.  Time  was  not,  for  the  sun  was  hid  by  the  vapors  surrounding 
the  earth.  The  air  was  loaded  with  the  heated  earth’s  distillate  and  in  the 
earth  was  only  a thrill  like  a shudder  of  “life  in  death”  to  give  promise  of 
a land  plant  that  could  live  in  this  noxious  air. 

So  only  expectancy  was  beneath  our  millionaire's  feet  and  all  that  was 
before  or  behind  him  was  the  ocean, 

“That  glorious  mirror  where  the  Almighty’s  form 
Glasses  itself  in  tempests. 

That  image  of  Eternity,  from  out  whose  slime 
The  monsters  of  the  deep  are  made.” 

This  awfulness  was  his  environment;  while  the  desolate,  naked  crags  of 
Waverly  sandstone,  only  relieved  by  the  shrubless,  lifeless,  but  soft  expectant 
shale,  was  beneath  him  in  the  island,  which,  like  a chrysalis  in  its  cocoon, 
was  waiting  for  its  carbon  case  to  break,  that  light  might  come  in,  and  with 
light  life  to  the  land  plant. 

I say  expectant  shale,  because  in  the  shales  we  find  more  of  the  active 
principles  of  life  than  in  all  other  strata.  Whatever  clumsy  name  you  give  to 
the  initial  that  the  world’s  Ordainer  and  the  world’s  Sustainer  placed  in  the 
earth  to  fructify  it — “vis  vita,”  “primordial  germ,”  or  “vital  unit,”  I refer  you 
to  Genesis,  which  says,  “Whose  seed  is  in  itself  upon  the  earth,”  and  geo- 
biology says  the  shales  are  largely  its  keeper. 


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And  these  same  shales  dipped  under  the  ocean,  forming  its  bed  and  fur- 
nished the  first  seaweed  for  the  first  animal  life,  while  the  laws  governing  this 
evolution  gave  the  formula,  or  working  agency,  by  which  Omnipotence  cre- 
ates continents  and  develops  life  on  their  surfaces.  Distinctly  had  these  laws 
been  operating  in  the  evolution  of  life  in  the  waters,  for  the  ocean  was  teem- 
ing with  fishes  which  were  early  brought  forth,  receiving  their  food  and  oxy- 
gen from  the  water  they  could  live  in,  when  land  plants  could  not. 

But  suddenly  this  monotony  is  broken  and  gives  place  to  one  of  nature’s 
creative  convulsions.  Our  man  on  his  pinnacle  senses  deep  rumblings  and 
dread  tremblings.  He  is  enveloped  in  lightnings  and  waves  are  dashed  over 
him.  The  sea  is  rising  and  the  island  is  tilting.  It  seems  like  the  end  of  all 
things,  but  is  only  a second  beginning,  for  when  the  catastrophe  is  over  the 
ocean  bed  has  taken  the  place  of  the  sea.  Virgin  land  is  up  for  its  first  bap- 
tism in  air.  Nature’s  gestation  is  over  and  world  has  a new  and  added  land 
with  new  aspirations  and  ne\v  potentialities.  Evolution  has  a new  field  where 
we  can  study  creative  problems  and  note  the  factors  and  formula  of  develop- 
ment. 

The  surface  of  the  new  land  is  one  of  ooze  and  slime,  entombing  the 
mutilated  bodies  of  fishes,  and  the  salt  of  the  sea  is  gathered  into  pools.  But 
an  age  passes  while  the  fresh  waters  from  our  island  on  the  west  and  the 
Alleghanies  is  flooding  the  ooze  and  dissolving  the  salt  and  a dim  light  has 
entered  through  the  vapors  above,  and  our  man  on  the  mountain  sees  lichens 
clinging  to  the  rocks,  ferns  and  club  mosses,  and  rushes  growing  between, 
while  the  lowest  forms  of  animal  life  are  feeding  on  the  fronds  in  what  is 
kno\vn  as  a coal  marsh. 

The  coal  plant  must  live  and  die  in  a swamp,  for  it  must  be  covered 
with  water  or  mud  when  it  falls,  or  it  will  not  be  transformed  into  coal.  Our 
multi-millionaire  must  wait  thousands  of  years  for  this  first  cryptogamous 
forest  to  flourish  and  fade. 

But  the  time  comes  at  last,  and,  with  another  convulsion,  the  land  with 
all  its  flora  sinks  from  sight  and  the  ocean  is  here  again  to  receive  the  degra- 
dation of  the  hills  on  the  east  and  on  the  west  and  spread  them  over  this 
sunken  virgin  forest,  that  distillation  may  go  on  to  purification  and  the  forest 
be  presented  to  the  twentieth  century  as  perfect  coal,  and  denominated  coal 
seam  No.  i. 

Another  period  passes  with  the  sea  dominant;  but  the  flight  of  time  is 
marked  by  change,  and  the  bed  of  the  sea  is  again  inspired  to  rise,  and  on  its 
breast  and  in  its  ooze  to  grow  a new  and  completer  coal  forest,  with  higher 
orders  of  plant  and  animal  life.  So  in  the  coals  we  find  the  fossil  plants: 


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Totems,  or  Tribal  Symbols.  About  three- fifths  natural  size. 


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the  lepidodendron  (the  scaly  tree),  sometimes  one  hundred  feet  high  and 
twelve  feet  in  circumference;  the  beautiful  sigillaria  (the  seal  tree),  the  giant 
calamite,  with  hosts  of  lower  forms  of  flowerless  plants  and  these  in  such 
profusion  that  a coal  forest  represented  a tropical  jungle,  in  which  insect  life 
played  a mysterious  but  conspicuous  part. 

These  coal  plants  were  the  especial  feature  of  the  carboniferous  age  of 
the  Mesozoic  time;  in  fact,  a necessity  in  its  evolution  and  preparation  for  the 
future. 

Plants  are  the  only  things  that  know  how  to  manufacture  living  material 
out  of  inorganic  mud;  but  plants  do  not  take  all  their  food  from  the  earth, 
for  they  take  up  carbonic  acid  from  the  air  through  their  leaves  and  decom- 
pose it,  retain  the  carbon,  and  give  off  the  oxygen. 

.'nimal  life  takes  up  oxygen  and  gives  off  carbonic  acid.  Now  during 
the  carboniferous  age  the  atmosphere  was  so  charged  with  acid  carbon  that 
no  animal  could  live  in  it  if  permanently  out  of  the  water,  so  these  forests 
were  inspired  as  a media  to  extract  and  lay  up  the  carbon,  and  so  utilize  the 
destructive  element  to  animal  life,  and  lay  it  down  in  coal  for  the  future  use 
of  man,  for  whose  advent  on  earth  the  initial  steps  were  being  prepared. 

Five  times  more  this  down  of  the  ocean  and  up  of  the  land  was  repeated. 
The  new  land  with  all  its  flora  and  fauna  went  down  seven  times,  putting  the 
forests  to  sleep  in  coal  at  each  separate  submergence  and  flattening  the  bones 
of  primitive  life  to  fossil,  thus  forming  the  seven  veins  of  coal  found  in  our 
Eastern  hills. 

Each  time  that  the  earth  went  down  and  the  sea  became  master  it  brought 
immense  loads  of  degraded  rock  that  the  wild  waves  had  torn  from  the  con- 
tinent and  dashed  into  sand  and  mud  and  spread  them  over  its  bottom ; and 
these,  with  the  ground-up  corals  and  shells  and  pebbles  rolled  into  marble 
forms,  produced  a new  stratum  between  the  coal  seams  and  heightened  the 
hills  of  our  growing  country. 

As  said  above,  seven  times  was  it  necessary  for  a forest  to  grow  and 
appropriate  the  carbon  in  the  air  and  lay  it  down  in  coal,  to  prepare  a way 
for  air-breathing  animals  to  have  a permanent  home  on  its  surface.  In  the 
last  period  of  the  coal  formations  the  animal  kingdom  had  greatly  advanced. 
When  the  first  coals  were  put  down  the  forms  of  life  were  all  of  the  water 
genera,  but  in  the  last  w e had  a rich  and  varied  terrestrial  vegetation  and  many 
air-breathing  animals,  but  there  was  a long  lapse  of  time  before  the  earth 
was  fitted  for  the  higher  orders — the  prelude  to  man.  With  the  close  of  the 
carboniferous  age,  although  our  hills  were  completed  and  partially  fitted  for 


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terrestrial  vegetation,  yet  the  upper  factors  of  the  Mesozoic  aeon — the  Triassic, 
Jurassic  and  Cretaceous  ages — the  ages  of  reptiles  and  birds,  together  with 
the  Tertiary  age,  the  age  of  mammals,  was  never  represented  in  Ohio  as  in 
other  parts  of  the  world,  for  Ohio  was  out  of  the  water  and  has  so  remained 
during  all  these  ages.  During  all  this  vast  period  Wayne  county  was  basking 
in  a gradually  developing  sunshine,  and  growing  immense  forests  and  putting 
the  leaves  and  dead  branches  down  in  humus,  that  grasses  might  grow  and 
flowering  plants  spring  up  and  bloom,  birds  multiply  and  render  the  for- 
ests vocal,  preparing  the  way  for  man's  advent  in  the  county,  which  was  par- 
tially achieved  when  the  hills  were  completed  in  the  new  half  of  Wayne 
county.  This  new  half  is  made  up  of  other  stuff  than  the  first  and  older  half, 
for  the  University  hill  is  a million,  if  not  millions  of  years  older  than  the  Ex- 
periment Station  hill ; the  former's  rocks  represent  the  Silurian  and  Devonian 
aeons  of  the  world’s  organic  history  and  present  the  earliest  forms  of  perfect 
life  in  their  fossils,  while  the  latter  shows  all  the  varied  forms  of  flowerless 
plants,  from  ferns  to  sigillaria,  but  no  bird  enlivened  the  scene.  The  hills 
of  the  new  half  are  made  up  of  coal  and  conglomerate,  capped  with  sand- 
stone and  limestone,  chert  and  iron  ore,  through  Wayne  and  Holmes  coun- 
ties, making,  with  the  Waverly  of  the  island,  a bowl  or  hydrographic  basin, 
shaped  almost  like  a huge  mussel  shell.  Its  southwest  end  is  found  between 
Independence  and  Bellville  in  Richland  county,  and  its  axis  is  almost  parallel 
with  that  of  Lake  Erie,  and  this  axis  followed  the  primordial  current  around 
the  head  of  our  Silurian  island  that  carried  the  fresh  water  that  flowed  into 
the  salt  sea  from  the  island,  creating  the  “Newberry  current”  around  the 
head  of  the  “Incline”  to  the  great  northeast  channel  through  the  initial  Lake 
Erie,  and  now,  after  the  development  of  the  coal  measure  hills,  drains  both 
the  island  and  the  virgin  coal  hills  into  a slightly  curved  channel  passing  dis- 
tinctly from  Loudonville  to  Sterling,  and  thence  by  Rocky  river  to  Lake  Erie, 
and  now  known  as  the  Old  Mohican,  for  in  the  ancient  time  all  the  branches 
of  the  Big  Mohican  drained  northeast  through  this  deep  and  wide  waterway, 
running  exactly  between  the  base  of  the  Silurian  island  and  the  carboniferous 
conglomerate. 

The  rock  floor  of  this  river — that  no  man  ever  saw — is  at  Loudonville, 
two  hundred  and  sixty-two  feet  above  Lake  Erie;  at  the  railroad  bridge  over 
the  Lake  fork,  two  hundred  and  forty -five;  at  Odel's  lake,  two  hundred  and 
twenty-eight ; at  Big  Prairie,  two  hundred  and  fourteen ; at  Custaloga,  two 
hundred  and  ten;  Slireve,  two  hundred;  near  Millbrook  Station,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eightv-five,  and  one  and  a half  miles  south  of  Wooster,  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  feet.  At  the  Mock  farm,  section  6,  East  Union  town- 


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ship,  no  rock  was  struck  at  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet. 
Wellhead,  three  hundred  and  forty-five,  which  proves  less  than  one  hundred 
and  sixty;  but  here  we  encounter  mountains  of  drift,  and  no  wells  have  been 
drilled  into  them,  so  the  channel  is  obscured,  but  near  Orrville  it  enters  the 
great  Orrville  swamp,  or  lake,  and  through  it  the  channel  proceeds  to  Ster- 
ling, where  is  found  four  hundred  and  nine  feet  of  drift  and  the  rock  floor 
many  feet  below  the  present  face  of  Lake  Erie.  From  this  you  see  the  chan- 
nel’s decline  from  Loudonville  to  Sterling,  and  the  Black  fork  from  Mansfield 
follows  an  old  preglacial  bed,  having  the  same  general  decline  to  Loudon- 
ville, while  the  Jerome  fork  from  Ashland,  the  Muddy  fork  from  Rowsburgh, 
the  Little  Killbuck  from  West  Salem  and  the  reversed  Killbuck  from  Millers- 
burgh  all  show  a similar  descent  into  the  axial  channel — the  Old  Mohican.  The 
continental  divide  leaves  Richland  county  near  Independence,  passes  irregu- 
larly through  Holmes  county  to  Chestnut  ridge,  between  the  Black  and  Wolf 
creeks,  here  crosses  Killbuck  and  proceeds  to  the  south  of  Baltic,  Ragersville 
and  Dundee,  and  connects  with  the  divide  noted  by  Frank  Leverett  as  cross- 
ing the  Big  Sugar  creek  between  Strausburgh  and  Canal  Dover.  So  the  rim 
of  the  elongated  bowl  commenced  near  Garden  Isle  in  the  “Harrisville 
Swamp,”  and  included  West  Salem,  Polk,  Ashland,  Mansfield,  Bellville,  Kill- 
buck,  Dundee,  Massillon,  Warwick  and  practically  ended  at  the  River  Styx 
and  the  preglacial  drainage  lines  from  this  crest  of  highest  hills  all  converged 
to  a central  axis — the  Old  Mohican. 

Those  from  the  island  side  have  been  noted,  and  I will  now  briefly  indi- 
cate the  principal  ones  from  the  carboniferous  side.  The  first  on  the  west 
was  a small  channel  coming  in  just  south  of  Loudonville  and  draining  the 
high  hills  of  Hanover  township ; it  is  now  crossed  by  the  new  bed  of  the  Clear 
fork.  Drake’s  valley,  from  Nashville  to  Lakeville,  marks  the  line  of  the 
second.  The  third  drained  the  limestone  hills  of  Ripley  township  and  en- 
tered the  main  waterway  just  west  of  Shreve.  This  takes  us  to  the  south 
exposure  of  the  limestone  ridge  of  Ripley  township,  and  all  its  waters  were 
directed  by  the  dip  of  the  rock  to  the  Paint  Valley  channel,  which  started  near 
Nashville  and  entered  the  Killbuck  near  Holmesville.  The  next  and  princi- 
pal tributary  is  the  great  Killbuck  channel,  in  which  the  waters  are  now 
reversed  from  the  col  at  Killbuck  village.  This  valley  gradually  widens 
and  deepens  until  it  enters  the  Old  Mohican  between  Wooster  and  Shreve. 
The  sixth  channel  is  a smaller  one,  coming  in  between  coal  hills,  two  miles 
south  of  Millersburgh.  The  seventh  comes  in  through  a fissure  between 
Holmesville  and  Holmes  county  infirmary.  It  is  now  occupied  in  part  by 
Martin’s  creek.  The  channel  is  wide  and  two  hundred  feet  deep.  The  eighth 


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in  order  drained  a large  part  of  Salt  Creek  and  Paint  townships  in  both 
Wayne  and  Holmes  counties,  and  the  valley  is  probably  of  more  importance 
to  the  people  of  Wayne  county  than  all  the  others  combined,  for  it  furnishes  a 
series  of  flowing  wells  of  purest  water.  Its  head  is  represented  by  Dry  run, 
passing  down  a fissure  between  the  hills  southwest  of  the  south  branch  of  Salt 
creek,  and  ended  in  the  Salt  creek  valley  near  the  tile  factory,  below  Freder- 
icksburgh.  At  this  point  is  located  the  col  in  the  big  Salt  creek,  and  over 
this  broken-down  col  the  waters  now  go  tearing  over  a rocky  bed  and  be- 
tween rock  hills  to  Holmesville,  where  the  debris  is  landed  in  beautiful  ter- 
races. From  Fredericksburgh  the  old  channel  passed  almost  due  north  to 
old  Edinburgh,  where  it  was  joined  by  a preglacial  channel  coming  in  from 
Kidron  by  Apple  creek.  It  then  took  a northwest  direction  through  the  val- 
ley of  the  Apple  creek  to  Honeytown,  where  it  entered  the  Old  Mohican. 
The  ninth  is  the  mysterious  Big  Sugar  creek,  a reversed  stream,  the  col 
being  near  the  falls  below  Beach  City.  The  next  is  Newman’s  creek,  that 
the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad  follows  from  Massillon  to 
Orrville.  The  eleventh  is  represented  by  Patton’s  lake,  Fox  lake  and  Red 
run.  The  twelfth  is  represented  by  Chippewa  creek,  now  forming  the  west 
head  of  the  Tuscarawas,  which  is  known  to  be  a reversed  stream  from  near 
Strausburgh. 

Here  I must  call  your  attention  to  a feature  in  the  location  of  these  pre- 
glacial channels  tint  will  assist  you  in  determining  the  necessity  of  the  axial 
channel  or  Old  Mohican,  and  it  will  be  better  understood  by  referring  to  the 
accompanying  map.  viz. : All  the  channels  described  enter  the  axial  channel 

through  fissures  or  gorges  in  the  hills  that  deepen  and  widen  as  they  proceed 
from  the  hills  to  their  mouths,  and  this  explains  the  mystery  of  Sugar  creek, 
Newman’s  creek  and  Chippewa  creek,  whose  waters  now  trend  out,  but  in 
preglacial  times  flowed  in.  Their  mouths  were  filled  with  drift  to  a point 
above  their  source,  and  the  streams  of  necessity  reversed.  Newman’s  creek, 
which  now  empties  into  the  Tuscarawas  near  Massillon,  is  the  remains  of 
an  old  glacial  marsh,  with  its  widest  end  opening  into  the  Old  Mohican,  and 
it  seems  plain  that  this  “Shades  of  Death,’’  as  the  pioneers  called  it.  marks 
the  line  of  a preglacial  channel  trending  north  and  west.  The  Chippewa 
creek  channel  is,  from  a geological  and  glaciological  standpoint,  the  most 
important  of  all,  for  it  has  been  surmised  that  the  Old  Mohican  went  through 
this  channel  to  Warwick,  and  then  by  the  Copley  marsh  to  the  Cuyahoga, 
and  thence  to  Lake  Erie.  My  first  objection  to  this  is  that  I have  found 
another  and  better  way  through  which  the  waters  could  pass,  and  my  second 
objection  is  based  on  geological  and  physical  principles.  The  Chippewa 


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Types  of  Beveled  and  Serrated  Knives  found  in  Wayne  County. 
About  one-half  natural  size. 


Upper  Part:  Types  of  Black  Flint  Arrow  Points  and  Knives. 
Lower  Part:  Fancy  Jasper  and  Chalcedony  Artefacts. 

About  one-half  natural  size. 


Part:  Effigy  Artefacts  representing  Buffalo  Skulls,  Wolf 

and  Fox  Heads,  Tadpoles,  Fishes  Etc. 

Lower  Part:  Jasper  Implements  with  beveled  Base. 

About  one- half  natural  size. 


Upper  Part:  Flint  Digging  Implements  of  Unique  Shape. 

Lower  Part:  Jasper  Implements  of  Unusual  Forms. 
About  one-half  natural  size. 


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creek  channel  passes  over  carboniferous  conglomerate  that  contained  a vein 
of  coal,  and  here  is  a breach  through  a fissure  in  the  hills  which  shows  them 
to  have  been  cut  through,  as  with  pick  and  shovel,  which  is  not  consistent  with 
their  formation,  but  which  is  in  accord  with  a law  of  physics,  viz. : Dammed- 
up  waters  will  select  the  point  of  least  resistance  in  seeking  a lower  level ; and 
here  was  an  immense  lake  bounded  by  hard  and  high  hills,  and  as  the  lake 
was  still  rising  from  the  melting  ice  of  the  glacier's  front,  there  must  be 
found  an  outlet,  and  at  last  nature  furnished  it  in  two  notches  in  the  east 
hills,  the  one  over  Chippewa  creek  and  the  other  over  Newman's  creek. 
Through  these  the  rising  waters  rushed,  disintegrating  and  transporting  the 
obstructing  material,  until  the  two  channels  were  formed  that  now  constitute 
the  west  head  of  the  Tuscarawas.  In  sections  26  and  25  of  Chippewa  town- 
ship coal  mines  are  operated  by  drift  less  than  a mile  apart  and  the  veins  are 
on  the  same  level,  with  the  creek  between  them.  These  veins  were  certainly 
united  in  preglacial  times,  and  my  firm  belief  is  that  the  waters  of  the  Old 
Mohican  went  from  the  Orrville  lake  across  the  Chippewa  channel,  receiv- 
ing it  as  a tributary  from  section  26,  through  Chippewa  Lake  to  Rocky  river, 
and  thence  to  the  great  preglacial  river  or  channel  in  Lake  Erie. 

GLACIATION  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

In  calling  attention  to  the  influences  of  the  glaciers — for  there  were 
several  stages,  each  with  an  advance  and  retreat — I direct  your  minds  to 
the  agencies  God  made  use  of  to  beautify  and  bring  more  complete  “seed  time 
and  harvest"  to  Ohio's  Eden — Wayne  county. 

I will  not  speculate  on  the  many  theories  that  have  been  brought  forth  to 
account  for  the  glaciers'  formation  and  coming;  will  simply  say  they  are  con- 
fined to  two  principal  schools,  first,  that  dependent  on  the  procession  of  the 
equinoxes,  which  is  supposed  to  induce  alternates  of  intense  cold  and  tropical 
heat  twice  in  twenty-one  thousand  years ; second,  the  annular  theory,  which 
presuppose  that  the  earth,  in  its  earliest  history,  was  surrounded  with  belts 
or  rings,  as  Saturn  is  now.  and  that  these  belts  of  dense  vapor  shut  out  the 
direct  light  of  the  sun  and  so  induced  an  even,  warm  temperature,  as  in  a 
hothouse,  from  pole  to  pole,  allowing  the  huge  mammoth  to  roam  amid  giant 
palms  up  to  the  Arctic  circle.  That  these  belts — the  distillate  of  the  earth's 
furnace — successively  came  within  the  earth's  attraction  and  fell  to  the  earth ; 
the  heaviest  first;  the  carbons  that  gave  nourishment  to  our  coal  forests. 
Later,  and  finally,  the  dense  aqueous  vapors,  which  by  the  earth's  rotation 
were  carried  to  the  poles  and  fell  as  snow,  to  be  converted  into  ice,  which  we 
call  a glacier,  and  which  must  move  through  its  own  weight.  My  sympathies 
combine  the  two  as  causes.  What  we  do  know  positively  is  that  a broad 


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sheet  of  ice,  many  thousands  of  feet  thick,  formed  in  the  north  and  moved 
south  toward  the  equator,  tearing  off  the  tops  of  the  Canadian  highlands  in 
its  progress,  and  carrying  a part  of  its  load  to  Ohio,  where,  by  the  sun’s 
heat,  the  ice  was  melted  and  its  grist  deposited  in  the  form  of  drift  and  silt  and 
till.  This  high  mountain  of  ice,  calculated  by  some  to  be  eleven  thousand 
feet  in  thickness,  with  gravity  pulling  and  some  inherent  mysterious  force 
propelling  it.  crept  slowly  south,  having  no  respect  for  the  igneous  rocks  of 
Canada,  but  leveled  the  ledges  of  her  Laurentian  hills,  tore  the  pinnacles  to 
pieces  and  took  up  and  incorporated  the  product  as  a part  and  parcel  of 
itself.  As  it  proceeded  south  the  sun’s  heat  commenced  its  disintegration, 
and  great  rivers  were  formed  on  its  top,  over  its  front  and  underneath  it. 
And  in  these  rivers  Were  rolled  the  angular  blocks  of  Canadian  granite,  until 
they  were  rounded  into  boulders  or  “nigger  heads”  and  cobblestones,  to  be 
deposited  on  Wayne  county  by  the  million.  Nor  was  this  all,  for  “though 
the  mills  of  the  gods  grind  slowly,  yet  they  grind  exceeding  small” ; so  the 
softer  material,  as  shales,  was  ground  to  powder,  and  the  crushed  fragments 
of  quartz,  feldspar  and  hornblend  were  rolled  into  pebbles  and  deposited  as 
boulders,  clays  and  gravels.  After  leaving  Canada  with  its  load  of  granite 
and  gravel,  the  line  of  direction  of  the  glacier  in  its  advance  was  largely 
determined,  over  what  is  now  Lake  Erie,  by  the  deep  and  wide  channel  of  a 
preglacial  river,  called  by  Newberry,  in  his  geological  report,  Erie  river,  a 
river  which  “no  man  ever  saw.” 

This  river  was  largely  made  up  of  the  great  volumes  of  water  pouring 
from  the  Old  Mohican  through  Rocky  river  and  through  the  equally  deep 
channel  of  the  Cuyahoga,  supplemented  bv  the  flood  from  Black  river  and 
that  from  the  drainage  channels  of  the  entire  watershed  of  the  south  end  of 
the  lake.  All  these  channels  are  supposed  to  have  converged  into  one,  form- 
ing the  “Erie  river,”  and  its  channel  formed  a path  or  mould  for  the  viscous 
moving  body  of  ice  to  follow  in  its  advance,  paralleling  what  is  now  Lake 
Erie.  That  such  a mould  will  modify  the  course  of  the  ice,  I refer  you  to 
Professor  G.  F.  Wright’s  “Ice  Age  in  North  America,”  page  335.  When  the 
glacier  had  passed  from  the  soft  shale,  where  it  had  plowed  out  a bed  for 
Lake  Erie  to  lie  in,  and  had  shaped  and  grooved  the  hard  limestone  for  the 
islands  near  Sandusky,  it  met  in  its  progress  a barrier  of  massive  and  re- 
sistant limestone  and  waterlime,  capped  with  firm  Waverly,  gradually  rising 
to  a height  of  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  constituting  the 
southeast  Watershed  of  Lake  Erie.  This  obstacle  had  to  be  overcome  or  com- 
promised with,  for  there  is  nothing  to  stop  such  a moving  mass  of  polar  ice 
in  its  advance,  save  solar  heat.  Ice  is  commonly  looked  upon  as  a solid,  and 


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a child  has  said,  “Ice  is  water  asleep,”  but  ice  is  not  a solid,  and  if  asleep, 
it  is  somnambulistic,  and  walks  in  its  sleep.  Ice  is  no  more  a solid  than 
honey,  or  lava,  for  its  molecules  move  upon  each  other  from  some  mysterious 
cause,  aside  from  gravitation,  inducing  change  of  form  and  position,  and 
here  it  must  have  acted  against  gravity,  for  the  glacier  crept  on  and  up  the 
obstructing  mountain,  crushed  its  strata,  deepened  its  ravines,  scored  its 
rocks,  as  a plane  grooves  wood,  and  left  its  “hall  marks”  as  striae  on  the  hill- 
sides. Reaching  the  rocky  summit,  it  seemed  to  hesitate  before  smoothing 
the  crags  of  Waverly  and  dropped  part  of  its  load  with  its  heaviest  boulders 
on  the  north  edge  of  the  hill,  and  so  changed  the  line  of  highest  hills  con- 
stituting the  continental  divide.  It  then  passed  on  in  nearly  a direct  line 
south  as  far  as  Newark  in  Licking  county.  A moving  viscous  body,  meeting 
an  obstruction  that  reacts  against  gravity,  will,  by  a law  of  physics,  manifest 
increased  lateral  pressure,  and  bulge,  and  the  bulging  will  be  in  the  line  of 
least  resistance.  Now,  at  a point  northeast  of  the  resisting  hills  on  the  lake 
front,  just  where  we  would  expect  the  reaction  against  gravity  to  be  greatest, 
we  find  a low  col  made  up  of  the  basin  of  the  Cuyahoga  river,  four  and  one- 
half  miles  wide,  and  the  gorge  of  the  Rocky  river,  three  miles  wide  and  only 
seven  miles  of  hills  between  them — fourteen  and  one-half  miles  of  space  and 
seven  and  one-half  miles  of  it  open  to  below  the  lake’s  bottom.  And  this, 
supplemented  by  the  wide  mouth  of  Black  river  as  a lateral,  and,  centrally, 
the  channel  of  the  Old  Mohican  to  direct  the  bulb.  Would  it  be  in  reason  to 
suppose  that  nature  would  violate  her  own  laws,  reject  the  physical  invita- 
tion and  not  send  a lobe  into  the  mouths  of  these  hungry  rivers?  She  did 
accept  the  challenge  and  projected  a lobule  into  the  fissure.  In  proof,  I direct 
you  to  the  present  extension  of  glacial  tongues  in  Alaska,  which  generally 
follow  this  law,  and  to  Professor  Wright’s  “Ice  Age  in  North  America,” 
pages  174  to  235,  demonstrated  and  recorded  striae  on  the  rocks,  which  on 
the  hills  of  Summit  county  are  directed  southwest,  and  on  the  waverly  of 
Ashland  and  Richland  counties  the  scorings  are  directed  southeast,  and  these 
scorings,  if  projected,  would  meet  in  the  Old  Mohican.  The  moraines  are 
also  in  proof  of  this,  for  the  terminals  are  deepest  on  the  sides  where  the 
embarrassing  hills  modified  the  laterals,  but  did  not  prevent  a marked  central 
moraine  for  ten  miles  below  Wooster,  as  well  as  to  the  north,  and  a silting 
of  the  lower  reaches  to  Millersburgh.  This  valley  of  the  Old  Mohican  and 
Killbuck  furnished  the  groove  of  direction,  with  only  gently  curved  variation 
from  a right  line  across  Medina  and  Wayne  counties  to  Millersburgh,  in 
Holmes  county,  where  there  is  a more  marked  curve  of  the  valley  to  the 
west,  ending  at  the  col  near  Killbuck  Village.  The  width  of  this  lobule  of 


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the  glacier  extended  from  Canton,  in  Stark,  to  Loudon ville,  in  Ashland 
county,  and  the  lobe  was  arrested  or  ended  just  before  reaching  the  conti- 
nental divide  of  the  coal  measures.  It  was  stranded  as  a semicircle,  its  front 
presenting  as  a bent  bow,  which  a little  more  than  subtends  the  south  front 
of  Wayne  county;  the  bow  string  is  about  thirty  miles  long  from  Canton  to 
Loudonville,  while  its  central  projection  from  this  line  is  about  eight  miles, 
extending  to  below  Millersburgh,  with  the  Killbuck  channel  as  a fixed  arrow 
in  the  bent  bow.  On  the  outside  of  this  bow  from  Dundee,  in  Tuscarawas, 
to  near  Brinkhaven,  in  Holmes  county,  where  the  north  and  south  divide 
crosses  the  Cleveland.  Akron  & Columbus  railroad,  the  landscape  is  the 
most  picturesque  in  this  section  of  Ohio,  made  so  by  the  ravines  of  erosion 
created  by  the  rushing  waters  of  the  melting  ice,  and  the  great  masses  of 
stone  broken  from  the  arresting  hills  and  tumbled  into  the  valleys.  Near 
Dundee,  blocks  that  I have  measured  are  twenty-five  by  fifteen  by  six  feet 
above  ground,  and  how  far  below  no  one  can  tell,  and  any  one  who  has  trav- 
eled on  the  Cleveland,  Akron  & Columbus  railroad  from  Millersburgh  to 
Mount  Vernon  has  wondered  at  the  multitude  and  magnitude  of  the  surface 
rocks  along  the  track,  especially  near  Glenmont,  many  looking  like  small 
houses,  while  the  smaller  ones  render  the  ground  untillable ; and  all  these 
rocks  were  torn  from  the  tops  of  the  immediate  hills  bv  the  force  of  the 
glacier  just  as  its  power  of  progress  was  spent,  or  arrested  by  the  sun’s  rays. 
This  lobe  of  the  glacier  seems  to  have  been  detached  from  the  main  body 
just  where  the  coal  measures  end  below  Loudonville,  for  the  main  mountain 
of  ice  slid  on  south  over  the  smoother  face  of  the  Waverly  that  skirts  the 
coal  measures  to  below  Newark  before  it  was  deflected,  a distance  of  forty 
miles.  Now,  it  was  this  arrested  lobe  of  the  glacier  that  brought  the  load 
of  material  that  changed  the  entire  topography  of  the  hydrographic  basin 
described  in  this  paper,  from  Cleveland  to  Millersburgh  and  from  Massillon 
to  Mansfield.  But  particularly  in  Wayne  county  was  its  burden  of  “Life  in 
Death’'  put  down,  giving  a new  physiognomy  and  a new  physiology  to  the 
landscape.  The  remodeled  features  of  this  perspective  scene,  with  its  fresh 
expression,  made  the  face  of  this  valley  a thing  of  beauty  to  the  eve  and  a 
blessing  to  agricultural  interests.  The  angular  hills  and  gorge-like  valleys 
were  rounded  up  into  gentle  swells  and  smoothed  out  into  graceful  undula- 
tions, and  the  food  of  the  glacial  grist  was  so  disposed,  digested  and  fitted  for 
assimilation  that  hill  and  dale  rejoiced  in  verdure  unsurpassed,  and  there 
was  left  as  our  inheritance  as  fine  a grazing  and  wheat  growing  section  as 
the  sun  shines  on.  But  our  old  waterways  were  obliterated,  filled  with  drift 
hundreds  of  feet  above  their  holding,  and  new  drainage  channels  must  be  cre- 


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Types  of  Ungrooved  Axe*,  or  Celts,  found  in  Wayne  County.  One- 
sixth  natural  size. 


Ceremonial  Stones  made  from  Black  and  Banded  Slate.  About  one-half 
natural  size. 


Symbol  of  the  Sun,  used  in  Sun-Worship,  showing  Points  of  Compass  and 
Rays  of  Light.  Made  of  fine  Sandstone.  Found  in  a Mound  near 
Wooster.  About  one-half  natural  size  I inch  thick.  Face  rounded. 


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ated,  a few  of  which,  together  with  their  mode  of  formation,  I will  attempt  to 
describe.  The  Clear  fork  of  the  Mohican  followed,  in  part,  the  old  channel 
to  near  Perrysville,  but  was  here  obstructed  in  its  course  to  the  Black  fork 
gorge  by  drift,  the  obliterated  channel  being  now  distinguished  by  two  small 
lakes  or  kettle  holes  between  the  high  gravel  knolls  that  turned  the  waters. 
The  deflected  stream  then  cut  a new  channel  southeast  to  the  Mohican,  its 
newness  being  demonstrated  by  numerous  falls,  the  most  picturesque  being 
Lyons  Falls,  where  the  stream  cuts  down  into  the  crumbling  red  sandstone 
of  the  Waverly  immediately  below  the  carboniferous  conglomerate  of  an 
outlying  coal  hill,  revealing  many  beautiful  casts  of  fossil.  The  Black  fork 
was  blocked  by  moraine  material  where  the  Killbuck  lobe  of  the  glacier  be- 
came fixed  on  the  Loudonville  hills,  and  its  entire  old  channel — the  Old 
Mohican — was  filled  to  an  insurmountable  height  with  drift.  But  the  pent-up 
waters  formed  a notch  or  low  col  in  the  hills  one  mile  south  of  the  village  of 
Loudonville,  where  the  diverted  Clear  fork  rejoined  it,  and,  uniting  their 
forces,  cut  a narrow  gorge  through  hills  that  now  stand  four  hundred  and 
twenty-five  feet  above  the  rock-bottomed  and  rock-banked  Mohican.  Here 
a mountain  of  sandstone  and  shale  was  cut  in  two,  as  you  would  cut  a loaf 
of  bread.  The  next  new  stream  starts  between  Funk  and  Tylertown,  where, 
because  the  old  channel  in  the  Big  Prairie  was  walled  up  by  a glacial  dam 
three  hundred  feet  high,  creating  the  lake  noted  above,  from  Custaloga  to 
Jeromesville,  the  Muddy  and  Jerome  forks  of  the  Mohican  were  compelled  to 
mingle  their  waters  and  tear  down  a low  breach  in  the  north  and  south  di- 
vide near  Fort  Tyler  into  a gorge  two  hundred  feet  deep  and  three  miles 
long  to  gain,  at  Rochester  Mill,  a preglacial  channel  coming  down  from  Mo- 
hicanville.  Another  glacial  or  post-glacial  stream  was  created  east  of  Orr- 
ville  from  the  Newman’s  creek  swamp  to  the  Tuscarawas  at  Massillon,  when 
the  pent-up  waters  of  the  Orrville  lake,  whose  flood  plain  was  high  as  the 
surrounding  hills — cut  a narrow  channel  through  a fissure  in  the  coal  hills  and 
so  reversed  a preglacial  stream,  sending  its  water  up  the  hill  instead  of  down ; 
the  immense  morainic  hills  on  the  south  held  the  waters  of  the  melting  glacier 
above,  until  sediment  accumulated  as  high  or  higher  than  the  gorge,  when  they 
cut  through  the  carboniferous  divide  to  the  Tuscarawas  at  Massillon,  the 
stre?m  bed  being  fifty  feet  higher  than  that  of  Killbuck. 

The  Chippewa  creek,  which  was  the  northern  outlet  of  the  great  lake 
extending  from  near  Orrville  to  above  Chippewa  lake  in  Medina  county 
and  across  to  near  Smithville  and  Creston,  cut  a channel  through  the  car- 
boniferous conglomerate  to  a lower  level  and  now  forms  the  west  head  of 
the  Tuscarawas  river. 


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The  Old  Killbuck,  which  headed  in  Wayne  township,  was  diverted  by 
the  moraine  at  Creston  and  cut  a channel  seven  miles  long  to  Burbank,  from 
whence  it  found  an  outlet  up  the  channel  of  the  preglacial  Black  river  to  the 
divide  near  Overton,  and  here  it  cut  its  way  to  the  present  Killbuck. 

LAKES  AND  SWAMPS. 

The  topography  of  Wayne  county  is  rendered  distinctly  picturesque  by 
the  location  of  its  lakes  and  swamps,  and  in  this,  as  in  all  other  descriptions, 
I include  the  area  bounded  by  the  surveys  and  acts  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Ohio  in  the  year  1808.  This  extended  the  south  line  of  the  county  to 
the  Greenville  treaty  line,  and  the  west  line  to  include  one  tier  of  townships 
in  Ashland  county.  This  becomes  an  absolute  necessity  in  presenting  a topo- 
graphic picture,  for  the  escarpments  of  Holmes  and  the  rivulets  and  creeks 
that  form  the  heads  of  the  two  Mohicans,  the  Adamic  father  and  mother  of 
the  Big  Prairie,  are  but  parts  of  one  great  whole. 

All  the  lakes  of  the  county,  both  open  and  silted  up,  are  found  to  have 
their  centers  in  preglacial  gorges  and  their  lateral  margins  are  the  rock  banks 
of  the  preglacial  streams,  covered  light  or  heavy  by  glacial  drift.  They  are 
mostly  confined  to  the  eroded  channels  of  the  Devonian  island  and  the  chan- 
nel of  the  Old  Mohican,  which  runs  exactly  between  the  island  and  rock  hills 
of  the  carboniferous.  Odel’s  and  Chippewa  lakes  are  examples  of  the  latter, 
while  Greenlee's.  Marthv’s,  Round  and  Long  lakes,  in  Lake  township,  Ashland 
county,  form  a chain  making  a preglacial  channel  from  Mohicanville  to  near 
Lakeville,  where  it  entered  the  channel  of  the  Old  Mohican.  Brown’s  lake 
and  Manly’s  lake,  though  the  former  is  very  deep  and  fast  closing  over  with 
turf,  are  simply  kettle  holes  in  the  moraine  \vhere  large  masses  of  ice  have 
become  detached  from  the  retreating  glacier’s  front  and  so  covered  with 
gravel  and  sand  that  the  sun  could  not  melt  them  for  centuries,  but  finally 
the  sun  was  supreme — the  gravel  covering  went  to  the  bottom  and  the  lakes 
were  formed. 

Fox  lake  and  Patton's  lake  are  located  in  the  gorge  that  was  drainage 
channel  for  the  coal  hills  of  eastern  Baughman  township ; and  there  is  much 
evidence  that  Fox  lake  is  an  immense  artesian  well.  The  waters  flowing 
from  the  hills  into  the  Tamarack  swamp,  through  the  preglacial  channel 
noted  above,  into  Patton’s  lake,  and  from  here,  in  an  undercurrent,  to  Fox 
lake,  on  the  north  side  of  which  is  found  impenetrable  morainic  material, 
and  the  obstructed  water  rises  through  a gravel  vent  as  it  would  through  a 
drill  hole.  This  would  correspond  to  the  great  flowing  wells  near  Sterling. 


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those  at  Fredericksburg  and  Apple  Creek,  and  especially  those  along  the 
Sugar  creek  in  East  Union  township — in  fact,  all  the  flowing  wells  of  the 
county  are  in  such  channels.  The  silted-up  lakes  spoken  of  above  were,  to 
the  pioneers,  impenetrable  swamps , but  many  are  now  drained,  and  so  con- 
verted into  our  most  fertile  plains,  the  principal  ones  being  the  Big  Prairie, 
Killbuck  Bottoms  and  the  onion  fields  around  Sterling  and  Creston.  For 
centuries  a rank  vegetation  grew  on  them,  which  falling  each  year  and  chem- 
ically and  physically  mixing  \vith  the  silt  of  the  glacier  and  wash  of  the  hills, 
produces  an  inexhaustible  soil,  the  richest  in  the  county.  There  were  many 
morainic  islands  in  the  swamp  lakes  which  stood  above  the  waters  of  even 
the  spring  floods,  and  bore  a harvest  of  finest  forest  trees  and  verdure  unsur- 
passed. 

But  the  silting  up  of  the  lakes  was  not  all;  this  gift  of  nature’s  God  was 
smoothly  spread  over  every  inch  of  Wayne  county’s  surface ; the  old  channels 
of  erosion  were  filled  beyond  their  holdings,  in  many  of  them  the  drift  is  over 
two  hundred  feet  in  depth,  and  near  Sterling  in  the  channel  of  the  Old  Mo- 
hican we  find  it  four  hundred  and  nine  feet,  in  the  Big  Prairie  the  silt  and 
drift  and  till  measures  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  feet,  and  Killbuck  valley 
shows  one  hundred  and  eightv-four  feet.  The  angular  hills  and  ragged  val- 
leys were  rounded  into  graceful  swells  and  undulations;  there  is  not  an  angu- 
lar nor  jagged  hilltop  in  the  county,  but  all  are  domelike  in  their  contour,  with 
gently  declining  sides  that  enter  peaceful  valleys.  The  islands  in  these  old 
lakes  furnished  cover  for  a great  variety  of  wild  animals,  some  fierce,  some 
foul,  but  most  of  them  the  delight  of  the  hunter  and  the  joy  of  his  wife  and 
children  when  he  could  bring  them  home,  and  his  wife  set  them  steaming 
on  the  table.  The  elk  and  the  deer,  the  bear  and  the  panther,  the  wildcat 
and  the  wolf,  the  fox  and  the  raccoon,  the  porcupine  and  the  rabbit,  made 
a forest  family,  with  the  pheasant  and  wild  turkey,  the  quail  and  the  wood- 
cock, but  the  birds  of  prey  were  also  here,  the  bald  eagle  and  fish  hawk,  the 
buzzard  and  chicken  hawk  feasted  where  they  could,  and  the  rattlesnake  and 
copperhead  lay  in  wait  for  the  unwary.  In  the  waters  were  found  the  beaver 
and  the  otter,  the  mink  and  the  muskrat,  and  the  finest  fish  for  their  food, 
and  over  the  meadows  that  skirted  the  hills  and  surrounded  the  swamps  the 
turf  was  trod  into  paths  by  the  buffalo  and  pierced  by  the  pointed  hoof  of  the 
deer.  Christopher  Gist,  in  his  travels  for  the  Ohio  Land  Company  in  1750  and 
1751  and  later  in  1753,  when  he  accompanied  General  Washington  (then 
Major)  in  an  exploring  trip  through  Ohio,  mentions  large  herds  of  bison, 
thirty  and  forty  in  a drove,  along  the  Walhonding  and  Mohican,  and  my  old- 
time  friend,  old  Tom  Culbertson,  had  seven  skulls  of  buffalo  on  his  porch 


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near  Millbrook,  found  on  the  farm  of  D.  Myers,  one  mile  east  of  Millbrook 
village.  But  When  numbers  of  wild  game  is  considered,  we  must  look  to  the 
ducks  and  geese  and  swans  that  stopped  long  in  their  migrations  to  frolic 
in  the  waters  and  feast  on  the  bordering  vegetation.  To  say  the  ducks  were 
by  the  million,  the  geese  by  the  thousand  and  the  swans  by  the  hundred  is 
telling  a truth  with  much  modesty,  for  at  times  the  sky  would  be  obscured 
when  they  were  lighting  on  or  rising  from  the  water.  And  the  low  thunder 
of  their  wings  on  the  wind  was  a wonder,  while  their  quacking  was  a whole 
Fourth  of  July  with  Chinese  crackers.  But  the  crown  for  numbers  must 
be  given  to  the  passenger  pigeon,  whose  habit  was  to  feast  in  the  daytime 
on  the  acorns  of  the  "Pocock  Woods”  and  at  night  go  to  the  alderbushes  of 
the  swamp  to  sleep  (the  Pocock  woods  was  a solid  body  of  oak  timberland 
of  one  thousand  acres,  with  many  associate  tracts). 

The  best  way  I can  illustrate  ‘'numbers”  will  be  by  relating  my  experi- 
ence in  the  fall  of  1849,  when,  as  a boy,  I went  with  A.  Call  and  J.  Allerman, 
one  night,  to  get  a "mess  of  pigeons.”  We  repaired  to  the  alder  swamp  half 
a mile  south  of  Millbrook,  Call  with  a torch  and  I with  a bag.  When  a rod 
in  the  swamp,  we  stopped,  and  while  Call  held  the  torch  and  the  tip  end  of 
an  alder  branch  to  keep  it  steady  and  from  flying  up,  Allerman  picked  off 
the  birds,  pinched  their  heads  and  dropped  them  into  the  bag,  which  I held 
open.  The  birds  from  five  branches  filled  the  bag,  a large  gunny  sack  with  a 
wide  mouth.  The  branches  were  bent  half  to  the  ground  by  the  weight,  and 
the  birds  were  so  blinded  and  dazed  by  the  light  that  they  could  not  fly. 
Even  as  late  as  1862  a man  by  name  of  Schamp,  living  near  "Sharp’s  Bridge,” 
had  a large  net,  in  which  he  caught  immense  numbers,  enticing  the  birds  to 
his  place  by  "stool  pigeons,”  surrounded  with  food,  then  throwing  the  net 
over  them.  Many  a morning  I saw  him  drive  into  Shreve  with  a two-horse 
wagonbed  full  to  the  cover.  He  would  sell  them  for  twenty-five  cents  a 
dozen  or  a "shilling,”  if  he  could  get  no  more,  at  Wooster.  And  yet  the 
Killbuck  swamp  was  not  the  only  remarkable  pigeon  roost,  for  in  a paper 
by  Professor  G.  F.  Wright,  of  Oberlin,  describing  a visit  to  Lodi  and  the 
"Harrisville  swamp”  (now  the  great  celery  farm  north  of  Burbank),  and 
which  is  almost  a part  of  Wayne  county,  for  its  drainage  to  the  south  is  into 
the  Killbuck,  says : “This  swamp  furnished  one  of  the  most  famous  pigeon 
roosts  in  the  country,  or,  indeed,  in  the  world.  I trust  some  of  the  older 
people  of  Lodi  will  collect  together  and  write  out  for  the  benefit  of  the  world 
and  future  generations  the  facts  concerning  this  roost.  I am  told  that  in  early 
times,  when  the  pigeons  gathered  to  their  resting  place  toward  night,  or  flew 
away  in  the  early  morning,  the  heavens  were  darkened  as  by  a cloud  and  the 


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noise  of  their  wings  resembled  that  of  a strong  wind  in  the  treetops  of  a pine 
forest.  It  is  said  that  after  dark  one  had  but  to  go  to  the  edge  of  the  bushes 
and  startle  the  sleeping  birds  so  that  they  should  fly  into  the  air,  when  he 
could  kill  them  in  almost  any  quantities  by  throwing  a stick  upwards  at  ran- 
dom. The  birds  must  have  been  reckoned  by  the  million.  A company  was 
formed  in  New  York  City  to  capture  them  in  immense  quantities  for  the  New 
York  market.  * * * It  is  one  of  those  remarkable  phenomena  which 

will  pass  out  of  the  knowledge  of  the  world,  unless  the  facts  are  soon  col- 
lected and  put  on  record.” 

We  think  this  a fitting  place  to  briefly  record  them.  The  detail  of  their 
coming  and  going  will  never  be  written,  and,  if  written,  could  not  be  under 
stood  by  the  generations  to  come,  for  the  passenger  pigeon  is  gone  forever. 
A late  notice  in  the  papers  offers  three  hundred  dollars  for  a single  pair,  hop- 
ing that  in  some  wild  region  a pair  may  still  be  found.  They  are  like  the 
bison,  the  bear,  the  elk  and  the  deer,  and  the  associate  Indian,  together  with 
all  the  ‘‘wild  things  of  the  swamps,”  lost  eternally  to  Wayne  county,  in  the 
evolution  of  the  white  man’s  brain,  and  the  contemplation  of  it  prompts  the  old 
inhabitant  to  say: 

“I  feel  like  one  who  treads  alone 
Some  banquet  hall  deserted. 

Whose  friends  have  fled,  whose  loves  are  dead. 

And  all  but  me  departed/’ 

HUMAN  RELICS  IN  THE  DRIFT  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

The  question  whether  or  not  man  existed  in  North  America  during  any 
part  of  the  great  ice  age  has  during  the  past  few  years  attracted  an  unusual 
amount  of  attention  and  awakened  not  a little  controversy.  It  is  not  one 
that  can  lie  easily  solved.  Evidence  comes  in  slowly,  and  the  cases  not  abso- 
lutely conclusive.  Indeed,  it  is  this  fact  that  gives  ground  for  the  contro- 
versy. So  many  elements  of  uncertainty  gather  round  the  problem  that  to 
eliminate  them  all  from  every  investigation  is  at  present  impossible,  and 
the  conclusion  in  each  case  rendered  to  that  degree  indeterminate.  But 
despite  this  difficulty,  we  must  recollect  that  in  many  previous  cases  anthro- 
pologists have  been  guided  by  cumulative  evidence  and  it  would  be  in  the 
highest  degree  illogical  to  deny  it  value  in  scientific  investigation.  The  ac- 
cumulation of  a number  of  cases,  each  in  itself  falling  short  of  absolute 


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proof,  may  yet  render  the  acceptance  of  their  common  conclusion  more  ra- 
tional than  its  rejection,  especially  in  the  absence  of  any  rebutting  argument 
or  position.  By  such  methods  of  reasoning  did  the  glacial  theory  finally 
supplant  the  diluvial,  and  by  like  means  has  the  iceberg  hypothesis  slowly 
yielded  to  that  of  the  more  widely  extended  sheet  of  land  ice.  Indeed,  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  every  doctrine  in  natural  science,  even  the  most 
widely  accepted  and  firmly  believed,  rests  at  bottom  on  this — that  it  is  more 
rational  to  admit  than  to  deny . 

It  is,  consequently,  of  great  importance  that  every  fact  that  even  seem- 
ingly connects  man  with  the  ice  age  in  North  America  should  be  made 
known.  That  the  evidence  which  it  furnishes  should  be  strictly  and  severely 
examined  and  the  exact  value  ascertained,  since  only  by  the  multiplication  of 
such  instances  can  the  desired  accumulation  be  obtained.  Acting  in  accord- 
ance with  the  above  belief  and  because  I know  the  artifact  to  be  an  honest 
find,  I present  a stone,  called  the  “moccasin  last  stone,”  in  connection  with  a 
mass  of  the  cemented  gravel  in  which  it  was  found.  The  accompanying  en- 
graving is  an  exact  representation  of  the  stone,  and  I put  it  forward  for  the 
honest  criticism  of  anthropologists  and  archaeologists.  It  must  stand  on  its 
own  merits,  and  will  probably  commend  itself  with  different  degrees  of  credi- 
bility and  force  to  different  readers,  according  to  their  mental  bias  and  their 
perspective  view  of  its  different  elements. 

The  facts  of  the  finding  are  as  follows:  In  the  spring  of  1894  workmen 
were  engaged  in  hauling  road  material  from  a bank  or  hill  of  glacial  gravel 
on  the  bank  of  the  Killbuck.  The  bank  was  near  the  Killbuck  bridge  on  the 
Columbus  road,  one  mile  southwest  of  Wooster,  Ohio.  Running  through  the 
bank,  as  is  not  seldom  the  case  in  similar  material,  was  a layer  of  conglomer- 
ate formed  by  the  infiltration  of  carbonate  of  lime,  or  iron  oxide,  or  both, 
from  the  upper  part  of  the  mass.  During  the  work  one  of  the  men,  Marion 
McCoy,  struck  his  pick  into  this  layer  and  threw  down  a small  mass,  which 
in  falling  broke  up  and  disclosed  to  the  shoveler,  Simon  Bender,  the  stone 
above  mentioned,  “a  petrified  human  foot,”  as  the  finder  called  it.  The  stone 
now,  when  placed  in  an  Indian  moccasin,  fits  it  as  accurately  as  a shoemaker's 
last  does  a boot,  hence  the  name,  “moccasin  last  stone.”  A further  descrip- 
tion of  the  finding  of  the  stone  will  be  better  illustrated  and  understood  by 
reading  the  affidavits  of  two  of  the  workmen,  J.  H.  Fraim,  the  director,  and 
S.  Bender,  the  finder  (I  have  similar  affidavits  from  each  of  the  workmen, 
particularly  I7.  Bierlev  ).  which  I here  insert.  It  will  be  noticed  that  they  say 
the  soil  and  some  “gravel  had  been  removed  from  the  top.” 


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“State  of  Ohio,  Wayne  County,  ss : 

“Personally  appeared  before  me  the  undersigned,  Simon  Bender,  who  by 
me  being  duly  sworn  according  to  law,  deposes  and  says : That  about  May, 

1884,  I was  loading  gravel  at  the  Frederick  Bierley  gravel  bank,  just  south- 
east of  Wooster,  when  some  digger  (I  think  Marion  McCoy)  was  bringing 
down  gravel  for  me  to  shovel.  The  part  of  the  bank  from  which  we  were 
loading  was  a wide  band  where  the  stones  were  all  stuck  together  by  some 
stuff  that  had  run  between  them,  and  this  layer  was  about  fifteen  to  seventeen 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  hill  and  had  to  be  broken  apart  with  a pick. 
While  the  man  with  the  pick  (I  think  McCoy)  threw  down  a small  bunch 
of  this  it  broke  apart  by  falling  and  revealed  the  stone  now  before  me  and 
which  I afterward  sold  to  Dr.  Todd.  I picked  it  up  and  knocked  off  the 
stones  that  were  sticking  to  it  and  showed  it  to  the  men  present,  viz. : F. 

Bierley,  Jacob  Kester,  Josiah  Fraim,  Marion  McCoy  and  others.  I and  some 
others  thought  it  an  Indian  foot  turned  to  stone,  but  the  toes  were  not  there. 
I do  not  know  the  width  of  the  layer  of  stone  that  was  stuck  together,  but  I do 
know  that  this  stone  came  from  about  the  middle  of  it,  and  that  the  layer 
was  fifteen  or  sixteen  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  hill.  I took  the  stone  to 
one  side,  but  J.  Fraim  wanted  it,  and  he  took  it  and  wrapped  it  in  his  coat,  laid 
it  in  another  place,  but  I kept  an  eye  on  him,  and  saw  where  he  put  it,  and 
when  work  was  done  I went  and  got  and  took  it  home  with  me  where  I tried 
to  further  clean  it  by  knocking  off  all  the  pebbles  that  were  sticking  to  it.  I 
also  rubbed  it  with  another  stone  to  smooth  off  the  sticky  stuff  so  it  would  be 
fit  to  sell,  but  I could  not  get  it  all  off  and  I then  took  it  to  Doctor  Todd  and 
sold  it  to  him  for  twenty-five  cents.  The  stone  could  not  have  fallen  in  from 
any  other  place,  for  it  was  in  the  stones  that  were  stuck  together,  and  no  one 
iiad  it  to  change  it  before  I sold  it  to  Doctor  Todd. 

“Simon  A.  Bender/’ 

“Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  this  10th  day  of  December,  A.  D. 
1897.  Charles  C.  Jones, 

“Deputy  Clerk  Probate  Court,  Wayne  County.  Ohio.” 

“State  of  Ohio,  Wayne  County,  ss : 

“Personally  appeared  before  me  the  undersigned,  Josiah  H.  Fraim,  who 
being  by  me  first  duly  sworn  according  to  law,  deposes  and  says,  that  I was 
present  at  Frederick  Bierley’s  gravel  bank  when  the  stone  now  before  me  and 
belonging  to  Doctor  J.  II.  Todd,  known  as  the  ‘moccasin  last  stone/  was 
found.  We  were  hauling  gravel  from  the  bank  to  the  road  in  the  spring  of 
1894.  The  bank  is  about  twenty-three  or  more  feet  from  where  the  wagon 
stood  to  the  top.  We  were  working  from  the  face  at  the  bottom.  There  is 


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a thick  layer  running  through  the  bank  where  all  the  stones  are  cemented 
firmly  together,  that  is  called  ‘conglomerate’  by  Doctor  Todd.  This  layer 
is  about  eighteen  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  hill.  While  one  of  the  workmen 
was  throwing  down  this  layer  with  a pick,  he  detached  a small  mass  of  ce- 
mented stones  which  broke  apart  when  it  fell  and  showed  the  stone  above 
mentioned.  Some  one  picked  it  up  and  knocked  the  other  stones  from  it; 
we  then  all  looked  at  it,  and  Mr.  McCoy  handed  it  to  me  and  I wrapped  it 
in  my  coat  and  laid  it  away  to  put  in  my  collection,  but  when  I went  for  it 
some  one  had  taken  it.  I afterwards  learned  it  was  Simon  Bender.  I know 
the  stone  came  from  the  conglomerate  layer  and  could  not  have  fallen  from 
the  surface,  for  there  were  still  many  small  pieces  of  gravel  and  much  cement 
sticking  to  it.  As  to  the  depth  from  the  surface  at  which  the  stone  was 
found,  I did  not  measure  it,  but  thought  it  was  eighteen  feet,  and  I have  since 
looked  at  the  bank  and  am  now  confirmed  in  the  opinion.  Another  point  is 
that  soil  and  some  gravel  had  been  taken  from  the  surface  at  some  previous 
time,  so  now  no  grass  grows  on  it.  The  amount  of  this,  if  known,  would  add 
to  the  depth  of  the  stone.  Josiah  H.  Fraim. 

“Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  this  the  27th  day  of  November, 
A.  D.  1897.  Charles  C.  Jones, 

“Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Probate  Court,  Wayne  County,  Ohio/' 

I personally  know  this  to  be  true,  for  over  sixty  years  ago  I lived  with 
my  father  one-quarter  mile  from  the  hill  and  saw  them  hauling  gravel  from 
the  top,  and  I know  this  was  continued  at  intervals  to  complete  the  road  across 
the  bottom,  this  being  the  only  coarse  gravel  available.  How  much  was 
taken  from  the  top  is  only  conjecture,  but  I measured  from  the  present  surface 
to  the  point  where  the  stone  was  found,  and  it  proved  to  be  seventeen  feet. 

GEOLOGY  OF  THE  DISTRICT. 

The  Killbuck  flows  in  one  of  the  preglacial  valleys  of  Wayne  county, 
which  here  is  three-fourths  of  a mile  wide  and  is  filled  to  the  depth  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-four  feet  by  wash  from  the  north.  Its  general  direction 
is  nearly  along  the  meridian.  Near  Wooster  the  Apple  creek  comes  in  from 
the  northeast,  and  has  pushed  the  Killbuck  over  to  the  western  side  of  the 
valley,  where  it  is  cutting  into  the  shale  that  forms  the  walls  of  its  channel 
in  a few  places,  though  for  the  most  part  its  banks  show  only  the  rounded  un- 
dulating topography  of  the  glacial  hills.  Through  this  gravel  overlying  the 
shale  many  years  ago  a wagon  road  was  cut  from  east  to  west,  crossing  the 
Killbuck,  and  since  that  time  gravel  has  been  taken  from  it,  first  from  the 
top,  then  from  the  side,  for  road  making,  so  that  a considerable  excavation 


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now  exists.  The  top  of  the  bank  was  originally  over  forty  feet  above  the 
water  of  the  Killbuck,  and  the  gravel  excavated  shows  from  twenty-three  to 
twenty-five  feet  of  nearly  perpendicular  face.  The  bed  consists  of  unstratified 
material  of  various  sizes,  from  stones  weighing  about  two  pounds  down  to 
sand,  and  the  bed  of  conglomerate  above  referred  to  is  about  four  to  six  feet 
in  thickness  and  traverses  the  hill  horizontally,  and  is  composed  of  similar 
materials.  Beyond  all  question,  the  hill  is  one  of  the  morainic  mounds  depos- 
ited by  the  Killbuck  lobe  of  the  glacier  during  its  retreat.  And  there  is  not 
the  slightest  ground  for  supposing  that  it  has  been  disturbed  or  in  any  way 
moved  since  its  deposition.  The  Killbuck  has  never  since  the  ice  age  been 
at  a level  measurably  higher  than  it  is  today.  All  the  above  geological  facts 
were  confirmed  by  the  late  Professor  Claypole,  a geologist  and  archaeologist 
of  wide  reputation,  then  of  Buchtel  College,  Akron,  Ohio,  who  ten  years  ago 
examined  the  locality  and  the  stone,  pronouncing  the  stone  a genuine  prehis- 
toric relic,  confirmed  the  above  geology  and  advised  the  publication  of  the 
finding. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  STONE.  k i 

First  look  at  the  picture  and  know  that  the  material  is  a moderately  fine 
sandstone,  greenish  yellow  in  color,  such  as  is  abundant  in  the  drift  of  the 
region,  and  calls  for  no  particular  notice  or  comment.  The  “foot”  measures 
eight  and  one-half  inches  in  length  by  three  inches  and  two  and  one-half 
inches  in  other  directions,  and  so  fairly  resembles  a last  that  the  finder’s  name 
for  it  may  well  be  allowed  to  pass.  But  the  noteworthy  fact,  and  the  one 
which  justifies  the  full  detail  here  attempted,  is  that  the  stone  bears  evident 
traces  of  human  handkvork  and  use.  At  the  flat  end  it  shows  signs  of  having 
served  the  purpose  of  a pestle  or  muller  for  grinding  or  pounding,  and  over 
most  of  its  surface,  especially  at  and  about  the  thinner  end,  it  is  covered  with 
the  pits  or  pick  marks  usually  seen  on  worked  stones  of  this  nature,  such  as 
greenstone  axes,  celts,  etc.  Had  it  been  found  in  usual  circumstances,  any 
collector  would  unhesitatingly  have  put  it  into  his  cabinet  as  a common  In- 
dian or  prehistoric  pestle,  but  the  depth  at  which  it  was  found,  seventeen  feet 
from  present  surface  and  probably  twenty  to  twenty-four  below  original  sur- 
face, and  the  peculiar  details  of  its  discovery,  invest  it  with  a new  and  special 
interest  in  the  eyes  of  the  archaeologist. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  following  inferences  seem  to  be  legitimate  from  the  data  already 
given  and  upon  others  to  be  mentioned  below : 

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First,  the  stone  is  a relic  of  human  workmanship.  Its  flat  end  bears  all 
usual  signs  of  having  been  used  as  a muller  or  pestle  such  as  are  common 
among  the  prehistoric  remains  of  the  county.  Its  opposite  end  is  covered 
with  the  pick  marks  used  in  stones  that  have  been  wrought  by  human  hands. 
These  pick  marks,  though  most  abundant  at  the  rounded  end,  are  visible  over 
most  of  the  surface  except  on  the  flat  end,  which  is  smoothed,  as  is  usual  in 
these  pestles. 

Second.  Being  found  in  the  glacial  gravel  and  at  the  depth  mentioned 
above,  seventeen  feet,  it  is  not  rational  to  urge  its  subsequent  introduction 
by  accident  or  design.  The  depth  is  too  great  for  tree  roots  or  burrowing 
animals  or  cracks ; no  trees  are  growing  on  the  spot,  nor  is  the  gravelly  soil 
of  such  a nature  as  to  allow  deep  cracks,  while  the  cement  holds  the  stones 
together.  A large  block,  twelve  by  eighteen  inches,  that  fell  with  the  stone 
has  lain  in  my  yard  since  1894,  exposed  to  the  weather,  and  but  few  pebbles 
have  fallen  from  it. 

Third.  In  further  proof  of  the  above  inference  is  the  fact  that  it  came 
from  the  bed  of  conglomerate  in  the  drift,  and  was  so  firmly  cemented  to 
other  pebbles  lying  with  it  that  the  workmen  who  found  it  had  trouble  in 
breaking  them  from  it,  and  Bender  could  not  scour  off  the  cement  with  an- 
other stone.  The  position  and  depth  of  the  conglomerate  in  the  bank  being 
ascertained,  all  doubts  regarding  the  position  of  the  stone  are  necessarily 
removed. 

Fourth.  Further,  in  consideration  of  the  above  facts,  it  is  impossible 
to  doubt  that  the  stone  is  of  the  same  age  as  the  other  materials  of  the  con- 
glomerate; tliat  it  was  buried  at  the  same  time;  that  it  has  been  subject  to  the 
same  influences.  In  fact,  that  it  is  an  integral  part  of  the  conglomerate  as 
much  as  the  other  stones  composing  the  same. 

Fifth.  One  more  possible  objection  must  be  noticed,  as  it  can  be  met  by 
a fact.  It  may  be  said  that  the  marks  on  the  stone  are  recent  and  have  been 
made  since  it  was  found.  Setting  aside  the  distinct  and  positive  testimony 
of  the  finders,  as  given  in  their  affidavits,  already  quoted,  we  may  add  that 
close  examination  discloses  the  fact  that  the  stalagmitic  encrustation  still 
remaining  fills  many  of  the  pick  marks  in  the  stone,  proving  that  it  is  of  later 
date.  Very  fortunately,  the  well-meant,  but  ill-judged,  efforts  of  the  finder 
to  “clean'’  the  specimen  was  only  partly  successful,  and  the  concretionary 
cement  still  thickly  covers  a great  part  of  the  surface.  It  would  be  much  more 
satisfactory,  no  doubt,  if  the  whole  mass  had  remained  as  it  was  found,  but 
we  may  be  glad  that  the  evidence  was  not  entirely  destroyed,  as  has  been  done 
with  not  a few  archaeological  relics  of  very  great  scientific  value  when  they 


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were  found,  but  ruined  by  too  much  zeal  and  too  little  knowledge  in  their 
finder.  On  the  whole,  it  seems  difficult  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  we  have 
here  another  indication  of  human  existence  in  northern  Ohio  while  yet  the 
ice  of  the  glacial  era  was  present  in  the  state. 

Reviewing  the  evidence  herein  presented,  it  seems  logical  to  conclude 
that  this  stone  was  an  implement  of  domestic  use,  lost  by  its  owner,  and 
buried  by  a glacial  stream  in  the  gravel  of  the  Killbuck  valley,  where  it  lay 
undisturbed  until  exhumed  as  above  related.  At  all  events,  the  evidence,  as 
We  have  been  able  to  obtain  it,  is  here  presented  in  detail,  and  it  must  remain 
for  archaeologists  to  weigh  it  and  come  to  their  own  conclusions  regarding 
its  final  value.  If  the  inferences  above  given  are  valid  they  will  before  long 
be  strengthened  by  others  of  the  same  kind.  The  problem  will  then  reach 
its  ultimate  and  complete  solution. 

OTHER  EVIDENCES. 

Elsewhere  will  be  found  photographs  of  two  stones  found  in  the  drift  and 
now  in  my  possession.  The  larger  one  is  from  a glacial  drift  hill  twenty-five 
feet  high  on  its  cut  face.  The  hill  is  similar  in  every  particular  to  the  one 
above  noted,  save  that  the  cemented  conglomerate  is  not  so  completely  strati- 
fied. The  hill  is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Killbuck,  one  and  one-half  miles 
higher  up  the  creek,  where  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  cut  through  it 
when  grading  the  road,  and  I feel  certain  that  the  gravel  was  never  disturbed 
before  this  cut  was  made.  Several  years  ago,  when  workmen  were  taking 
out  gravel  for  ballast  from  the  lower  face  of  the  hill,  this  stone  was  dislodged 
and  picked  up  by  myself  from  the  tom-down  gravels,  so  I can  not  exactly 
locate  its  position,  but  the  workmen  were  taking  gravel  from  a space  from 
sixteen  to  twenty  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  hill.  In  form  it  is  a charac- 
teristic “turtle  back”  and  is  well  chipped.  Examine  it  and  consider  its  value. 

The  second  and  smaller  stone,  resembling  a rude  tomahawk,  was  found 
in  a washout  in  the  drift  on  a hill  almost  directly  opposite  the  first  hill  de- 
scribed. The  top  of  this  hill  has  for  nearly  a century  been  plowed  “down 
hill”  and  so  its  surface  greatly  lowered.  The  hill  is  composed  of  imper- 
fectly stratified  gravel  and  yellow  clay.  During  a spring  thaw  and  flood  a 
gully  some  six  feet  deep  was  formed  in  the  side  of  the  hill,  and  from  the 
yellow  clay  near  the  bottom  of  this  gully  I picked  the  stone,  the  clay  firmlv 
adhering  to  it,  and  I am  satisfied  that  it  was  taken  from  undisturbed  glacial 
clay.  That  it  shows  distinct  marks  of  human  workmanship,  no  one  seeing 


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it  can  dispute,  and  I present  it,  in  connection  with  the  above,  as  one  more 
evidence  of  man's  association  with  the  glacier’s  retreat  in  Wayne  county, 
Ohio. 

ANIMAL  REMAINS  FOUND  IN  THE  MUCK  SWAMPS. 

The  first  is  a mammoth's  tooth,  the  last  molar  of  the  under  jaw  of  the 
left  side;  it  weighs  four  and  one-half  pounds,  although  part  of  the  fang  is 
lost  by  decay.  It  is  known  to  be  a mammoth's  tooth  by  the  cross  lines  of  hard 
enamel  with  softer  dentine  between.  It  represents  an  extinct  species  of  ele- 
phant, the  “Elephas  primigenius,"  the  ancestor  of  the  Indian  elephant,  and 
was  covered  with  a shaggy  coat  of  bristles,  long  hair  and  wool.  It  was  con- 
temporary with  man  during  and  after  the  glacial  period  in  Europe.  The 
tooth  was  found  in  the  filled-up  glacial  lake  on  the  Brownfield  farm,  northeast 
of  Fredericksburgh,  Ohio.  The  lake  is  in  an  old  preglacial  channel  and  in  its 
center  is  an  old  morainic  island,  on  which  was  a late  Indian  village,  furnishing 
many  relics.  In  a spring  freshet  the  north  branch  of  Salt  creek  washed  into 
this  swamp,  tearing  down  the  muck  and  with  it  the  tooth  which  the  engrav- 
ing represents.  It  was  found  when  the  water  subsided  by  Mr.  John  Living- 
ston, who  brought  it  to  me.  The  tooth  was  found  only  seven  miles  from  the 
swamp  (of  similar  character)  in  which  was  found  the  immense  skeleton  of 
the  giant  sloth — megalonyx  Jeffersonii — by  my  old  friend,  Mr.  Abraham  Dru- 
shell,  and  which  is  now  placed  in  Orton  Hall  of  the  Ohio  State  University, 
the  only  such  skeleton  mounted  in  the  world. 

The  next  specimen  was  found  when  driving  a sewer  through  a glacial 
kame  in  front  of  my  house  in  Wooster,  Ohio.  The  specimen  was  found  fif- 
teen feet  down  from  the  original  surface  of  the  soil,  lying  between  layers  of 
blue  boulders,  clay  and  yellow  Cleveland  clay.  It  is  five  and  one-half  inches 
long  and  one  and  one-quarter  inches  in  its  greatest  diameter,  with  a peculiar 
articulation  at  its  distal  end,  such  as  is  found  in  the  cat  tribe,  where  the  claw 
rolls  on  the  bone,  and  can  be  sheathed.  I regard  it  as  the  last  phalynx  of  the 
central  toe  of  the  extinct  saber-toothed  lion.  It  can  not  be  represented  on 
paper,  but  I note  it  here  because  the  lion  was  contemporary  with  the  mam- 
moth and  man  in  Europe,  and  may  have  been  in  America  in  glacial  time,  and 
I make  this  point  for  Wayne  county,  Ohio — that  when  such  animals  could 
live,  man  could  live. 

The  next  find  is  the  shark's  teeth,  represented  in  the  engraving.  The 
teeth  are  from  the  man-eating  shark  (genus  Carcharinus),  which  lived  in  a 
warm  sea  and  grew  to  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet  in  length.  The  large  tooth, 
associated  with  one  on  the  card  from  South  Carolina,  was  found  in  the  muck 


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Miscellaneous  Artefacts  found  in  Wayne  County. 

natural  size. 


One-sixth 


Types  of  Ungrooved  Axes,  or  Celts,  found  in  Wayne  Cou..l j . 
One-sixth  natural  size. 


Sharks'  Teeth,  found  in  the  Muck  Swamps  of  Wayne  County.  About  two-thirds  natural  size. 


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of  Killbuck  bottoms,  below  the  fair  grounds.  The  others  were  found  when 
draining  a muck  swamp  in  a preglacial  gorge  down  the  head  of  the  Cincin- 
nati incline  on  section  32,  Milton  township.  They  were  not  the  only- 
teeth  recovered,  for  the  family  kept  some,  and  I had  two  stolen  from  me. 
In  addition,  I have  a number  of  shark’s  teeth,  but  of  another  species,  recov- 
ered from  the  Newman’s  creek  swamp  near  Orrville.  How  sharks  got  here 
is  only  surmise,  but  imagination  whispers  to  me  that  they  were  stranded  in 
the  fissures  of  the  hills,  from  the  warm  sea  that  surrounded  the  head  of  the 
island  when  the  land  rose  and  the  sea  gave  place  to  a carboniferous  forest. 
Since  writing  the  above,  I had  a row  of  types  of  the  small  teeth  found  in 
Newman’s  creek  swamp  added  to  the  plate. 

THE  INDIANS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

The  legends  and  traditions  handed  down  from  the  remote  ancestors  of 
the  Leni  Lenape  or  Delawares  tells  us  that  many  centuries  ago  the  country 
from  the  “Nama-esi  Sipu” — the  Mississippi  river — to  the  Alligewi  Sipu — the 
Allegheny  river — which  then  included  the  Ohio,  was  occupied  by  a people 
called  Allegewi,  and  to  these  people  we  are  indebted  for  the  names  Alleghany 
mountains  and  Allegheny  river.  The  Allegewi  were  a tall  and  strong  race, 
the  Leni  Lenape  describing  many  of  them  as  giants:  but  they  were  peaceful 
and  inclined  to  agriculture.  Still,  they  had  many  fortified  towns,  with  ditch 
and  embankment,  surmounted  with  palisades.  But’  their  quiet  was  broken 
and  the  Allegewi  migrated  to  the  far  south,  giving  place  to  the  Cat  nation, 
who  held  and  occupied  the  country  from  the  Scioto  river  to  Lake  Erie,  to 
which  they  gave  name.  The  Leni  Lenape  had  passed  on  to  the  Susquehanna 
and  the  Delaware  river,  and  here  received  the  name  Delaware,  after  Lord 
De  la  Ware,  “a  brave  and  good  man.”  The  Eries  were  a peaceful  people,  and 
ever  a neutral  nation  in  the  wars,  but  this  neutrality  furnished  an  excuse 
to  the  intriguing  and  fiercely  bloodthirsty  Iroquois  (Five  Nations)  for  a war 
of  extermination,  and  being  supplied  with  guns  and  knives  and  tomahawks 
of  steel  by  the  Dutch  of  New  York,  they  began  the  war  of  annihilation. 
The  Eries,  against  such  superior  weapons,  could  do  nothing — the  nation  was 
destroyed.  That  the  Dutch  were  the  devils  in  peace  clothing  that  incited 
the  Iroquois  to  deeds  of  violence  and  rapine  and  murder  so  that  they  (the 
Dutch)  could  secure  the  fertile  lands  of  the  vanquished  is  simply  a matter 
of  history  (see  Heckewilder,  Zersberger  and  Loskeil). 

The  destruction  of  the  nation  was  complete — most  of  the  unfortunates 
murdered  by  the  bullets  and  bayonets  and  steel  tomahawks  supplied  by  the 


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smiling  Dutch,  many  of  the  prisoners  were  tortured  until  the  Great  Spirit 
anesthetized  to  fainting,  when  they  were  burned.  A few  were  adopted  by 
the  more  humane  of  the  Iroquois  and  a few  more  escaped  across  the  lake  to 
Detroit  from  their  last  stand  at  their  stronghold  on  Put-in-Bay  Island  in 
Lake  Erie,  the  lake  of  their  naming  and  loving.  Another  part,  probably 
from  this  county  and  the  Mohican  valley,  fled  down  the  Muskingum  and 
Scioto  to  the  Ohio,  and  thence  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  there  by  degrees  up 
the  Missouri,  establishing  many  towns  and  finally  settling  as  Mandans  on  a 
beautiful  and  romantic  spot  on  the  north  Missouri  near  Bismarck,  North 
Dakota.  Here  they  lived  unmolested  and  happy  for  a time,  but  finally  the 
smallpox  within  their  fortified  town  of  two  thousand  souls  and  the  Sioux 
watching  without,  so  they  could  not  even  bury  their  dead,  brought  their 
entire  destruction. 

So  you  see  that  the  Indians  the  whites  found  here  when  they  invaded 
the  country  were  not  native  to  the  soil.  The  tribes  then  inhabiting  Wayne 
county  were  the  Delawares,  the  Mohicans  and  a few  Mingoes,  all  of  whom 
came  here  from  the  far  east  as  the  white  man  encroached  upon  them  from  the 
sea.  When  they  came  into  Ohio  they  knew  nothing,  scarcely  by  tradition, 
of  the  mounds  and  relics  in  stone  left  here  by  their  ancestors,  and  this  is  why 
we  separate  the  Indian  from  the  “Mound  Builder.”  But  as  children  they 
had  been  taught  in  a new  school,  of  new  things,  by  new  teachers.  They  had 
learned  to  fight  with  new  weapons  and  had  been  taught  the  practical  meaning 
of  treachery  and  vengeance ; in  place  of  tomahawks  of  granite  and  arrowheads 
of  flint,  they  had  guns  and  knives  and  tomahawks  of  steel  for  defense  and 
offense.  Their  whole  nature  and  manhood,  from  environment  and  association 
with  the  white  man.  had  been  warped  from  the  original;  they  had  been 
harassed  by  the  Iroquois,  cheated  by  the  Dutch,  filled  with  whisky  by  the 
English,  and  scourged  from  their  hunting  grounds  by  the  psalm-singing 
Puritans,  and  driven  with  disgrace  under  the  sobriquet  of  women  into  the  Ohio 
country.  What  wonder  they  were  called  “savages,”  and  what  greater  won- 
der that  after  such  massacres,  as  unprovoked  as  was  done  with  the  one  hun- 
dred defenseless  Christian  Indians  at  Gnadenhutten,  and  the  thirteen  toma- 
hawked in  their  sleep  on  the  site  of  the  Catholic  church  in  our  own  city,  that 
they  did  not  retaliate  more  than  by  burning  Colonel  Crawford.  Colonel 
Crawford  would  never  have  been  burned  by  Captain  Pipe,  save  for  the 
Gnadenhutten  infamy,  nor  the  Great  Spirit-respecting,  white-man-loving,  hos- 
pitable gentleman  Logan  been  transformed  into  a revengeful  and  merciless 
“savage”  had  not  Captain  Cresap  been  a fiend.  Such  acts,  with  many  others 
recorded  in  history,  would  blur  the  fair  face  of  nature  and  make  hell  shud- 


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deringly  ashamed.  It  must  not,  however,  be  thought  that  I want  to  make 
the  Indian  an  angelic  or  even  a civilized  character,  but,  leaving  out  the  Iro- 
quois and  the  Sioux,  though  we  must  relegate  the  North  American  Indian  to 
the  barbarian  stage  of  human  evolution — the  savage  being  a retrogression — 
yet  as  nations  or  tribes  they  had  many  virtues  and  many  noble,  honorable, 
executive  chiefs,  with  a true  desire  for  peace,  purity  and  advancement.  The 
principal  chiefs  connected  with  Wayne  county  history  Were  Killbuck,  Beaver 
Hat,  Custaloga,  White  Eyes,  Half  King,  Mohican  John  and  Captain  Pipe. 
Want  of  room  prevents  any  detailed  history  of  these  chiefs.  A few  notes 
must  suffice.  Captain  Pipe  (Hobacan  in  Indian)  belonged  to  the  Wolf  tribe 
of  the  Delawares.  He  was  born  on  the  Susquehanna  in  1740,  and  in  1758 
located  on  the  Tuscarawas.  After  the  treaty  of  1795  he  came  with  other 
Delawares  to  near  Mohican  John's  town,  near  Jeromeville,  Ashland  county. 
I have  many  times  looked  over  the  remains  of  Pipe’s  cabin,  when  fishing 
in  the  ‘‘Old  Town  run,”  and  well  remember  when  in  1841  a deputation  of 
Delawares  came  to  see  if  the  graves  of  their  ancestors  had  been  desecrated. 
I then  had  seven  skulls  and  many  long  bones  of  “dead  Injuns”  for  a play- 
house in  the  yard ; the  bones  had  been  exhumed  when  digging  a mill 
race.  The  red  men  called  me  to  the  gate  and  asked  for  “man-house.”  I ran 
for  grandfather,  the  Rev.  Elijah  Yocum,  whom  they  asked  if  they  could  bury 
the  bones.  He  made  for  them  a large  box,  when  they  gathered  all  other 
bones,  and  I saw  them  bury  them  with  many  curious  signs. 

Mohican  John,  with  his  tribe,  was  driven  from  Connecticut  and  Rhode 
Island.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1755  and  first  located  at  Tullihas,  on  the  Big 
Mohican,  where  Owl  creek  enters.  He  removed  to  the  “Old  Town”  home 
in  1795,  and  left  about  1814.  The  trail  from  Tallehas  followed  the  Mohican 
to  the  mouth  of  Killbuck,  then  up  this  to  “Big  Spring,”  the  Wayne  county 
home  of  Chief  Killbuck,  thence  to  the  mouth  of  Crawford’s  run,  up  this  to  the 
Maize  Mill,  from  whence  the  trail  is  followed  by  wagon  road  to  Shreve,  then 
to  Odel’s  lake,  and  up  the  Mohican  to  Mohican  John's  town,  on  the  “Old 
Town  run” — Chief  Beaver  Hat  had  his  winter  wigwam  near  the  Wooster 
cemetery,  and  in  summer  an  “apple  orchard”  on  the  Apple  creek.  Chief 
Custaloga  lived  near  Big  Prairie,  and  the  station  on  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne 
& Chicago  railroad  depot  is  named  for  him. 

Captain  Pipe.  Killbuck  (Gelelemand)  and  White  Eyes  were  delegates 
to  the  great  conference  at  Fort  Pitt.  Chief  Killbuck’s  chief  home  was  at 
Tullihas,  but  he  had  a cabin  on  the  Thomas  Douty  farm,  near  the  Big  Spring, 
the  great  fishing  place  of  the  Indians  and  of  the  early  inhabitants.  Killbuck 
had  two  sons,  one  of  whom  was  very  dissipated  and  threw  opprobrium  on  his 


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father.  Captain  White  Eyes  lived  in  White  Eyes  township,  Coshocton 
county.  He  and  Killbuck  had  strong  desires  that  their  nation  might  become 
a civilized  people,  but  he  died  young,  of  smallpox,  in  1778.  Killbuck  died 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Killbuck  in  1810,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 
Excepting  probably  Captain  Pipe,  who  was  soured  in  old  age,  all  these  men 
were  ambitious  to  protect  their  people,  and  they  were  all  and  always  honor- 
able, peaceful  men,  and  virtuous  beyond  their  age.  They  were  above  the 
savage  and  were  superior  to  all  white  barbarians.  They  were  “nature's 
noblemen,"  with  the  forest  for  a home,  the  groves  in  the  meadows  were  their 
temples  and  council  places,  and  contemplation  compels  one  to  repeat : 

“Lo ! the  poor  Indian,  whose  untutored  mind 
Sees  God  in  clouds  and  hears  Him  in  the  wind. 

His  soul,  proud,  science  never  taught  to  stray 
Far  as  the  solar  walk  or  milky  way ; 

Yet  simple  nature  to  his  hope  has  given 

Beyond  the  cloud-topped  hills  an  humbler  heaven. 

And  thinks,  admitted  to  that  equal  sky, 

His  faithful  dog  shall  bear  him  company." 

FORTIFICATIONS  AND  ENCLOSURES. 

The  remains  of  fortifications  or  enclosures  for  observation  and  protec- 
tion are  very  numerous  in  Wayne  county,  particularly  in  the  vicinity  of 
Wooster,  which  seems  to  have  been  a commercial  center  for  the  aborigine 
as  well  as  in  our  twentieth  century  civilization.  Each  and  every  one  of  the  sur- 
rounding hills  is  crowned  with  an  enclosure  commonly  called  a “fort."  The 
hills  outstand  as  headlands  overlooking  the  valleys  of  Apple  creek  and  Kill- 
buck  and  from  any  of  these  points  observation  and  communication  could  be 
secured  with  other  like  crowned  hills  near  Shreve  and  Funk,  and  Jeromes- 
ville  and  on  to  Ashland,  Hayesville,  Mansfield,  Millersburgh.  The  con- 
struction of  the  walls  of  the  enclosures  was  very  similar  on  all  the  hills,  viz. : 
a trench  and  embankment,  surrounded  with  palisades.  The  largest  en- 
closure, containing  between  thirty  and  fifty  acres,  was  situated  on  Madison 
hill,  the  first  location  of  the  county  seat,  now  the  Experiment  Station  farm 
and  Wooster  cemetery.  This  had  more  the  character  of  a “fort"  than  many 
others,  for  the  north  wall  was  partly  built  of  stone,  the  construction  being 
distinctly  recognizable  forty  years  ago,  where  the  Moorland  road  cut 
through  the  wall,  and  the  west  boundary  can  even  now  be  traced  from  .the 


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First  Mill  erected  by  a White  Man  in  Wayne  County.  Made  from  a Huge 

Boulder,  end  located  on  the  Muddy  Fork,  about  1809.  Sculptured  Indian  Head,  made  of  Tran*. 

lucent  Flint.  Finely  specialized  by 
chipping.  About  twice  natural  size. 
Found  by  Author  near  Wooster. 


Pre-  or  Inter-Glacial  Pestle,  the  so-called  ' 'Moccasin  Last”,  found  in  Undisturbed  Glacial  Gravel  17  feet  below  the  Surface. 

Much  reduced — bare  shows  the  gravel. 


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east  line  of  Wooster’s  new  cemetery  to  near  the  north  line  of  the  Catholic 
cemetery.  A mound  was  on  the  southeast  angle  above  Experimental  build- 
ings. 

The  next  largest  was  on  the  Joe  Eicher  farm,  west  of  Wooster,  where 
the  shale  bank  of  the  Clear  creek — some  twenty-five  feet  high — formed  the 
north  side,  and  from  a point  on  this  creek  near  the  wagon  road  an  embank- 
ment was  carried  around  the  hills  in  a semi-circle  to  a point  some  forty  rods 
up  the  creek,  including  five  to  seven  acres.  Twenty  years  ago  the  embank- 
ment was  still  three  feet  high,  although  the  ground  had  been  farmed  for  sixty 
years.  This  site  furnished  me  many  fine  relics. 

One  and  a half  miles  up  Killbuck  from  this  on  the  late  Rose  Ann  Eicher 
farm,  just  below  the  Big  Springs,  is  a beautiful  oval  enclosure,  the  bank  of 
which  is  still  complete  and  four  feet  high,  the  point  of  the  egg  extending 
almost  to  the  bank  of  the  Killbuck,  which  is  here  twenty  feet  high  with  a 
gully  to  the  south,  affording  protection  from  marauders  coming  up  or  down 
the  stream,  which  was  then  a boating  highway  from  the  Muskingum  up 
to  the  portage  beween  Burbank  and  Lodi  on  the  Black  river.  The  hill 
above  the  springs  rises  two  hundred  feet  to  a plateau,  from  which  the  Kill- 
buck  river  could  be  scanned  for  many  miles.  The  enclosure  is  still  in  the 
native  woods  and  is  undisturbed  and  the  tract,  including  enclosure,  springs, 
plateau  and  meadow  adjoining  the  creek,  should  be  preserved  for  a park, 
for,  in  the  writer’s  opinion,  it  is  the  finest  site  for  health  and  recreation  in 
the  county  of  Wayne  or  even  the  state  of  Ohio. 

The  next  distinguished  hill  top  is  directly  across  the  Killbuck  valley 
from  the  above  described  and  is  popularly  known  as  Fort  Hill.  It  is  sit- 
uated on  a promontory  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  Little  and 
Big  Killbuck.  The  bluff  is  six  hundred  feet  in  long  diameter  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  in  the  short,  top  surface.  The  sides  are  thirty-five  feet  high 
from  the  roadbed  on  either  side.  On  the  northwest  it  is  nearly  cut  from  the 
mainland  by  a ravine,  only  a narrow  neck  connecting,  which  was  guarded 
bv  a ditch  and  bank,  probably  palisaded.  On  the  top  is  a circle  about  one 
hundred  by  eighty  feet  and  there  are  also  two  mounds,  each  twenty-five 
to  thirty  feet  in  diameter  and  two  to  three  feet  high.  There  is  an  available 
spring  on  the  west  side  and  I am  convinced  that  here  was  erected  (or 
selected)  a refuge  and  defense  “fort.”  My  opinion  is  strengthened  by  the 
fact  of  its  commanding  a long  and  wide  view  of  the  Killbuck  valley,  but 
primarily  by  the  fact  that  out  from  its  front  at  the  distance  an  arrow  would 
fly  I have  picked  up  in  the  last  ten  years  over  fifty  warrior  darts,  the  small 


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triangular  ones,  so  fashioned  that  if  once  driven  into  a body  and  the  arrow 
shaft  pulled  out,  the  dart  or  point  would  remain  and  induce  suppuration.  Or 
may  not  the  point  have  been  poisoned  ? 

The  remains  of  an  enclosure  are  still  recognizable  on  the  Bechtel  hill 
near  the  Spring.  This  hill  overlooks  the  fair  grounds  and  the  valley  and 
across  the  Christmas  run  on  a similar  spur  of  hill  is  another  well-marked 
enclosure,  just  above  a fine  spring. 

There  was  a large  enclosure  on  the  hill  southwest  of  Wooster  that 
included  twenty  acres.  It  was  situated  between  the  two  Killbuck  bridges 
and  was  peculiar  in  being  double  terraced  on  the  stream  side  of  the  hill — one 
trench  and  embankment  low  on  the  hill  and  in  the  shale  where  the  implements 
were  of  very  old  type,  and  about  sixty  feet  above  a parallel  embankment  that 
was  probably  palisaded.  Here  implements  were  of  jasper  and  finely  serrated 
on  both  sides.  There  was  a fine  spring  in  the  enclosure  and  a deep  ravine  on 
the  north  side.  The  traces  are  now  almost  obliterated  by  plowing  down  hill, 
but  sixty-five  years  ago  when  I first  saw  and  played  on  the  terraces  it  was 
plainly  marked.  A part  was  then  in  woods.  A large  enclosure  was  noticed 
on  Bald  hill,  above  Shreve.  where  Doctor  Pocock  opened  many  single  graves. 
This  faced  one  across  the  valley,  but  I can  describe  no  more. 

• 

MOUNDS. 

The  mounds  of  Wayne  county  are  many,  but  small,  ranging  from  fifteen 
to  fifty  feet  in  diameter  by  two  to  six  feet  in  height.  A few  fine  gorgets, 
ceremonial  stones  and  totems  have  been  found  in  them,  with  arrow  and  spear 
heads.  Most  of  them  were  opened  years  ago  and  no  record  kept,  as  the  open- 
ers were  simply  relic  hunters.  The  finest,  to  my  personal  knowledge,  was 
opened  on  the  bank  of  the  Muddy  fork  near  New  Pittsburgh.  There  was 
found  but  one  skeleton,  on  the  breast  of  which  was  a large  slate  pendant, 
and  around  the  thorax  were  laid  thirty-five  well  worked  leaf-shaped  imple- 
ments, four  and  one-half  inches  long  by  one  and  one-half  wide  at  center, 
and  one  fine  stemmed  spear  head  six  inches  long,  while  at  the  hands  lay  two 
elegant,  deep-grooved  axes,  with  pointed  poles,  one  of  quartz  and  the  other 
a light  blue  stone,  the  texture  not  determined.  Both  are  perfect:  I have  all 
in  cabinet. 

There  is  a large  mound  on  the  Bob  Snyder  farm,  a half  mile  up  the  hill 
from  Kanke  Station  that  is  unique  in  construction  and  history.  The  hill 
top  on  which  it  is  located  commands  the  most  extensive  and,  the  writer  thinks. 


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the  finest  pastoral  view  in  Wayne  county.  The  mound  is  fifty  feet  in  diam- 
eter and  was  about  nine  feet  high.  It  is  in  an  unbroken  woodland  and  covered 
with  nature's  forest  trees,  the  roots  of  which  greatly  embarrassed  digging  and 
disturbed  the  strata.  The  bottom  is  formed  like  a low  rimmed  saucer,  made 
of  hard  puddled  clay,  covered  with  three  inches  of  sand,  and  scattered  over 
this  is  a layer  of  charcoal,  burned  or  charred  bones  and  pieces  of  splintered 
flint;  over  this  is  another  layer  of  puddled  clay,  covered  with  sand,  and  on 
this  is  more  charcoal,  incinerated  bones  and  implements,  broken  up  as  by  fire. 

Here  the  original  mound,  or  place  for  cremation  purposes,  seems  to  have 
been  completed  or  abandoned,  for  above  this — about  three  feet  high — comes 
a two-foot  covering  of  yellow  clay,  in  which  I found — in  the  trench,  two  feet 
wide,  which  I drove  from  periphery  to  center — two  bundles  of  “long  bones’’ 
and  some  loose  bones,  but  no  skulls.  The  long  bones  seemed  to  have  been 
tied  together,  or  thrown  in  piles  as  in  communal  burials  and  were  so  infil- 
trated with  and  cemented  together  by  the  tough  clay,  that  1 took  them  out 
entire  and  still  have  them  as  well  as  the  charcoal,  sand  and  contents  from  the 
bottom  of  the  mound.  I11  places  the  long  bones  had  entirely  decomposed  in 
the  clay,  leaving  only  a hole — or  cast — with  a dark  line  to  tell  of  the  matrix. 
But  this  is  not  all  of  the  mound,  for  over  all  of  this  had  been  heaped  four 
or  five  feet  of  earth  from  the  immediate  surroundings,  which  completed  a 
conical  mound  from  the  truncated  ones  of  past  ages.  The  late  Dr.  D.  Pocock, 
of  Shreve,  opened  this  from  the  top  in  1870,  and  secured  two  skeletons,  two 
gorgets  and  a number  of  other  relics.  Of  course  the  top  layer  represented 
late  or  intrusive  burials,  but  the  mound  taken  as  a whole  would  indicate  three 
different  ages,  with  three  distinct  modes  of  interment. 

IMPLEMENTS  AND  ARTIFACTS  OF  THE  ABORIGINES. 

With  the  word  “savage”  we  instinctively  couple  the  idea  that  the  “flints” 
we  find  in  the  field  are  “arrow  and  spear  heads,”  and  all  made  to  be  used  in 
the  killing  of  something,  man  or  bird  or  beast.  But  this  is  farthest  from  the 
truth,  for  not  one  chipped  flint  or  pecked  stone  in  twenty  was  specialized  for 
war  or  the  chase. 

The  great  mass  of  stone  relics  found  are  implements  of  husbandry  or 
for  domestic  use.  The  first  lesson  the  aborigine  had  to  learn  was  how  to  live, 
not  how  to  fight,  for  that  was  a luxury  to  be  added  later.  To  live,  he  must 
have  food  for  his  stomach  and  clothes  for  his  body  and  a bed  to  lie  on.  His 
first  need  was  a knife,  and  this  was  supplied  in  the  flake  of  a flint,  the  first 
artifact  of  man's  ingenuity  to  supply  a domestic  want;  with  it  the  aborigine 


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skinned  his  captured  deer,  fashioned  its  hide  into  clothing  and  bed  quilts,  cut 
up  its  carcass,  shaped  his  defense  club,  and  did  so  many  other  things  with  it, 
that  I am  prompted  to  ask  you  “What  do  you  do  with  a knife?"  In  de- 
termining the  use  of  the  implements  of  primitive  man,  we  must  be  as  familiar 
with  the  management  of  thought  as  a painter  is  in  the  manipulation  of  colors; 
we  can  take  cognizance  of  an  object  only  in  so  far  as  we  can  come  into  rela- 
tion with  it,  and  in  the  contemplation  of  Indian  implements  we  cannot  place 
ourselves  in  such  complete  association,  for  environment  and  the  needs  of  the 
user,  together  with  the  mental  status  of  the  maker,  must  be  supplied.  This 
can  only  be  done  by  considering  what  is  positively  known  of  uses  by  existing 
barbarians,  or  those  yet  in  the  stone  age,  or  by  tradition,  or  finally  by  the 
imagination. 

So  all  positive  knowledge  is  in  a chaotic  state,  save  that  which  has  been 
or  is  gained  by  field  work  and  collecting  which  associates  the  implement  with 
its  location.  Its  geologic  horizon  determining  its  age;  its  connection  with  a 
mound  showing  it  to  be  mortuary ; its  association  with  a fortification  proves 
defensive  war;  while  if  rescued  from  an  enclosure  we  reckon  it  the  local 
fauna  of  a village  site. 

So  in  studying  the  character  and  mode  of  manufacture  of  primitive 
man's  relics  you  must  try  to  put  yourself  in  his  place , as  you  should  with 
Moses  and  his  tablets  of  stone. 

For  these,  and  many  other  reasons,  I have  coupled  Wayne  county 
(where  most  of  my  thirty  thousand  specimens  were  collected — over  three 
thousand  with  my  own  hand)  with  types  of  implements,  for  comparison  and 
unison, — from  the  streams  of  adjacent  counties  representing  the  seven  heads 
of  the  Muskingum  river,  viz. : the  four  forks  of  the  Mohican,  Killbuck,  Chip- 
pewa creek  and  Sugar  creek.  In  all  of  these  the  writer  has  personally  noted 
the  horizon  of  village  sites,  mounds  and  enclosures,  and  finds  that  both  banks 
of  the  Killbuck  present  almost  continuous  village  sites.  At  every  spring  that 
is  surmounted  by  a knoll  is  found  the  chips  or  flakes  and  “wasters"  that  pro- 
claim a work  shop,  and  along  many  of  the  smaller  streams  the  same  evidences 
were  found. 

There  are  three  principle  types  of  relics.  The  first  is  the  chipped  or 
flaked  implement  of  flint.  Flint  breaks  when  struck  or  firm  pressed  with  a 
conchoidal — like  a watch  crystal — fracture,  producing  a sharp  edge  to  core 
or  implement  as  well  as  to  the  flake  and  this  flake  can  be  used  as  a knife,  or  if 
a larger  spall,  even  as  an  ax.  The  second  is  the  pecked  and  polished  imple- 
ment— polished  at  least  at  the  cutting  edge,  such  as  the  grooved  axes,  celts, 
tomahawks  made  of  granite,  greenstone,  diabase,  quartzite  and  argelite. 


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These  must  be  first  pecked  into  shape  with  a harder  stone  and  then  polished. 
The  third  comprises  the  class  of  beautiful  souvenirs  done  in  slate;  the  gor- 
gets, done  in  all  imaginable  artistic  forms,  to  be  worn  on  the  breast  as  marks 
of  distinction,  or  carried  in  any  manner  fancy,  fashion,  or  cast  would  dictate, 
have  been  found  in  the  county  in  great  numbers. 

The  “bird  stones,’*  over  which  the  marriageable  maiden  coiled  and  dressed 
her  hair,  are  less  numerous,  but  in  the  writers  cabinet  there  are  half  a dozen; 
but  they  do  not  all  represent  birds  nor  “saddles,"  for  one  has  the  head  of  a 
mountain  lion  and  another  the  head  and  tail  of  a beaver,  so  I reckon  they 
were  totems  as  well  as  decorations. 

The  totems,  of  which  several  are  represented,  are  usually  in  banded  state 
and  finely  specialized  and  are  evidently  the  insignia  of  a tribe.  The  tubes 
may  be  either  pipes  or  “cupping  tubes”  used  in  legitimate  medication  or  the 
necromancer’s  winch  by  which  he  catches  the  evil  spirits  infesting  the  ptient 
and  sucks  them  through  the  skin,  usually  depositing  a mass  of  foul  tobacco  on 
the  reddened  place,  which  he  exhibits  as  the  disintegrated  spirit. 

The  butterfly  stones  are  beautiful,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  illustration.  In 
addition  to  these,  there  are  amulets,  pendants,  beads,  ear  rings  (some  of  stone, 
averaging  two  and  three  ounces),  hair  pins  and  perforated  pieces  without 
number  that  were  certainly  made  for  a purpose  and  either  used  at  religious 
ceremonials,  or  in  the  dance,  or  to  ward  off  evil  spirits  or  be  worn  as  dec- 
orations. But  you  must  give  wild  wings  to  your  imagination  and  let  fancy 
carry  you  to  the  wild  man’s  home  in  the  woods  if  you  would  learn  all  their 
uses  and  meanings. 

VILLAGE  SITES. 

The  most  remarkable  village  site  in  Wayne  county  is  on  the  old  Mc- 
Clelland farm  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  union  of  Crawford’s  creek  with  the 
Killbuck  near  the  coal  chute.  Here  the  writer  has  found  three  village  sites 
superimposed  one  above  the  other.  In  the  oldest  you  find  implements  of  the 
rudest  construction,  made  from  the  crudest  material,  as  pebbles  from  the 
brook  and  cherty  limestone  from  the  Moorland  hill  and  most  of  the  chipped 
relics  deeply  patined.  The  next  class  are  better  specialized  and  the  flint 
mostly  from  the  quarries  near  Coshocton.  The  top  artifacts  show  great  art  in 
the  pattern  and  dexterity  in  the  artisan,  while  finer  flint  is  used,  much  being 
the  beautiful  chalcedony  from  Flint  Ridge  and  another,  black  or  blue  grey 
that  works  elegantly : but  the  quarry  has  not  yet  been  located.  I have  over 
one  thousand  specimens  from  this  site  and  among  them  is  a cache  of  fifty 
beautiful  leaf  shaped  artifacts,  made  from  clear  white  flint,  with  a jasper 


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lustre.  On  the  headland  above  this  terrace  is  the  remains  of  an  enclosure  and 
on  the  apex  a small  mound,  from  the  base  of  which  I took  the  emblem  of 
Sun  Worship,  representing  the  rising  sun  and  the  four  points  of  the  compass. 
This  mound  had  been  opened  by  John  Rahm  and  many  relics  taken  from  the 
top,  showing  an  intrusive  burial. 

An  unique  village  site  was  found  on  the  Meier  farm,  section  2,  Franklin 
township,  on  the  gravel  kames  surrounding  an  old  silted-up  lake.  Here 
many  of  the  implements  were  made  in  effigy,  both  flora  and  fauna  repre- 
sented, as  buffalo  skulls,  head  and  ears  of  the  wolf,  fish,  tadpoles,  birds 
in  flight,  leaves  of  the  trees,  etc.,  brooches  and  beads  in  jasper  together  with 
digging  implements  of  elegant  pattern  and  utility. 

But  along  with  these  were  many  crude  knives  and  darts,  some  of  which 
had  been  rechipped  and  showed  deep  patterning,  evidently  the  remains  of  an 
old  and  vanished  race  whose  relics  were  rejuvenated  and  utilized. 

The  last  village  site  I will  note  is  on  the  terraced  bank  of  the  Apple 
creek,  southeast  section,  Wooster  township.  Here  was  the  beautiful  sum- 
mer home  of  Beaver  Hat,  his  Apple  Chauquecake  (Apple  Orchard).  Here 
a thousand  fine  relics  were  found  of  flint  and  slate  and  stone,  unsurpassed  if 
equaled  in  the  state.  Among  them  the  rare  and  beautiful  Indian  head,  illu- 
strated imperfectly  herein.  The  sculpture  is  done  by  chipping  so  fine  that  a 
glass  has  to  be  used  to  see  it.  The  effigy  shows  the  stately  pose  of  the  Indian, 
high  cheek  bones,  partly  shaven  head  and  the  two  long  locks  of  black  hair 
parted  and  carried  over  the  bared  breast.  So  perfect  is  it  that  an  eminent 
archaeologist  said  on  seeing  it,  “had  the  maker  been  possessed  of  tools  he 
would  have  been  a Michael  Angelo.,,  The  form  is  enlarged,  which  mars  its 
fineness. 

GENERAL  RELIQUIA. 

The  reliquia  of  Wayne  county  I think  was  equal  in  amount  to  that  of  any 
county  in  the  state,  and  for  quality  of  material,  elegance  of  workmanship,  va- 
riety of  expression  and  artistic  design,  was  superior  to  most  (excepting  of 
course  the  effigy  pipes  and  copper  ornaments  of  the  mound  builders  of  south- 
ern Ohio),  but  many  of  the  early  surface  finds  when  only  the  finest  were 
picked  and  preserved  by  the  pioneers  were  destroyed  mostly  by  fire.  Doctor 
Pocock's  collection  at  Shreve,  consisting  of  many  thousand  relics,  and  the 
collection  gathered  by  President  Taylor  for  Wooster  University,  all  went  to 
flinders  when  the  buildings  went  up  in  smoke,  while  the  large  collection  of 
Mr.  Reed,  of  Dalton,  was  removed  from  the  county.  But  with  all  this.  I still 
have  thirty  thousand  perfect  specimens,  including  over  fifty  different  patterns 


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of  grooved  axes  and  hatchets  (celts),  and  every  known  form  of  pestle  known 
to  Ohio;  pipes  of  slate,  sandstone  and  baked  clay  with  others  known  as  moni- 
tor and  effigy;  bird  bunts,  to  stun,  not  penetrate;  arrow  points  for  larger 
game,  finely  specialized  and  long  buffalo  darts  ; warrior  darts,  to  poison  or 
fester  the  flesh;  flints,  with  polished  bases;  spear  heads  of  every  pattern, 
knives,  scrapers,  hide  dressers,  bark  peelers,  beads,  ear  rings  and  brooches, 
fish  hooks  in  flint,  crochet  hooks  for  net  making  and  net  sinkers;  piercers  and 
needles  with  polished  slate  pieces  without  number,  including  totems  and  re- 
ligious ceremonials. 

But  to  describe  them  here  without  illustration  is  impossible.  I can  only 
refer  you  to  Squire  and  Davis,  who  opened  the  mounds  of  Ohio  at  an  early 
date,  and  ask  you  to  read  and  study  the  illustrations  jn  Gerard  Fowke's  re- 
markable book,  the  “Archeological  History  of  Ohio/’ 

POTTERY. 

The  creation  of  utensils  for  domestic  use  bv  moulding  clay  and  then 
burning  it  was  one  of  the  first  expressions  of  man’s  inventive  power.  The 
early  forms  were  crude : A straw  basket  was  woven  and  the  moist  clay,  mixed 
with  pounded  shells,  was  pressed  into  the  meshes  from  the  inside,  and  the 
semblance  of  a pot  placed  in  the  sun  to  bake. 

In  the  world’s  development,  life  had  been  given  to  man.  but  the  struggle 
to  keep  it  was  hard  and  required  all  his  energies.  Life  had  been  given  to  the 
troglodyte,  but  life  had  also  been  given  to  the  saber-toothed  tiger,  the  serpent, 
and  the  mammoth  and  they  too  loved  and  fought  for  life.  The  man  must 
overcome  them  or  perish.  Intellectual  comparison  was  yet  in  abeyance,  the 
troglodyte’s  brain  was  yet  boggy,  and  the  time  of  waiting  was  long  before 
God  said.  “Let  life  and  thought  together  meet  and  mingle  and  man  be  a rea- 
soning, as  well  as  a living  soul.”  But  it  came  at  last,  and  marked  the  first 
great  crisis  in  the  troglodyte’s  evolution — the  age,  or  stage  of  inventive  rea- 
soning. Now  he  could  lay  traps,  create  implements  of  aggression,  secure 
food,  protect  his  family,  and  rest  secure  in  his  cave  at  night. 

Art  necessitates  leisure  and  leisure  only  comes  after  the  body  is  well 
clothed  and  the  stomach  filled  to  satiety ; so  the  troglodyte  was  no  artist,  all  his 
implements  were  of  the  crudest,  and  the  rudest;  but  when  reason  was  added 
to  instinct  and  the  tongues  of  the  glacier  had  receded  and  left  flower  gardens 
in  their  wake,  as  they  now’  do  in  Alaska,  and  the  fiercer  animals  gave  way  to 
the  reindeer,  the  bear  and  the  buffalo,  then  his  hours  were  more  peaceful  and 
not  all  occupied  in  securing  food  and  shelter.  He  had  leisure  to  contemplate 
and  decorate. 


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After  this  brain  storm  that  cleared  his  perception  and  added  purpose  to 
his  conception,  primitive  man's  first  thought  was  to  better  and  beautify  his 
game-killing  implements,  and,  second,  to  create  more  useful  and  artistic 
furnishings  for  his  household.  Hides  must  be  tanned  to  preserve  and  render 
them  supple,  and  the  rude  and  fragile  drinking  and  cooking  utensils  must  be 
made  more  durable  and  attractive,  and  in  this  inspiration  is  to  be  found  the 
nucleus  of  pottery  making  and  of  pottery  decoration. 

The  remains  of  primitive  pottery  in  Wayne  county  are  very  meager  in 
comparison  with  those  of  southern  Ohio  and  are  mostly  confined  to  separate 
fragments  or  pot  sherds,  and  these  seem  to  be  largely  mortuary,  as  but  few 
fragments  are  found  on  the  surface  or  in  the  kitchen  refuse. 

The  writer  knows  of  but  one  complete  vessel  found  in  the  county.  This 
was  encountered  while  workmen  were  grading  a hill  of  undisturbed  glacial 
gravel  south  of  Wooster  for  an  addition  to  the  Wooster  cemetery.  The  relic 
was  about  three  feet  from  the  surface  when  struck  and  shattered  by  the 
plough.  It  was  a large  and  well  formed  bowl  with  unique  decorations  on 
the  sides  and  an  artistically  fashioned  rim ; it  was  shaped  like  an  old-fashioned 
boiling  pot,  with  bulging  sides.  The  depth  was  nine  inches,  the  diameter  at 
bulge  fifteen  inches  and  at  the  rim  twelve  inches.  The  bottom  was  very  thin, 
one-fourth  inch,  but  very  compact,  while  the  rim  showed  a band  one-half 
inch  thick  and  one  inch  wide  around  the  top  and  this  embellished  and  strength- 
ened by  graceful  elevations  at  intervals.  In  the  bowl  was  only  a few  hand- 
fuls of  dark  oily  mould,  and  the  writer's  opinion  is  that  the  vessel  was  a mor- 
tuary bowl. 

BURIALS. 

Except  the  cemeteries  of  the  late,  white  contaminated  Indians  and  in- 
trusive burials  in  mounds,  I have  found  but  two  sepulchres  worthy  of  record. 
The  first  is  a “stone  grave"  on  the  farm  of  the  late  John  Culbertson.  It  is 
located  on  a terrace  of  the  Little  Killbuck  just  opposite  “Fort  Hill,"  above 
described.  It  was  made  of  shale  flagging,  from  the  brook.  A layer  of  slabs 
for  bottom,  sides  and  top;  was  about  three  feet  deep,  but  the  skeleton  was  so 
decayed  that  nothing  was  left  but  a line  of  dark  mould  and  a few  undistin- 
guishable  bones  that  went  to  powder  when  exposed  to  the  air. 

The  second  was  found  on  a promontory  of  shale,  capped  by  forty  feet  of 
glacial  gravel  abutting  on  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad 
in  section  29,  Wooster  township,  and  above  the  terrace  on  which  the  three- 
ply  village  site  is  located.  Workmen,  in  cutting  a new  road  through  the  hill, 
came  across  a unique  grave.  As  soon  as  discovered,  the  writer  was  sent  for 


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ERRATA. 

On  page  57,  line  37,  “Christian”  should  read  “Christmas.” 

On  page  66,  lines  37  and  38,  “one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-five”  should 
read  “one  hundred  and  eighty-five.” 

On  page  67,  line  1,  “one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-five”  should  read  “one 
hundred  and  eighty-five.” 

On  page  74,  line  24,  “making”  should  read  “marking.” 

On  page  79,  line  4,  “1884”  should  read  “1894.” 

On  page  92,  line  30,  “is  found”  should  read  “are  found.”  • 

.On  page  95,  line  1,  “every  known  form”  should  read  “every  form.” 


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and  found  a skeleton  in  a sitting  position , facing  the  south;  the  knees  were 
drawn  up  and  arms  extended  over  them  or  to  the  side.  The  grave  was  elab- 
orately prepared,  the  bottom  being  seven  feet  from  the  surface.  The  en- 
closure resembled  a large  old-fashioned  store  box,  three  by  four  by  three  feet 
in  size.  The  sides,  back  and  front  were  formed  of  a double  thickness  of  heavy 
bark,  with  bottom  and  top  of  split  puncheon,  three  and  four  inches  thick  and 
six  to  ten  inches  wide.  At  the  right  hand  of  the  pelvis  was  the  half  of  a 
huge  mussel  shell,  four  by  seven  inches,  in  which  was  two  ounces  of  red  paint, 
and  on  the  left  was  a duplicate  shell  containing  white  paint.  Bark  and 
puncheon,  shells  and  skeleton  went  to  pieces  when  exposed  to  the  air,  only  the 
paint  remaining.  Burials  of  this  kind  are  very  rare.  Gerard  Fowke,  the 
most  experienced  archaeologist  and  field  worker  in  Ohio,  says  in  his  “Archaeo- 
logical History  of  Ohio:”  “I  have  never  found  a skeleton  which  had  been 
placed  in  a sitting  posture,”  yet  I have  found  one  other  in  a similar  gravel  hill 
near  Captain  Pipe's  cabin  at  old  Jerome  Town.  The  prime  fact  in  these 
burials  was  that  the  skeletons  were  without  their  skulls,  the  heads  had  evi- 
dently been  removed  before  burial;  whether  to  retain  the  vigor  of  the  chief, 
or  other  noted  personage, — as  the  medicine  man — to  the  tribe,  or  on  account 
of  the  superstition  that  the  spirit  of  the  dead  should  not  be  given  to  the  worms, 
is  all  conjecture — exercise  your  imagination. 


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CHAPTER  IV. 


TOPOGRAPHY  AND  GENERAL  FEATURES. 

[For  the  facts  herein  stated,  the  author  of  this  \vork  is  indebted  to  a 
like  article  written  prior  to  1877  by  Hon.  John  P.  Jeffries,  of  Wooster,  hence 
it  comes  with  almost  undisputed  authority.] 

Wayne  county,  located  on  the  southern  declivity  of  the  dividing  ridge 
intervening  between  the  northern  lakes  and  the  Ohio  river,  has  been  in  all 
ages  past  the  theatre  of  marked  changes  prior,  as  well  as  subsequent,  to  the 
time  of  the  elevation  of  the  Alleghanies  and  the  formation  of  the  northern 
lakes.  The  whole  face  of  the  country  shows  the  action  of  the  flowing  water, 
and  that  the  entire  surface  many  centuries  ago  was  covered  by  a deep  sea, 
and  wrought  upon  by  its  turbulent  action,  is  plainly  manifested  upon  the 
elevations  in  the  valleys  and  the  alluvial  plains. 

The  territory  of  Wayne  county  is  a part  of  that  great  topographical  dis- 
trict reaching  from  the  lakes  to  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and  from  the  Alleghany 
to  the  Rocky  mountains.  The  northern  limits  of  this  county,  extending 
within  a few  miles  of  the  southern  rim  of  the  Lake  Erie  basin,  is  the  water- 
shed, or  divide  between  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Mississippi.  The  spill,  or 
summit  level,  is  at  Summit  Lake,  near  the  city  of  Akron,  in  Summit  county, 
and  is  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  feet  above  Lake  Erie,  while  the  summit 
dividing  the  wraters  of  the  Black  river  and  the  Killbuck,  north  of  Bridgeport, 
near  Lodi,  Medina  county,  is  at  an  altitude  of  three  hundred  and  eighty-two 
feet  above  the  lake  level.  The  highest  land  in  Wayne  county  is  in  the  vicinity 
of  Doylestown,  Chippewa  township,  which  is  four  hundred  and  thirty  feet 
above  Lake  Erie  and  one  thousand  forty-tw'o  feet  above  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

The  main  portion  of  Wayne  county — indeed,  nearly  every  part  of  it — 
is  covered  with  drift,  and  the  value  and  nature  of  the  soil  is  regulated  by 
the  character  of  the  drift  spread  over  the  surface,  varying  in  depth  from 
ten  to  seventy  or  eighty  feet  in  vertical  thickness,  the  average  drift  deposit 
being  about  twenty-five  feet. 

The  mass  of  soil  is  generally  composed  of  sand,  gravel,  clay  and  loam, 
though  in  some  portions  the  clay  predominates,  as  in  the  beech  district  in 


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the  northern  part  of  the  county;  but  mixed  with  these  leading  constituents 
in  proper  proportions  are  those  essentials  which  make  the  soil  productive 
and  produce  the  abundant  crops  for  which  this  county  is  so  noted,  such  as 
silica,  lime,  magnesia,  alumnia,  iron,  phosphorus  and  soda.  The  soil  is  not, 
as  some  suppose,  limited  to  a few  inches  of  surface,  but  is  as  deep  as  the 
drift  itself,  though,  properly  speaking,  the  soil,  so  called  by  the  farmers,  is 
confined  to  a few  inches  in  depth  from  the  surface. 

The  whole  surface  of  Wayne  county  contains  342,805  acres,  the  area 
of  which,  by  the  territory  of  the  several  townships,  is  as  follows:  Paint, 

15,552;  Sugarcreek,  22,984;  Baughman,  22,659;  Chippewa,  22,443;  Green, 
22,456;  Milton,  22,664;  East  Union,  22,441;  Saltcreek,  14,871;  Franklin, 
23>oo5;  Wooster,  14,591 ; Wayne,  23,084;  Canaan,  23,194;  Congress,  23,007; 
Chester,  26,283;  Clinton,  17,211;  Plain,  26,359. 

The  marshes  of  the  county  are  chiefly  confined  to  Wooster,  Plain,  Frank- 
lin, Clinton,  Sugarcreek  and  Baughman  townships. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  county  found  it  densely  wooded,  except  the 
marshy  districts  and  the  plain  of  lands  of  Wooster,  Chester,  Plain  and  Clinton 
townships.  The  Plains  (then  termed  the  Glades  upon  the  presumption,  from 
appearance,  that  they  were  of  the  character  of  glade  lands  in  Pennsylvania, 
poor  and  worthless)  turned  out  to  be  the  most  productive  lands  of  the  county. 
When  first  visited  by  white  men  they  were  barrens,  thickly  wooded  with 
low,  bushy  oak,  from  three  to  four  feet  high,  which  gave  evidence  of  being 
the  product  of  an  impoverished  soil,  and  the  early  settlers,  being  of  this 
opinion,  shunned  these  glades,  preferring  rather  to  clear  away  the  heavy 
forests  and  open  up  their  farms,  instead  of  attempting  the  cultivation  of  this 
land. 

Thirty  years  prior  to  settlement,  as  this  undergrowth  would  indicate, 
these  plains  were  entirely  destitute  of  wood  except  a few  scattering  oaks,  pre- 
served, as  if  by  design,  for  shade.  These  plains  were  doubtless  cultivated 
fields  of  a pre-historic  race,  whose  works  of  art  are  still  manifest  in  and 
around  them,  such  as  the  mounds,  fortifications  and  tumuli  of  Wooster,  Plain 
and  other  townships. 

Today  the  leading  forest  trees  are  the  oaks,  with  some  hickory,  chest- 
nut. sugar  maple,  ash,  walnut,  butternut,  cherry,  gum,  quaking  asp,  cucumber, 
mulberry,  buckeye,  plum,  crab,  thorn,  willow,  prickly  ash,  locust,  hawthorn, 
dogwood,  alder,  etc.  The  dogwood  during  May.  even  at  this  date,  orna- 
ments every  highland  wood  with  its  beautiful  flowers,  and  the  lower  wood- 
lands still  teem  With  fragrance  from  the  blossoms  of  the  thorn  and  crab. 


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STREAMS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

The  main  stream  of  Wayne  county  is  the  Killbuck;  then  come  the 
Chippewa,  Mohican,  Salt  creek,  Apple  creek  and  Sugar  creek.  Killbuck  takes 
its  rise  in  Canaan  and  Wayne  townships  and  is  in  three  small  branches, 
that  form  junction  beyond  the  center  of  Canaan  township,  its  waters  flowing 
toward  the  north  into  Medina  county,  then  turning  almost  west  into  Con- 
gress township,  this  county,*  wherein  for  about  one  mile  it  flows  in  a southerly 
course,  meanders  through  various  townships  and  finally  runs  about  a mile 
west  of  Wooster,  leaving  Wayne  county  from  Franklin  township,  entering 
Holmes  county. 

The  Chippewa,  the  next  largest  water  course,  has  its  origin  in  Chippewa 
lake,  Medina  county.  It  enters  Wayne  county  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  Milton  township  and  flows  in  a southerly  direction,  thence  into  Chippewa 
township  to  the  east  line  of  Wayne  into  Stark  county.  This  stream,  also 
Sugar  creek  and  Newman’s  creek,  are  tributaries  of  the  Tuscarawas,  while 
the  others  above  named,  with  their  branches,  find  their  way  into  the  Killbuck. 

Sugar  creek’s  source  is  in  East  Union  and  Baughman  townships,  with 
tributaries  in  Sugarcreek  and  Paint  townships,  the  chief  of  which  is  Grable’s 
Fork. 

Apple  creek  has  its  rise  in  Wayne  and  Saltcreek  townships,  the  main 
branch  flowing  through  East  Union,  into  Wooster  township,  and  unites 
with  the  Killbuck  about  one-fourth  of  a mile  southwest  of  the  city  of  Wooster. 
The  northern  branch  rises  near  the  south  line  of  Canaan  township  and  flows 
south  into  Wooster  township,  uniting  with  the  main  stream  near  Stibb’s  old 
factory,  about  a mile  east  of  the  city. 

Salt  creek  takes  its  rise  in  East  Union  township  and  some  of  its  forked 
heads  come  from  Saltcreek  township.  The  main  stream  passes  out  into 
Holmes  county. 

Newman’s  creek  consists  of  two  main  branches,  one  rising  in  Sugar- 
creek  township  and  the  other  in  Baughman  township.  The  main  stream 
rises  near  Dalton  village,  flows  north  to  near  Fairview,  where  it  turns  east, 
and  after  uniting  with  the  north  branch,  runs  into  Stark  county,  forming 
junction  with  the  Tuscarawas  north  of  Massillon. 

Muddy  fork  of  the  Mohican  makes  a circuit  through  the  southwest  corner 
of  Chester  into  Plain  township,  through  which  it  extends  in  a southeasterly 
course  to  near  the  center  of  the  township,  where  it  turns  to  the  west  and  flows 
out  of  the  county  two  miles  northwest  of  the  corner  of  Plain  township. 


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Little  Killbuck  creek  rises  mainly  in  Chester  township,  extends  into 
Wooster  township,  and  unites  with  the  main  stream  three  miles  northwest 
of  the  city  of  Wooster. 

Clear  creek  and  Christmas  run  rise  in  Wayne  township  and  flow  south, 
forming  junction  with  the  Killbuck  in  Wooster  township,  two  miles  west 
of  Wooster,  on  the  old  Eicher  farm;  the  Christmas  run  joins  the  Killbuck 
a mile  southwest  of  the  city  of  Wooster.  Reddick’s  Springs,  one  of  the 
branches  of  Christmas  run,  at  one  date  furnished  an  abundant  supply  of 
pure  water  for  the  city  of  Wooster. 

The  Spring  Mills  run  issues  from  springs  in  Plain  township,  flows  south 
through  the  village  of  Millbrook  and  about  a mile  farther  south  unites  with 
the  Killbuck. 

Crawford  run,  also  known  as  Bahl’s  Mill  run,  has  its  source  in  springs  in 
Wooster  and  Plain  townships,  flows  southeast  and  enters  the  Killbuck  about 
three  miles  southwest  of  Wooster  city.  It  furnishes  power  for  saw-mills 
and  two  grist-mills,  yet  is  only  a few  miles  in  length. 

Cedar  run,  a small,  pure  stream,  flowing  into  Cedar  valley,  issues  from 
springs  in  the  highlands  of  Congress  township  and  from  parts  of  Chester, 
uniting  with  the  Killbuck  a short  distance  from  where  it  debouches  from  the 
Cedar  valley. 

Little  Sugar  creek  is  a small  stream  of  some  importance,  as  is  also  the 
north  branch  of  Apple  creek.  It  rises  in  Canaan  and  Wayne  townships,  flow- 
ing down  through  Wayne  and  Greene,  across  the  corner  of  East  Union  into 
Sugar  creek.  This  stream  runs  through  the  village  of  Smithville  and  a short 
distance  south  of  Orrville. 

The  north  branch  of  Apple  creek  has  its  source  in  Wayne  township,  near 
the  south  line,  and  flows  southwest  of  Madisonville  into  Wooster  township, 
uniting  with  the  east  branch  near  the  Stibb’s  factory  site,  one  mile  east  of 
Wooster  city. 

Little  Chippewa  creek  rises  in  Canaan  township,  being  formed  from  a 
series  of  pure,  cold  springs.  The  main  branch  runs  north  into  section  13 
to  the  southwest  quarter,  where  it  turns  northeast  and  flows  into  Milton 
township  and  there  unites  with  the  Chippewa,  west  of  the  village  of  Amwell. 

Besides  the  streams  enumerated,  there  are  smaller  ones,  which,  with 
numerous  springs,  provide  an  abundance  of  good  water  throughout  the  county. 

SURFACE  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

The  general  surface  of  Wayne  county  is  more  rolling  than  otherwise, 
yet  it  is  sufficiently  low  and  level  to  be  well  adapted  to  fanning,  grazing  and 


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general  agriculture.  The  whole  face  of  the  county  shows  the  action  of  water, 
from  the  lowest  valleys  to  the  summit  of  the  highest  elevation;  but  when  it 
was  acted  upon,  is  mere  conjecture.  It  is  supposed  by  some  that  this  section 
was  once  a part  of  one  great  sea.  It  should  be  stated,  in  this  connection, 
that  the  greater  portion  of  the  land  within  Wayne  county  is  susceptible  of 
cultivation. 

PRAIRIES. 

There  are  several  large  bodies  of  prairie  lands  in  this  county,  located 
near  Wooster,  in  Wooster,  Plain,  Canaan,  Milton,  Clinton,  Franklin,  Baugh- 
man and  Sugarcreek  townships,  the  chief,  however,  being  situated  in  Plain 
and  Clinton.  The  origin  is  not  well  established,  but  there  is  evidence  of  such 
lands  having  once  been  under  water — probably  lakes  and  marshes — and  in 
time's  course  were  encroached  upon  and  overgrown  by  vegetation.  In  some 
places  it  appears  as  if  islands  had  once  here  existed,  sometime  covered  with 
timber  and  often  large  and  aged  trees.  Some  of  them,  such  as  Newman's 
creek  swamp,  were  covered  with  a thick  underbrush,  while  others,  such  as 
may  be  seen  near  Wooster,  contained  thrifty  trees,  with  wide,  far-reaching 
roots.  This  was  tested  in  Canaan  township,  near  Pike  township,  during  the 
construction  of  the  Atlantic  & Great  Western  railway.  The  surface  of  the 
land  there  being  covered  with  underbrush  and  thick  sod,  was  appropriated 
by  the  company  for  the  bed  of  the  road,  but  suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  with- 
out previous  indications,  a large  portion  of  the  track  disappeared,  passing  be- 
neath into  a hidden  lake. 

The  botany  of  the  prairies  presents  a wonderful’array  of  rare  flora.  Such 
lands,  during  the  summer  blooming  period,  are  literally  covered  with  the 
most  beautiful  and  fragrant  flowers. 

THE  LAKES  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

There  are  still  several  lakes  in  this  county,  while  there  remain  signs  of 
many  extinct  ones — beds  where  once  stood  lake  water — and  the  scene  a thou- 
sand or  more  years  ago  was  a romantic  one  of  river,  lake  and  hillside.  Fox 
lake,  in  Baughman  township,  is  the  largest  of  the  existing  true  lakes.  Its 
location  is  in  a marshy  district,  known  as  Tamarack  Swamp,  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  sections  i,  2,  11  and  12.  Its  waters  are  cold,  pure  and  wonder- 
fully clear,  indicating  a series  of  springs  from  which  it  is  fed.  This  lake 
was  measured  or  sounded  in  the  seventies,  when  a man  was  drowned  in  its 
waters,  and  it  is  said  that  in  the  center  it  was  upwards  of  one  hundred  feet 


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deep.  Before  the  advent  of  white  men  here,  it  was  a popular  fishing  resort 
for  the  Indian  tribes.  It  has  been  a favorite  fishing  resort  for  our  people  for 
many  decades,  and  still  the  fishes  are  numerous  and  excellent  in  quality, 
Wayne,  Stark  and  Medina  county  fishermen  frequenting  its  waters  annually. 

Patton’s  lake  is  a body  of  clear,  cold  water,  of  an  oblong  shape,  about 
one-fourth  as  large  as  Fox  lake,  which  is  about  a third  of  a mile  distant  from 
it,  near  the  center  of  section  12  of  Baughman  township,  in  the  Tamarack 
Swamp  district.  Three  small  streams  flow  into  this  pretty  water  sheet,  its 
outlet  being  on  the  northwest  side.  It  is  not  nearly  so  deep  as  Fox  lake,  but 
abounds  in  many  fine  fishes.  The  crystal  character  of  water  justifies  the  be- 
lief that  it  contains  an  interior  fountain.  The  swampy  lands  near  these  two 
lakes  retain  a wild  condition,  and  are  literally  covered  (or  were  in  1878)  with 
tamarack  trees,  whortleberries,  some  growing  eight  feet  high,  underbrush, 
flags  and  tall  prairie  grass.  In  the  marshes  once  grew  great  quantities  of 
cranberries,  and  as  for  whortleberries,  nowhere  in  the  country  can  there  be 
found  such  a large  abundance.  In  an  early  day  this  lake  region  of  Wayne 
county  was  noted  for  its  being  a resort  for  bears,  wolves,  panthers  and  wild 
cats,  which  often  made  night  terrible  to  the  hardy  pioneers.  Deer  also  took 
shelter  hereabouts  as  a refuge  from  the  hunter.  Smaller  animals,  such  as 
beaver,  otter,  raccoons,  opossums  and  minks,  also  resorted  here  in  search  for 
food  and  shelter.  Once — hundreds  of  years  ago — this  entire  swamp  district 
must  have  been  a real  lake.  Year  after  year  the  farmer  has  encroached  on  this 
territory  and  reclaimed  much  of  the  once  worthless  swamp,  and  now  may  be 
seen  many  luxuriant  crops  growing  on  this  “rich-as-Nile”  soil. 

Another  lake,  called  Doner’s  lake,  is  located  in  Chippewa  township.  It 
is  of  a circular  form ; no  stream  flows  into  it  and  hence  it  must  be  fed  by  in- 
ternal springs. 

Brown’s  lake  is  situated  in  Clinton  township,  and  it  is  not  unlike  Doner’s 
lake,  appearing  to  have  an  internal  supply  of  water  and  a constantly  flowing 
outlet. 

Manley’s  lake  is  a small  body  of  clear,  cold  water  in  section  16  of  Clinton 
township.  It  is  situated  on  highly  elevated  land  and  from  its  eastern  side 
issues  forth  a small,  never-failing,  stream  of  pure  water,  sparkling  with  life 
and  beauty.  From  it  runs  a stream,  a branch  of  the  one  that  flows  through 
the  low  lands  in  the  neighborhood  of  Shreve. 

newman’s  creek  swamp. 

The  lowlands  in  the  valley  of  Newman’s  creek,  extending  from  the 
vicinity  of  Orrville  eastward  to  beyond  the  east  line  of  Baughman  township, 


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known  as  Newman’s  Creek  Swamp  when  the  first  settlers  came  to  this 
county,  was  the  wildest,  most  inaccessible  and  dismal  district  within  its 
boundaries.  At  first  it  was  styled  the  Dismal  Swamp  and  later  the  Shades  of 
Death,  and  for  many  years  none  but  the  brave  and  daring  hunters  from 
the  pioneer  band  dared  enter  its  confines.  It  was  then  literally  covered  with 
tall  trees  and  underbrush,  and  along  the  streams  were  low  marshy  spots,  wffiere 
the  choicest  of  cranberries  grew  in  immense  quantities.  The  stream  itself 
was  alive  with  fishes.  Wild  potatoes  grew  there  in  great  abundance,  sufficient 
to  supply  the  settlers  writh  food  for  miles  around. 

Before  the  advent  of  the  white  settlers  Baughman  towmship  was,  about 
this  sw’amp,  a safe  retreat  for  game  and  wild  animals  and  wras  frequented 
by  the  Indians.  wrho  made  it  a lurking  place,  as  well  as  a fishing  and  hunt- 
ing ground.  Even  after  the  settlement  had  grown  to  considerable  impor- 
tance there  might  have  been  seen  here  bears,  panthers  and  wrild  cats,  as  w^ell 
as  elk,  deer,  etc.  Beavers  made  this  their  home,  as  did  raccoons  and  foxes. 
Such  was  the  condition  of  this  swamp  in  1825  and  up  to  1830.  The  upper 
end  of  this  sw’amp  extended  over  into  Green  township  and  from  there  cov- 
ered the  country  pretty  much  all  of  the  way  over  east  to  the  Stark  county 
line,  thousands  of  acres  being  embraced  in  the  swampy  wilderness.  Since 
1838  the  woodman’s  ax  has  felled  and  cleared  away  the  trees  and  the  ditcher’s 
spade  has  drained  and  reclaimed  these  once  worthless  lands.  The  once  “dis- 
mal swamp”  has  come  to  be  a veritable  garden  spot  and  the  wilderness  has 
in  truth  been  made  to  “blossom  as  the  rose.”  Today  the  scene  is  one  of 
royal  beauty,  a landscape  that  is  a feast  to  the  eye  of  the  beholder.  For  six 
miles  the  plain  is  unbroken  and  covered  with  good  farm  improvements,  w ith 
here  and  there  a clump  of  native  timber.  This  swamp  has  long  since  been 
described  as  the  bed  of  a great  lake  of  pre-glacial  times.  At  one  remote 
time  a much  larger  stream  flowred  here  than  is  now  known  as  Newsman’s 
creek. 

KILLBUCK  SWAM P. 

To  the  low’  marshy  lands  between  Wooster  and  Shreve  the  name  of 
Killbuck  Swamp  has  long  been  applied.  When  the  pioneer  band  first  came 
into  this  county  a continuous  swamp  existed  between  these  tw’o  points.  It 
was  no  doubt  a pre-glacial  lake  bed.  The  first  visible  remains  of  this  ancient- 
day  lake  are  at  the  north  edge  of  Wooster  city.  Seventy-five  and  eighty  years 
ago  all  the  low’  lands  south  and  w’est  of  Wooster  w ere  covered  by  water  the 
entire  year  round,  until  boatmen  saw  fit  to  remove  some  of  the  flood  w’ood 
and  drift  lodged  in  the  main  channel  of  the  Killbuck.  These  lands  were  then 


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valueless.  The  river  gradually  receded  into  its  banks  and  soon  the  flooded 
meadows  became  covered  with  herbage;  but  it  was  long  before  they  became 
of  much  value,  even  for  grazing  purposes.  This  territory  is  also  within 
the  limits  of  an  immense  pre-glacial  lake,  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  work 
by  other  writers. 

The  early  settlers  of  Plain  and  Clinton  townships  erected  their  dwellings 
and  opened  up  their  farms  on  the  margin  of  an  ancient  lake,  which  was  then 
a beautiful  plain,  covered  with  tall  grass,  flags  and  prairie  flowers,  except 
that  it  was  studded  with  ancient  islands,  then  thickly  wooded,  which  re- 
sembled oases.  Blachleyville  stands  upon  table  lands,  overlooking  the  “Big 
Meadows,”  now  styled  the  Big  Prairie,  that  extends  north,  west  and  south 
of  the  village.  The  scene  in  the  district  known  as  the  pre-historic  lake  coun- 
try and  the  Killbuck  Swamp  has  in  the  last  half  century  been  completely 
transformed,  and  one  who  saw  it  then  would  not  know  it  today  were  he 
to  come  back  and  visit  this  location. 

COAL  MINES  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Perhaps  no  better  description  of  the  coal  measure  of  Wayne  county  can 
here  be  furnished  than  that  given  by  Hon.  John  P.  Jeffries,  who,  in  the  Doug- 
las history  of  the  county,  published  in  1878,  gave  the  facts  as  they  then  ex- 
isted, and  from  which  this  chapter  is  largely  made  up.  Before  passing  to 
the  record  made  by  Mr.  Jeffries,  a thorough  geological  student,  it  may  be 
stated  that  the  United  States  census  reports  for  1902  give  the  total  number 
of  tons  of  coal  mined  in  Wayne  county  for  that  year  to  have  been  seventy- 
four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-four.  Its  estimated  mine  value 
was  fixed  at  one  dollar  and  seventy-nine  cents  per  ton,  or  a total  of  one  hun- 
dred forty  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  dollars.  At  the  present 
date  Wayne  is  one  of  the  twenty-nine  coal  producing  counties  in  Ohio. 

Of  the  various  mines  being  worked  in  1878,  Mr.  Jeffries  is  the  authority 
for  these  statements : The  coal  mines  in  Chippewa  township  number  ten, 

including  those  known  as  the  Jacob  Wegandt  mine,  the  Peter  Frase  mine,  the 
Holm  mines,  the  Boak  mine,  the  California  mine,  the  Franks  mine,  the 
Woods  mine,  the  Simmons  shaft,  Muter’s  coal  bank.  The  coal  from  the 
mines  within  this  township  is  of  an  excellent  quality,  equal  to  the  celebrated 
Mahoning  coal. 

In  Milton  township  the  coal  measure  is  confined  to  eight  sections  of  the 
civil  township  in  the  northern  part.  Much  coal  has  been  mined  here  at 
different  periods  since  the  coal  of  the  county  was  first  discovered. 

In  Green  township  the  coal  measure  is  limited  to  a small  territory,  though- 
of  recent  years  it  has  been  a paying  product. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  Baughman  township  as  early  as  1877  there  were  mines  doing  a 
flourishing  business,  as  follows : The  Burton  bank.  Jacob  E.  Wenger’s  shaft, 
on  section  28,  where  the  coal  is  four  and  a half  feet  thick.  It  is  reached  at 
a depth  of  thirty-eight  feet  from  the  surface.  Then  there  was  the  John 
Spindler  mine,  opened  by  him  about  1850.  Across  the  swamp,  one-half 
mile  northwest  from  Fairview,  is  the  Todd  coal  mine,  the  Becker  mines, 
the  Neiswanger  mine,  the  Carroll  mine.  It  is  believed  that  coal  of  fine  grade 
exists  under  almost  the  entire  surface  of  the  land  within  Baughman  township. 

East  Union  township  is  another  good  coal-bearing  section  of  the  county, 
covering  as  it  does  the  entire  underlaying  territory,  except  possibly  a few 
sections.  At  first  the  coal  was  not  found  in  thickness  sufficient  to  be  profitable, 
but  in  later  years  lower  veins  have  been  discovered  that  measure  in  many 
places  seven  feet  in  thickness  and  not  over  seventy  feet  from  the  surface. 
Still  later  developments  have  disclosed  a still  greater  wealth  of  coal  in  this 
township. 

In  Paint  township  the  mines  in  operation  before  the  eighties  were : 
The  Charles  Brown  mine,  one  mile  west  of  Mt.  Eaton;  the  Hunsinger  mine, 
three  and  one-half  feet  in  thickness;  George  Mathoit’s  mine;  Dr.  Roth’s  coal 
bank;  Peter  Graber’s  mines;  the  Flory  mines;  the  Mt.  Eaton  mines,  located 
in  the  village.  Later  developments  in  this  township  proved  that  paying- 
quantities  of  good  coal  were  to  be  found  at  almost  any  portion  of  the  ter- 
ritory, at  a depth  that  would  pay  rich  returns  for  mining  and  hoisting.  In 
fact  the  coal  here  mined  now  is  among  the  finest  grades  in  Wayne  county 
and  has  been  a source  of  great  revenue  to  the  owners. 

The  Sugarcreek  township  coal  mines  were  first  opened  by  drift  on  the 
west  side  of  the  hill  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Gochenour,  one  mile  to  the  west 
of  Dalton,  about  1830,  but  the  mine  having  a defective  roof,  it  was  soon 
abandoned.  Another  mine  was  opened  a mile  west  of  Dalton  on  the  Peter 
Buchanan  farm;  another  on  the  Bashford  land,  where  the  vein  was  over 
three  feet  thick.  On  the  David  Rudy  place  still  another  paying  mine  prop- 
erty was  located  many  years  ago.  The  coal  of  this  entire  township  is  ac- 
companied by  a fine  grade  of  fire  clay  of  great  value  commercially;  also 
limestone  and  some  iron  ore  and  mineral  paint,  red  and  yellow  ochre.  In 
short  the  entire  township  is  one  vast  coal  and  general  mineral  field. 

The  coal  mines  of  Saltcreek  township  have  long  since  come  to  be  well 
known  and  very  productive  and  valuable  to  operate.  The  Finley  mine  in 
1878,  on  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Delano  Jeffries,  on  section  4,  was  being  operated 
by  Frank  Becker.  Under  this  coal  strata  was  found  a sand  rock  seven  feet 
in  thickness.  The  Daniel  Ream  farm,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 


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4,  has  been  fully  described  by  Prof.  M.  C.  Reed  in  his  “Geological  Survey 
of  Ohio.”  The  Stutz  mine  was  opened  on  section  23,  where  a four-foot 
vein  was  disclosed  and  has  long  been  worked.  The  Henning  mine,  on  the 
Adam  Henning  place,  is  five  feet  in  thickness.  There  is  considerable  iron  ore 
in  this  section  of  the  county. 

The  coal  mines  of  Franklin  township  in  1877  were  those  of  William 
Harrison,  a mile  and  a half  southwest  of  Fredericksburg.  The  roof  of  this 
mine  was  yellow  sand  stone.  The  coal  was  reached  at  the  depth  of  eighty 
feet.  The  James  Finley  mines,  in  this  township,  are  located  on  section  22, 
about  two  and  a half  miles  from  Fredericksburg,  and  were  operated  in  1878 
by  Asaph  Rumbaugh.  The  coal  was  struck  at  the  depth  of  seventy-five 
feet  from  the  surface.  Another  Franklin  township  mine  was  Charles  Story’s, 
which  vein  was  three  feet  in  thickness.  Coal  was  also  found  at  an  early 
date  on  the  Miller  land  in  section  34,  but  it  was  too  thin  a vein  to  be  profitably 
mined.  On  the  Jacob  and  Israel  Franks  farm,  in  section  35,  another  mine 
was  developed,  in  connection  with  a stratum  of  fire  clay  that  was  used  for 
many  years  in  the  Wooster  pottery  works,  and  fire  brick  were  also  made  of 
this  clay  which  was  thought  superior  to  any  in  the  county  at  that  day. 

The  coal  measure  in  Clinton,  Canaan  and  Wooster  townships  is  some- 
what limited,  says  Jeffries  in  his  article  written  in  1878.  The  absence  of 
paying  quantities  of  coal  at  and  near  the  city  of  Wooster  is  easily  accounted 
for  when  one  considers  the  formation  of  the  sub-strata  of  the  earth  at  this 
point. 

Since  the  writings  on  the  coal  measure  of  Wayne  county  in  1878,  there 
have  been  many  developments  and  great  has  been  the  tonnage  of  good  bitumi- 
nous coal  from  the  scores  of  mines  in  the  vicinity,  but  more  especially  in  the 
townships  named  and  carefully  described  by  him,  and  also  confirmed  by  the 
state  geologists. 


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CHAPTER  V. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Where  late  the  savage,  hid  in  ambush,  lay, 

Or  roamed  the  uncultured  valleys  for  his  prey, 

Her  hardy  gifts  rough  industry  extends, 

The  groves  bow  down,  the  lofty  forest  bends ; 

And  see  the  lofty  spires  of  towns  and  cities  rise, 

And  domes  and  cities  swell  unto  the  skies. 

— Meigs. 

Wayne  county’s  earliest  pioneers  were  largely  from  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, Virginia  and  far-away  New  Jersey.  New  England  also  was  fairly 
represented  among  the  early  settlers.  But  by  far  the  greater  number  came 
in  from  Pennsylvania. 

Intelligence  was  the  rule  among  the  first  band  of  settlers  who  here  sought 
out  lands  and  builded  for  themselves  homes.  They  possessed  iron  nerve 
and  a will  that  made  the  dreary  wilderness  soon  take  on  the  aspect  of  a 
blooming  garden  spot.  They  had  to  encounter  many  a hardship  ere  this  was 
accomplished.  They  contended  with  the  hostile  Indian  tribes,  the  perils  of 
storm  and  flood,  the  unbridged  and  swollen  streams,  with  new  country  sick- 
ness, “homesickness”  and  a hundred  and  one  trials  and  privations  unknown 
to  the  population  of  the  twentieth  century. 

These  hardy  pioneers  never  surrendered  to  disaster  or  trembled  before 
uncalculating  misfortune.  Manhood  was  fully  tested.  His  adversities  made 
him,  oak-like,  grow  the  stronger.  When  memory  caused  the  eye  at  times 
to  weep, — when  the  flood  interposed — when  the  ravine  stayed  his  progress — 
when  the  mountain  and  hillside  overshadowed  him, — then  it  was  that  the 
Wayne  county  pioneer  forgot  father  and  mother,  home  and  childhood;  then  it 
was  that  his  moral  stature  developed  into  giant  outlines.  His  ax  was  his 
trusty  companion;  his  devoted  wife  his  assurance  of  triumph  and  well  poised 
confidence.  His  cause  was  religion,  civilization  and  man.  He  trod  the  for- 
ests of  the  county,  viewing  its  “green,  glad  solitude”  with  an  ever  open  and 
keen  eye. 


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As  another  has  written,  “He  persistently  struggled,  and  how  heroically 
he  suffered,  how  faithfully  he  toiled,  we  who  succeed  him  and  have  lived 
to  see  what  he  foresaw,  and  whose  privilege  it  is  to  honor  and  venerate  him, 
most  tenderly  remember  and  sensitively  know.  They  had  an  unshaken 
faith  in  their  mission  and  the  benign  and  comprehensive  results  that  were 
to  flow  from  it.” 

Washington  might  well  say  of  the  colony  that  was  settled  upon  the 
Muskingum:  “None  in  America  were  occupied  under  such  favorable  aus- 

pices. Information,  property  and  strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I know 
many  of  the  settlers  personally,  and  there  never  were  better  men  calculated 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  such  a community.,, 

It  was  not  their  sole  motive  to  establish  government,  but  to  make  it  the 
protector  and  hand-maid  of  religion,  for,  said  they,  “Religion  and  government 
commenced  in  those  parts  of  the  globe  where  the  sun  first  rose  in  its  effulgent 
majesty.  They  have  followed  after  him  in  his  brilliant  course ; nor  will  they 
cease  till  they  have  accomplished  in  this  western  world  the  consummation 
of  all  things.” 

So  may  it  be  recorded  of  Wayne  county’s  early  settlers.  While  it  may 
be  partly  true  that  many  of  them  were  actuated  by  a desire  to  augment  their 
riches  and  possess  innumerable  acres,  they  were  also  inspired  by  a nobler 
ambition  and  had  loftier  incitements  than  the  dread  omnipotence  of  gold. 
While  they  were  seeking  to  promote  their  own  welfare  and  discharge  their 
duties  to  themselves  and  their  government,  they  were  not  forgetful  of  their 
higher  Christian  duties.  In  many  instances,  with  the  smoke  that  curled  from 
the  chimneys  of  their  cabins  ascended  the  incense  of  prayer.  The  rude  pio- 
neer hut,  instead  of  being  the  abode  of  the  little  family  cluster  alone,  became 
a temple  of  worship,  and  the  gray  old  woods  resounded  with  the  simple  but 
pathetic  and  eloquent  prayers  of  pious  men. 

What  a contrast  between  those  long-ago  days  of  the  early  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century  and  those  of  today — a hundred  years  later?  Again  let 
us  linger  with  and  talk  of  the  early  emigrants  in  Wayne  county,  who  verily 
builded  better  than  they  knew.  They  were  lone  dwellers  of  the  forests. 
Their  daily  necessities  and  wants  were  as  numerous  and  multiplied  as  the 
inhabitants  of  older  communities.  Necessarily  they  were  so  situated  as  to 
make  it  impossible  for  all  of  them  to  be  gratified.  Schools  and  churches,  there 
were  none.  The  intellectual  as  well  as  the  moral  training  of  their  children 
devolved  upon  themselves  to  a great  extent.  The  child  was  the  pupil,  while 
the  parents  were  of  necessity  the  real  educators.  If  they  were  fortunate 
enough  to  have  a minister  in  their  midst,  all  the  better:  if  not,  their  spiritual 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


recreations  consisted  in  prayer  meetings  and  the  private  but  equally  orthodox 
methods  of  interchange  of  Christian  views  and  religious  experiences. 

Streams  were  then  all  unbridged  and  roads  were  cut  by  the  pioneers 
through  the  dense  forests.  Cabins  were  to  be  built,  but  the  saw-mill  existed 
only  in  the  memory  of  the  older  states  from  which  they  had  emigrated.  The 
professional  tradesman  was  missing,  unless  perchance  he  was  an  integral  of 
the  colony;  but  a market  would  have  been  superfluous,  as  there  was  little 
either  for  sale  or  exchange. 

With  the  exception  of  mere  patches  along  the  larger  streams  or  on  the 
lowlands,  the  surface  was  overgrown  or  covered  with  trees  and  bushes.  The 
bear,  wolf,  catamount  and  deer  held  sway,  with  no  one  to  contest  their  rights 
as  supreme  rulers.  The  passage  from  the  settlers’  homes  through  the  wilder- 
ness was  attended  with  much  discomfort,  privation  and  peril.  Their  journey- 
ings  were  slow  and  painfully  tedious.  They  were  not  made  in  the  stateroom 
of  a Pullman  palace  car,  speeding  like  a mighty  whirlwind  around  curves  of 
the  iron  highway  of  this  day  and  age.  A footman  was  no  prodigy  of  the 
road  in  those  long-ago  days.  To  bestride  the  faithful  horse,  mount  the 
wagon  or  help  draw  the  cart,  was  no  disgrace  then  to  either  man  or  woman. 
Weeks  and  even  months  were  consumed  in  their  joumeyings  westward,  and 
their  nightly  bedchamber  was  but  the  tent  or  bare  ground  beneath  the  cov- 
ered wagon.  Here  husband,  wife  and  infant  sank  to  slumbers,  serenaded 
by  the  cry  of  wild  beasts  and  wild  winds.  Here  the  uncertain  flint-lock 
gun  and  the  trusty  dog  were  ever  on  watch  and  in  readiness  to  repel  invasion. 
They  made  their  own  farm  utensils,  as  well  as  the  apparel  they  wore.  Wild 
turkeys  and  deer  were  in  abundance,  so  they  were  supplied  with  meats;  and 
in  the  absence  of  Oolong  and  Young  Hyson  tea,  they  sipped  the  sassafras  and 
spice-wood  teas.  But  contentment  was  there,  if  not  riches. 

As  to  the  good  housewife  and  mother  of  the  pioneer  band  in  Wayne 
county,  one  writer  has  beautifully  spoken:  “Heaven’s  blessings  be  upon 

them!  How  comforting  to  believe  that  in  that  procession  of  beatified  and 
redeemed  souls  which  forever  circle  around  the  throne  and  remain  the  near- 
est to  the  Master,  the  mothers  are  there!  If  it  be  so  endearing  in  heaven  as 
it  is  on  earth,  angels  will  whisper  it,  and  the  name  of  Mother  will  be  next 
in  sweetness  to  ‘Our  Father,  which  are  in  Heaven.’  ” 

Among  the  unalloyed  traits  of  the  pioneer  in  this,  as  well  as  in  most  new 
countries,  hospitality  was  ever  foremost.  The  stranger  never  failed  to  receive 
a hearty  welcome  at  the  cabin  home  of  these  friendly  people.  Did  he  ask 
for  bread,  he  always  received  the  best  loaf  at  hand.  Lodging  was  seldom, 
if  indeed  ever,  refused  the  weary  one.  While  the  fare  was  coarse,  it  was 


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handed  out  freely  and  graciously  received.  Then,  too,  there  was  a warmth 
and  genuineness  in  the  hand-shake  hardly  known  to  the  twentieth-century 
generation.  Women  used  no  cosmetics;  they  were  false  in  no  sense,  but  lived 
as  nature  had  formed  them  and  home  life  was  pure,  sweet  and  simple.  From 
these  pioneer  homes  came  forth  the  Garfields  and  McKinleys  and  many  of 
the  noble  men  who  have  from  time  to  time  graced  the  loftiest  positions  in 
the  nation.  These  fathers  and  mothers  taught  their  children  to  be  useful, 
and  always  insisted  that  the  useful  should  be  the  foundation  for  the  orna- 
mental. 

But  now  the  kind  reader  is  asked  to  leap  the  chasm  of  a hundred  years 
in  the  history  of  the  kingdom  of  Wayne — span  the  distance  between  the  his- 
toric Then  and  the  eventful  Now. 

The  pioneer  cabin  has  long  since  gone  to  decay  and  most  of  the  inmates 
of  these  primitive  homes  have  years  and  decades  ago  joined  that  innumerable 
caravan  that  has  crossed  the  deep  waters  of  the  river  of  death,  leaving  only 
their  well-trained  offspring  and  the  sweet  memory  of  the  summer  of  their 
lives  as  monuments  to  who  they  were  and  what  works  they  wrought  out  in 
this  section  of  the  Buckeye  state.  But  be  it  recorded  to  their  credit  that  they 
left  an  imperishable  name  for  honor  and  patriotism  and  that  their  virtues 
have  been  handed  down  even  to  this  the  first  decade  in  the  progressive  twen- 
tieth century.  The  departure  from  the  ways  of  the  forefathers  has,  of  course, 
been  wide  and  very  marked.  New  systems  have  obtained.  New  systems  of 
farming  and  new  business  methods  have  been  ushered  in  with  the  passing 
of  the  years  since  the  first  settlers  blazed  their  way  through  this  goodly  land 
and  finally  selected  a spot  on  which  to  erect  their  cabin  home.  New  imple- 
ments are  used,  new  plans  of  agriculture  and  merchandise  have  long  since 
been  employed.  The  human  savage  and  the  savage  l>east  that  roamed  at 
will  through  the  dark  forest  have  forever  gone  and  a new  type  of  Christian 
civilization  has  come  in,  yet  the  foundation  for  all  this  modern  greatness  was 
laid  by  the  axman  of  ninety  and  more  years  ago. 

In  reality,  it  is  to  be  questioned  whether  that  high  moral  type  of  noble 
fatherhood,  motherhood  and  childhood  obtains  here  that  once  prevailed.  Yet 
with  the  loss  of  some  of  the  priceless  virtues  Wayne  county  possessed  in  the 
century  past,  it  should  be  said  that,  in  the  main,  the  present-day  progress  in 
morality  and  religious  sentiment  is  indeed  praiseworthy  of  an  enlightened, 
educated  and  highly  refined  people.  Since  the  first  generations  of  this  county 
passed  from  earth’s  shining  circle,  it  should  be  remembered  that  Ohio  and 
Wayne  county  have  produced  many  eminent  statesmen  and  religionists.  It 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


was  after  all  these  pioneer  characters  passed  away  that  the  world  was  made 
better  by  such  loyal  liberty-loving  men  as  Grant,  Garfield  and  McKinley,  all  of 
whom  were  children  of  this  soil.  Ohio  need  not  simply  point  to  the  Presi- 
dents, but  to  the  larger  number  of  gallant  soldiers  and  later  true  statesmen. 

May  the  memory  of  the  departed  pioneers — our  good  ancestors — long 
be  cherished  and  their  names  be  held  in  admiring  esteem  and  true  reverence. 
The  shore,  the  palm,  the  victory — their  rest  is  yonder! 

THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENTS  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

The  first  four  settlements  effected  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  were  made 
as  follows  (substantiated  by  former  historians,  including  Ben  Douglas — 
lately  deceased — and  John  Larwill,  both  of  whom  made  careful  investigation 
along  this*  important  line)  : 

The  first  settlement  by  white  men  in  this  county  of  whom  there  is  now 
any  authentic  account  was  William  Larwill,  a native  of  Kent,  England,  who 
dated  his  settlement  as  far  back  as  1806.  He  was  a brother  of  Joseph  and 
John  Larwill,  who  came  to  the  county  a year  later,  1807,  the  former  in 
the  employment  of  John  Bever,  United  States  surveyor,  who  was  then  en- 
gaged in  running  off  the  county  into  sections.  And  here  on  the  present  site 
of  Wooster  was  made  the  first  settlement  in  Wayne  county. 

The  second  settlement  in  the  county  was  made  by  James  Morgan,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  but  of  Welsh  ancestry,  who  selected  a place  in  Franklin 
township,  early  in  the  spring  of  1808.  He  came  in  to  Ohio  and  squatted  on 
the  Mohican,  in  1806,  but  removed  to  Franklin  township  in  the  year  above 
named,  entering  lands  composing  the  farm  owned  later  by  Thomas  Doty. 
Thomas  Butler,  born  in  Virginia  also,  emigrated  to  this  township  in  1808, 
and  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  James  Morgan,  April  12,  1809. 

The  third  settlement  in  the  county  was  made  by  James  Goudy,  father 
of  John  Goudy,  who  later  resided  in  Dalton,  Sugarcreek  township.  He  re- 
moved from  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  located  two  miles  southwest  of 
Dalton,  in  the  autumn  of  1809.  James  Goudy  was  in  General  St.  Clair’s  de- 
feat, November  4,  1791,  and  was  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  a bullet,  which 
for  many  years  he  carried  in  his  body  and  which  finally  caused  his  death. 

The  fourth  settlement  was  brought  alxmt  by  the  coming  of  Oliver  Day 
in  either  1809  or  1810  (Hon.  John  Larwill  was  of  the  opinion  that  he  came 
first  in  1809).  He  removed  to  E:ist  Union  township,  not  far  from  “Cross 
Keys/’  and  settled  on  the  farm  later  owned  by  Jonas  Huntsberger.  He  was 
a native  of  Vermont,  as  were  his  companions,  Ezekiel  Wells,  M.  D. ; old 
Jonathan  Mansfield  and  Vestey  Frary,  who  accompanied  him — this  being 
the  first  of  the  New  England  settlement — and  “’Square  Day.’’  as  he  was 


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called  was  keeping  a place  of  entertainment  at  what  was  long  afterwards 
known  as  “Carr’s  tavern*’  when  General  Beall’s  army  passed.  The  first  trans- 
fer of  real  estate  on  the  public  records  of  the  county  recorder’s  office  of 
Wayne  county  was  made  by  Oliver  Day. 

The  settlements  in  the  various  townships  of  the  county  of  which  this 
volume  is  an  authentic  history,  will  be  found  under  the  various  township 
headings  in  the  Township  History  chapter. 

PIONEER  FAMILIES. 

The  subjoined  is  a list  of  the  heads  of  families  residing  in  Wayne  county 
in  1810,  according  to  the  United  States  census  returns:  Jacob  Amman, 

Andrew  Alexander,  Benjamin  Bunn,  Conrad  Bowers,  James  Beam,  Josiah 
Crawford,  Jesse  Cornelius,  Daniel  Doty,  John  L.  Dawson,  John  Driskel, 
Thomas  Eagle,  Alexander  Finley,  Jacob  Foulks,  Jonathan  Grant,  Philip 
Griffith,  Richard  Healey,  Joseph  Hughes,  Baptiste  Jerome,  David  Kimpton, 
William  Kelley,  William  Laylin,  Andrew  Luckey,  Robert  Meeks.  Hugh 
Moore,  William  Metcalf,  Samuel  Matin,  Stephen  Morgan,  Vatchel  Metcalf, 
Benjamin  Miller,  John  Newell,  Amos  Norris,  William  Nixon,  James  S.  Priest, 
Westel  Ridgley,  Jesse  Richards,  David  Smith,  Valentine  Smith,  Jr.,  Isariah 
Smith,  Christian  Smith,  John  Smith,  Philip  Smith,  Valentine  Smith,  Sr., 
Michael  Switzer,  Ebenezer  Warner. 


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CHAPTER  VI. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

No  historian  was  able  to  correctly  define  the  boundary  lines  of  Wayne 
county  until  the  problem  was  solved  by  the  zealous  research  of  Hon.  John 
P.  Jeffries,  assisted  by  Ben  Douglas  and  Hon.  R.  M.  Stimson,  state  librarian, 
and  this  was  not  accomplished  until  1878.  This  statement  has  reference 
to  the  original  county,  its  bounds  and  the  various  changes  which  narrowed 
it  down  to  its  present  limits. 

Wayne  county  was  established  by  proclamation  of  Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair, 
who,  when  the  Northwest  Territory  was  created  into  a government,  was 
chosen  as  its  governor.  He  was  appointed  in  1788,  and  continued  to  hold 
his  office  until  Ohio  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a state  in  1803.  The 
proclamation  for  that  purpose  bears  date  August  15,  1796.  It  was  the  third 
county  formed  in  the  great  Northwest  Territory,  Washington  county  being  the 
first,  and  Hamilton  county  the  second,  the  former  embracing  all  of  the  territory 
east  of  the  Scioto  and  Cuyahoga  rivers,  and  the  latter  what  is  now  south- 
western Ohio,  which  includes  all  the  territory  between  the  Big  and  Little 
Miami  rivers,  and  extending  north  to  what  is  known  as  the  “Standing  Stone 
Forks/’  on  the  first  designated  stream.  The  early  boundaries  were  illy  sur- 
veyed and  were  in  no  sense  accurate.  The  investigations  carried  on  by  the 
historians  alxwe  mentioned — especially  that  made  by  Ben  Douglas — record 
the  bounds  of  Wayne  county  (original)  as  follows: 

MOUTH  OF  THE  CUYAHOGA  RIVER, 

where  it  empties  into  Lake  Erie,  at  Cleveland,  thence  following  up  that 
river  to  the  “Old  Portage”  (a  carrying  place  from  which  goods  were  trans- 
ferred on  the  river  to  what  is  known  as  “New  Portage,”  in  .Summit  county, 
on  the  Tuscarawas  river),  now  known  as  Akron.  Summit  county,  thence 
diverging  from  the  Cuyahoga  river  in  a southerly  direction,  across  the  sum- 
mit to  a point  on  the  Tuscarawas  river,  near  New  Portage,  in  the  same 
county:  thence  following  the  Tuscarawas  through  the  county  of  Stark  to 
the  junction  of  the  Big  Sandy  and  Tuscarawas,  at  the  north  line  of  Tus- 


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carawas  county,  and  there  terminating  the  eastern  original  boundary  of 
Wayne  county ; thence  in  a southwestern  direction  on  the  Greenville  treaty 
line. 


THE  OLD  GREENVILLE  TREATY  LINE. 

On  the  county  line  between  Stark  and  Tuscarawas,  to  the  east  line  of 
Holmes  county;  thence  across  Holmes  county  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
Knox  county;  thence  on  the  line  between  Knox  and  Ashland  county  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  Richland  county;  thence  to  the  line  between  Richland 
and  Knox  counties,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Pike  township,  Knox  county; 
thence  across  the  townships  of  Pike,  Berlin,  Middlebury,  in  Knox  county, 
to  the  east  line  of  Morrow  county;  thence  across  Morrow  county  on  the 
south  line  of  the  townships  of  Franklin,  Gilead  and  Cardington,  in  Morrow 
county,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Marion  county;  thence  on  the  line  be- 
tween Marion  and  Morrow  counties  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Waldo  town- 
ship, in  Marion  county;  thence  on  the  line  between  Waldo  and  Richland 
townships,  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Richland  township;  thence  across  the 
townships  of  Waldo  and  Prospect,  to  the  east  line  of  Union  county;  thence 
across  Union  county,  on  the  south  line  of  the  townships  of  Jackson  and  Wash- 
ington, to  the  east  line  of  Logan  county ; thence  across  Bokescreek  and  Rush- 
creek  townships  to  the  southeast  corner  of  McArthur  township;  thence  on  a 
line  between  McArthur,  Lake  and  Harrison  townships,  to  the  east  line 
of  Shelby  county;  thence  across  Shelby  county,  between  Jackson  and 
Salem  townships,  and  across  the  townships  of  Franklin,  Turtle  Creek  and 
McLean,  to  the  present  site  of  old  Fort  Loramie,  in  McLean  township,  in 
Shelby  county,  this  line  terminating  at  the  point  of  the  beginning  of  the  old 
Greenville  treaty  line;  thence  in  a northwestern  direction  from  Fort  Loramie 
to  the  southeast  comer  of  Darke  county;  thence  continuing  on  the  same 
bearing  across  section  7,  of  Jackson  township,  Auglaize  county;  thence  across 
the  townships  of  Marion  and  Greenville,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Recovery 
township  to  Fort  Recovery,  in  Mercer  county ; thence  north,  bearing  to  the 
west  through  Recovery  township,  crossing  the  state  line  near  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  7,  entering  the  state  of  Indiana  in  the  county  of  Jay; 
thence  continuing  in  the  same  direction  through  Adams  county,  to  Fort 
Wayne,  in  Allen  county;  thence  west  bearing  to  the  north  through  the  coun- 
ties of  Allen,  Whitley,  Kosciusko,  Marshall,  Starke,  Porter  and  Lake,  in  the 
state  of  Indiana,  to  the  most  southern  point  of  Lake  Michigan ; thence  around 
that  lake  northward  through  the  counties  of  Cook  and  Lake,  in  the  state  of 
Illinois,  striking  the  summit  of  the  highest  lands  to  the  westward  of  the  lake 
far  enough  to  include  the  lands  upon  the  streams  emptying  into  Lake  Mich- 


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igan,  crossing  the  state  line  between  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  about  twenty  miles 
west  of  the  lake  shore;  thence  in  a northerly  direction  through  the  counties 
of  Kenosha,  Racine,  Waukesha  and  Ozoukee,  near  the  western  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan;  thence  turning  in  a northwestern  direction,  following  the  summit 
of  the  high  lands  which  divide  the  waters  flowing  into  the  lakes  from  those 
running  into  the  Mississippi,  through  the  counties  of  Sheboygan  and  Fond  du 
Lac ; thence  in  a western  direction,  crossing  the  southeastern  corner  of  Green 
Lake  county,  through  the  northern  part  of  Columbia  county,  near  the  site 
of  old  Fort  Winnebago,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Adams  county,  the  west- 
ern part  of  Waushaka  county,  the  southeast  corner  of  Portage  county,  the 
western  part  of  Waupaca  county,  the  western  part  of  Shawanaw,  aiong  the 
western  line  of  Oconto,  following  the  dividing  ridge  to  the  state  line  between 
Wisconsin  and  Michigan;  thence  along  the  line  between  Canada  and  the 
United  States;  thence  along  that  boundary,  through  Lake  Superior,  Lake 
Huron,  the  River  St.  Clair,  and  Lake  St.  Clair  and  Lake  Erie,  to  the  mouth 
of  Cuyahoga  river,  the  place  of  beginning. 

It  will  be  observed  that  Wayne  county  at  first  embraced  a large  scope  of 
territory,  including  one-third  of  present  Ohio,  one-eighth  of  Indiana,  the 
northeast  corner  of  Illinois,  including  the  site  of  Chicago,  the  eastern  one- 
fifth  part  of  Wisconsin,  the  whole  of  the  state  of  Michigan,  embracing  all  of 
Lake  Michigan,  one-half  of  the  area  of  Lake  Superior,  Huron,  St.  Clair  and 
the  northwestern  part  of  Lake  Erie,  including  the  battleground  on  which 
Perry’s  victory  was  achieved. 

The  county  seat  of  this  vast  domain,  that  contained  one  hundred  thirty- 
three  thousand  square  miles,  and  was  larger  than  England,  Ireland,  Scotland 
and  Wales,  was  located  at  Detroit,  which  city  is  still  in  a county  named  Wayne. 
The  county  seat  remained  at  that  point  until  eight  years  had  gone  by,  and 
two  years  after  the  state  constitution  had  been  adopted  and  the  government 
of  Ohio  had  been  established. 

THE  CONNECTICUT  WESTERN  RESERVE. 

This  was  situated  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on 
the  south  by  the  forty-first  parallel  of  north  latitude;  on  the  west  by  the 
present  counties  of  Sandusky  and  Seneca;  on  the  north  by  Lake  Erie;  on 
the  east  by  the  state  line  between  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania.  It  had  been  grant- 
ed to  the  colony  of  Connecticut  in  1662  by  Charles  II,  and  reserved  by  the 
state  of  Connecticut,  after  the  American  Revolution,  in  its  deed  of  cession  to 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  with  a view  to  compensate  its  Revo- 


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lutionary  soldiers  for  losses  in  that  war,  by  granting  its  warrant  to  such 
sufferers  for  portions  of  this  reserved  territory. 

In  1803,  by  acts  of  the  State  Legislature,  the  counties  of  Montgomery, 
Greene  and  Franklin  were  formed.  These  three  counties  extended  north  to 
the  state  line,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  they  divided  the  original  Wayne  county, 
separating  all  the  territory  east  of  Franklin — it  being  the  furtherest  east 
of  the  three  named  counties — south  of  the  Connecticut  Western  Reserve  and 
north  cf  the  old  Greenville  treaty  line,  from  the  balance  of  the  territory  of 
Wayne  county,  leaving  it  without  any  county  organization,  form  or  name, 
and  afterwards  known  as  the  New  Purchase. 

For  five  years  this  territory,  called  the  New  Purchase,  remained  without 
government  other  than  as  a part  of  the  unorganized  territory  of  the  state  of 
Ohio.  By  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Ohio,  February  13,  1808,  the 
boundaries  of  the  county  of  Wayne  were  clearly  defined  in  the  third  section 
of  the  act  to  establish  the  county  of  Stark.  The  entire  section  of  this  act 
is  here  given: 

BOUNDARIES  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY  IN  l8o8. 

“Section  3.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  all  that  tract  of  country  lying 
west  of  the  tenth  range  and  east  of  the  sixteenth  range  in  the  said  New 
Purchase,  and  south  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve,  and  north  of  the  United 
States  Military  District,  shall  be  a separate  and  distinct  courity,  by  the  name 
of  Wayne,  but  with  the  county  of  Stark  attached  to  and  made  a part  of 
Columbiana  county,  until  the  said  county  of  Stark  shall  be  organized  (Janu- 
ary 1,  1809),  and  shall  thereafter  be,  and  remain  a part  of  the  county  of 
Stark  until  otherwise  directed  by  law.,, — See  Ohio.  Leg.  Reports,  Vol.  VI, 
Page  155.  - 

The  first  boundary  of  Wayne  county,  established  by  legislative  enact- 
ment, may  be  more  specifically  defined,  as  follows:  On  the  east  by  the 

present  county  line  between  Wayne  and  Stark  counties;  on  the  south  by  the 
old  Greenville  treaty  line,  including  a strip  of  Holmes  county,  as  now  or- 
ganized, about  two  and  a half  miles  wide  at  the  west  end,  which  strip  of 
territory  compassed  all  of  Washington  and  Ripley  townships  in  that  county, 
nearly  all  of  Prairie,  two-thirds  of  Salt  Creek,  half  of  Paint,  and  fractions 
of  Knox  and  Monroe  townships;  on  the  west  by  the  west  line  of  Lake,  Mo- 
hican, Perry  and  Jackson  townships,  in  Ashland  county;  and  on  the  north 
by  the  present  county  line  between  Medina  and  Wayne. 

The  change  of  the  last  description  was  made  by  act  of  the  Legislature 
establishing  Holmes  county.  January  20,  1824,  which  took  from  the  south 


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side  of  Wayne  county  the  strip  of  territory  above  referred  to,  lying  between 
the  old  Greenville  treaty  line  and  the  present  southern  boundary  of  Wayne 
county.  ' ' 

ASHLAND  COUNTY  TAKEN  FROM  WAYNE. 

February  24,  1846.  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  Ashland  county  was  taken 
from  the  territory  of  Wayne  county.  There  have  been  no  other  changes  in  the 
territory  of  this  once  extensive  county  of  Wayne. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  ORGANIZED  IN  l8l2. 

By  an  act  of  the  Ohio  State  Legislature,  dated  January  4.  1812,  Wayne 
county  was  organized,  the  same  taking  effect  March  1,  1812.  This  act  reads 
as  follows: 

“That  the  county  of  Wayne  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  organized  into  a 
separate  county.” 

The  same  law  provided  that  the  people  of  the  county  should  elect  county 
officers  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1812,  to  hold  their  offices  until  the  next 
annual  election.  To  the  year  1810.  Wayne  county  was  one  entire  township, 
by  the  name  of  Killbuck,  called  after  the  old  Indian  chief  of  that  name. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  TOWNSHIPS. 

Wayne  county’s  townships  were  organized  in  the  following  manner: 
April  11,  1812,  the  county  was  divided  into  four  townships,  to-wit:  Sugar- 

creek,  Wooster,  Mohican  and  Prairie. 

The  present  territory  of  Wayne  county  was  surveyed  by  the  United 
States  surveyors  in  1807.  The  ranges  were  strips  of  territory,  six  miles  wide, 
numbered  from  east  to  west,  and  extending  from  the  old  Greenville  treaty 
line  northward  to  the  south  line  of  the  Connecticut  Western  Reserve — a dis- 
tance averaging  over  thirty  miles.  These  ranges  were  again  surveyed  into  sec- 
tions of  about  one  mile  square,  or  containing  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and 
numbered  from  one  to  thirty-six,  beginning  at  the  northeast  comer,  and 
each  thirty-six  sections  being  designated  a township.  These  townships  were 
again  numbered  from  the  south  end  of  each  range  northwardly. 

Range  Xo.  1 1 of  the  original  government  survey  was  the  eastern  and 
first  range  in  the  county,  and  in  1812  contained  the  originally  surveyed  town- 
ships. numbered  15,  16.  17  and  18  and  a small  fraction  of  township  14. 

Range  No.  12  contained  a small  fraction  of  township  14  and  all  of 
townships  15,  16,  17  and  18. 


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Range  No.  13  contained  a small  fraction  of  township  13  and  all  of 
townships  14,  15,  16  and  17. 

Range  No.  14  contained  a fraction  of  township  17  and  all  of  town- 
ships 18,  19,  20  and  21. 

Range  No.  15  contained  a fraction  of  township  19  and  all  of  town- 
ships 20,  21,  22  and  23. 

The  orders  of  the  county  commissioners,  bearing  date  April  11,  1812, 
clearly  defined  each  of  the  original  townships  as  follows: 

Mohican  township  included  all  of  range  15  in  the  county,  and  the  west 
half  of  range  14. 

Prairie  township,  beginning  at  the  center  of  range  14  and  at  the  corner 
of  sections  3,  4,  9,  10  in  township  18,  of  range  14;  thence  east  to  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  county;  thence  south  to  the  southeast  comer  of  the  county; 
thence  westwardly  on  the  south  boundary  of  the  county,  to  the  center  of 
range  14,  and  thence  north  to  place  of  beginning. 

Wooster  township  began  at  the  center  of  range  14,  at  the  corner  of 
sections  3,  4,  9 and  10,  in  township  18;.  thence  north  to  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  county;  thence  east  to  the  range  line  between  ranges  12  and  13;  thence 
south  on  said  range  line  to  the  corner  of  sections  1,6,  12  and  7,  in  township 
14  of  range  13,  and  township  15,  in  range  12,  and  thence  west  to  place  of 
beginning. 

Sugarcreek  township  contained  all  of  the  originally  surveyed  townships 
16,  1 7 and  18  and  the  northern  tier  of  sections  in  township  15,  in  range  11,  and 
all  of  the  originally  surveyed  townships  16,  17  and  18  and  the  northern 
tier  of  sections  in  township  15,  in  range  12. 

By  order  :>f  the  county  commissioners,  September  15,  1814,  East  Union 
and  Lake  townships  were  formed,  the  former  embracing  originally  surveyed 
townships  16,  17  and  18  and  the  northern  tier  of  sections  in  township  15,  in 
range  12,  the  latter  embracing  the  fraction  of  originally  surveyed  township 
19  and  all  of  township  20,  in  range  15,  and  the  west  half  of  originally  sur- 
veyed township  j8,  and  the  west  half  of  fractional  township  17  in  range  14. 

September  14,  1814,  four  days  after  Commodore  Perry’s  victory  on 
Lake  Erie,  the  county  commissioners  entered  an  order  of  record,  changing 
the  name  of  Mohican  township  to  that  of  Perry. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  1815,  the  county  commissioners  formed  the  town- 
ship of  Springfield,  as  follows : Beginning  at  ihe  northeast  corner  of  section 

24,  township  19  (now  Plain),  range  14;  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  20.  township  18  (now  Clinton)  ; thence  east  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  24,  the  range  line;  thence  north  on  the  range  line  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 


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September  4,  1815,  Chippewa  township  was  formed,  beginning  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  31,  of  township  18,  range  11,  original  survey; 
thence  north,  bearing  to  the  west,  to  the  northwest  comer  of  section  6;  thence 
east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county;  thence  south  on  the  county  line 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  36 ; thence  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Baughman  township  was  named  the  originally  surveyed  township  17, 
range  11,  on  March  5,  1816. 

Saltcreek  township  was  established  March  5,  1816,  its  territory  includ- 
ing all  of  the  originally  surveyed  township  15  and  fractional  township  14, 
of  range  12. 

At  the  last  named  session  of  the  county  commissioners,  Paint  township 
was  formed  from  all  of  the  originally  surveyed  township  No.  15  and  frac- 
tional part  of  township  14,  in  range  11. 

At  the  last  date  named,  originally  surveyed  townships  20  and  21,  in 
range  14.  were  named  Chester  township,  and  an  order  issued  to  the  inhabit- 
ants to  elect  officers. 

Wayne  township  was  formed  by  order  of  the  commissioners  October  12, 
1816,  of  the  following  territory:  All  of  the  originally  surveyed  townships 

16  and  17,  of  range  13. 

Green  township  was  formed  February  5,  1817,  of  all  of  the  original 
townships  17  and  18,  of  range  12. 

Congress  township  was  formed  October  3,  1818,  of  the  originally  sur- 
veyed township  21,  of  range  14. 

Milton  township  was  formed  of  the  originally  surveyed  township  18,  of 
range  12,  by  order  of  the  county  commissioners. 

Jackson  township  was  formed  of  the  originally  surveyed  township  23,  of 
range  15,  February  1,  1819. 

Canaan  township  was  formed  May  5,  1819,  of  the  originally  surveyed 
township  17,  of  range  13. 

Plain  township  was  formed  as  early  as  1817  (no  definite  date  now 
recorded),  and  it  was  composed  of  territory  included  in  the  original  govern- 
ment survey  of  township  19,  of  range  14.  Its  formation  obliterated  the  north 
half  of  Springfield  township,  formed  on  June  5,  1815. 

Franklin  township  is  composed  of  part  of  the  originally  surveyed  town- 
ships 14  and  15,  of  range  13.  June  7,  1820,  the  county  commissioners 
bounded  the  township  as  follows : Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of 

section  24,  in  township  15;  thence  south  on  the  range  line  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  13,  in  township  14;  thence  west  on  the  south  side  of  sections 
13  to  18  inclusive,  to  the  range  line  on  the  west  side  of  range  13 ; thence  north 


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on  the  range  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  6,  township  14;  thence 
east  to  the  northeast  comer  of  section  5;  thence  north  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  28,  township  15;  thence  east  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  28;  thence  north  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  22, 
township  15;  thence  east  to  place  of  beginning. 

March  7,  1825,  and  after  the  formation  of  Holmes  county,  in  1824,  by 
order  of  the  county  commissioners  *the  above  last-named  township  was 
enlarged  by  the  attachment  of  the  southern  tiers  of  sections, — 19  to  24  inclu- 
sive,— since  which  time  no  changes  have  been  made  in  its  boundaries. 

Pike  township  was  formed  in  1817  and  was  composed  of  the  exact  terri- 
tory which  now  constitutes  Clinton  township,  and  the  formation  blotted  out 
the  south  half  and  all  the  balance  of  Springfield  left  after  the  formation  of 
Plain  township.  And  thus,  after  a brief  existence  of  two  years,  Springfield 
township  disappeared  from  the  records  and  map  of  Wayne  county. 

June  7,  1825,  Clinton  township,  the  last  of  the  present  sixteen  townships 
of  Wayne  county,  was  formed,  by  an  order  of  the  commissioners  of  that 
date.  Its  boundaries  then  were  the  same  as  now,  and  its  formation  struck 
from  the  map  of  Wayne  county  the  township  of  Pike. 

Thus  it  will  be  observed  how  the  settlement  of  the  county,  from  time 
time,  produced  the  organization  of  the  various  townships,  and  established, 
as  the  necessities  of  the  people  required,  their  local  governments. 

ORIGIN  OF  NAME  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

This  county  was  named  in  honor  of  Major-General  Anthony  Wayne,  an 
ardent  patriot  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a native  of  Waynesborough, 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  January  1,  1745.  He  had  a brilliant 
career  and  died  in  1796  in  a cabin  at  Presque  Isle  and,  at  his  own  request, 
was  buried  under  a flag  staff  of  the  fort.  In  1809,  his  son  removed  his 
body  to  Radnor  cemetery,  in  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  a monu- 
ment is  erected  to  his  honor. 


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CHAPTER  VII. 


COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 

Wayne  county  was  organized,  as  before  related,  January  4,  1812,  and  the 
machinery  of  a separate  county  government  set  in  motion  on  the  4th  of  March 
that  year.  The  first  election  for  county  officers  was  held  on  the  first  Monday 
in  April,  and  such  officers  were  to  hold  their  term  only  until  the  next  annual 
election.  Up  to  1810  what  wras  styled  Killbuck  tow-nship  comprised  the 
entire  county,  but  April  12,  1812,  the  county  was  divided  into  four  civil 
townships,  Sugarcreek,  Wooster,  Mohican  and  Prairie. 

The  first  set  of  county  officers  elected  were:  Josiah  Crawford,  sheriff; 
William  Smith,  (appointed)  treasurer  in  1812;  Roswell  M.  Mason,  prosecut- 
ing attorney;  James  Morgan,  Jacob  Foulkes  and  John  Carr,  county  commis- 
sioners; William  Larwill,  clerk  of  the  court  of  common  pleas;  Benjamin 
Ruggles,  president  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas;  Christian  Smith, 
David  Kimpton  and  John  Cisna,  associate  judges. 

The  first  work  of  the  county  commissioners  was  to  divide  the  county 
into  the  four  civil  townships  named  and  look  after  proposed  roads  in  the 
newly  organized  county,  as  well  as  to  provide  some  suitable  place  for  the 
county  offices  to  be  established. 

THE  FIRST  . COUNTY  SEAT. 

The  original  seat  of  justice  for  Wayne  county  wras  that  designated  by 
the  locating  commissioners,  and  was  on  the  eminence  east  and  south  of  wrhere 
Wooster  nowr  stands,  on  lands  then  owned  by  Bazaleel  Wells  and  company, 
and  was  called  Madison.  It  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  people,  whereupon 
the  Legislature  appointed  new  commissioners,  and  they  selected  wdiat  is  now 
Wooster  as  the  permanent  county  seat.  But  a single  cabin  wras  erected  in 
Madison. 

The  first  place  of  holding  court  was  on  the  old  “Fin”  Weed  livery  stable 
grounds  on  East  Liberty  street,  in  an  old  log  shanty  built  by  John  Bever. 
The  March  term.  1813,  was  held  at  the  house  of  Josiah  Crawrford.  In  1814 
wras  built  the  Baptist  church,  a frame  structure,  in  the  rear  of  the  lot  where 
later  the  Reformed  church  was  built,  and  in  this  building,  for  a time,  court 
was  held.  The  county  paid  fifty  dollars  a year  rent. 


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THE  COURT  HOUSE  HISTORY. 

The  first  court  house  was  built  by  the  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Wooster, 
Messrs.  Larwill,  Bever  and  Henry,  in  1819.  It  was  among  the  conditions 
with  which  they  agreed  to  comply  when  the  county  seat  was  changed  from 
the  original  seat  of  justice,  Madison,  to  Wooster,  that  they  should  erect  a 
three-story  building  with  a gallery,  built  of  brick,  a part  of  which  was  occu- 
pied by  the  county  officers  and  the  Freemasons  order.  It  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  present  beautiful  court  house,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  public 
square.  It  was  burned  in  1828,  during  a term  of  court,  and  some  of  the 
papers  and  public  records  of  the  court  and  county  were  lost.  It  was  in  1823 
that  a bell  was  placed  on  this  building,  the  same  being  a donation  by  John 
Bever,  one  of  the  townsite  men. 

The  next  court  house  was  erected  in  1831-32  and  from  the  files  of  the 
Advocate , dated  September,  1833,  it  is  gleaned  that  “the  court  house  is  a 
noble  edifice,  only  finished  this  spring,  and  cost  seven  thousand,  two  hundred 
dollars  ($7,200).  It  is  doubtless  the  handsomest  in  the  state,  if  not  in  the 
United  States,  and  confers  much  credit  on  the  enterprising  architect,  Mr.  Mc- 
Curdy. It  is  covered  with  lead,  and  from  the  cupola  may  be  had  an  agreeable, 
variegated  view  of  the  village  and  surrounding  country.’’ 

Among  the  novel  and  attractive  features  of  the  superstructure  were  two 
large  metal  balls,  made  of  copper,  by  John  Babb,  and  these  ornamented  the 
spire.  They  held,  of  liquid  measure,  about  twenty-five  gallons  and  one  and 
a half  gallons,  respectively. 

Within  this  court  house  many  an  early-day  scene  in  the  history  of  the 
county  was  enacted.  It  stood  as  a safe  and  substantial  building  until  time 
had  wrought  its  inroads  on  its  walls  and  it  finally  became  a dilapidated, 
dangerous  building,  no  longer  safe  for  use  as  a public  building.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1877  the  city  council  of  Wooster  condemned  it  as  a public  building 
and  later  the  county  commissioners,  after  fully  investigating  its  condition, 
confirmed  the  opinion  of  the  city  council.  The  place  for  holding  court  was 
then  transferred  to  France's  Hall,  on  West  Liberty  street,  where  its  sessions 
were  held  until  a new  court  house  could  be  provided. 

February  16  and  18,  1878,  meetings  of  the  members  of  the  Wayne 
county  bar  and  other  citizens  were  held  in  Wooster  to  take  action,  by  which 
the  matter  of  a new  court  house  should  be  set  in  motion.  Hon.  John  Mc- 
Sweeney  was  chairman  of  this  meeting  the  first  day  and  Hon.  John  P. 
Jeffries  on  the  last  day.  Col.  Benjamin  Eason  and  Capt.  A.  S.  McClure  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  secretaries. 


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A committee  was  selected  to  prepare  a memorial  to  the  Legislature, 
setting  forth  the  need  of  a new  building,  and  also  to  draft  a bill  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Legislature  for  its  approval,  authorizing  the  county  commis- 
sioners to  issue  bonds  in  an  amount  not  exceeding  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars,  with  which  to  erect  a new  court  house,  the  same  to  be  built  in  the 
city  of  Wooster.  Such  committee  was  composed  of  the  following  named 
gentlemen : Hon.  George  Rex,  John  H.  Kauke,  Esq.,  Judge  J.  H.  Downing, 

Hon.  Ben  Eason,  D.  D.  Miller,  Esq.,  Capt.  A.  S.  McClure,  Col.  E.  P.  Bates, 
J.  K.  McBride,  John  Zimmerman,  Esq.,  Hon.  M.  Welker,  Hon.  Aquila 
Wiley,  Hon.  John  Brinkerhoff,  E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Hon.  John  P.  Jeffries, 
Hon.  E.  B.  Eshleman,  A.  T.  Thomas,  Esq.,  Hon.  John  McSweeney,  Ohio  F. 
Jones,  Esq.,  Hon.  C.  C.  Parsons,  M.  C.  Rouch,  Esq.,  G.  P.  Emrich,  Esq., 
Prof.  L.  Firestone,  Hon.  J.  W.  Baughman. 

The  memorial  and  bill  were  duly  sent  on  to  the  state  capital  and  thus 
was  laid  the  legal  foundation  for  the  construction  of  the  handsome  court 
house  that  still  serves  well  its  purpose.  It  stands  on  the  site  of  all  previous 
court  houses  in  Wayne  county  and  is  a model  of  excellence  and  safety  for  the 
valuable  records  of  the  county,  its  courts  and  officials. 

When  the  court  house  was  finished  it  was  not  properly  divided,  in  regard 
to  rooms,  and  with  the  passing  of  years  improvements  in  the  floors,  etc.,  were 
found  necessary  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  those  connected  with  the 
offices  and  courts,  so,  in  1909,  the  county  commissioners  wisely  decided  to 
expend  not  to  exceed  ten  thousand  dollars  in  such  repairs  and  changes  as 
were  needed.  The  work  is  now  in  progress. 

The  years  have  passed,  and  the  minutes  and  hours  that  have  made  up 
the  days  and  months  have  been  ticked  off  and  truly  noted  by  a “city  clock” 
which  hangs  in  the  high  tower  of  this  court  house,  the  bell  attached  thereto 
being  one  of  unusually  clear  and  musical  tone. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  JAILS. 

While,  as  a general  rule,  the  citizens  of  this  section  of  Ohio  have  been 
law-abiding  people,  yet,  in  common  with  all  other  counties,  there  has  from 
the  first  been  a pressing  demand  for  some  safe  place  in  which  to  keep  offend- 
ers of  the  law  from  escaping  before  final  trials,  and  hence  the  jail  has  always 
been  numbered  among  the  necessities  of  the  county.  The  first  jail  built  by 
this  county  was  situated  on  lot  No.  57,  and  was  purchased  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  John  Bever  for  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars.  Bids  were  had 
for  the  construction  of  a jail,  July  13,  1816,  and  the  lowest  responsible  bidder 
was  Benjamin  Jones,  who  contracted  with  the  county  to  erect  one  for  one 


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thousand  three  hundred  and  eleven  dollars.  He  furnished  the  required  bond 
and  complied  With  the  following  terms : 

“The  building  to  be  so  far  completed  as  to  have  room  No.  2,  east  of  the 
entrance  and  hall,  finished  in  every  respect  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of 
January,  1817,  and  to  give  the  commissioners,  Oliver  Jones,  Samuel  Mitchell 
and  Robert  McClaran,  possession  of  said  room  by  that  day;  the  balance  of 
the  building  to  be  completed  before  the  1st  day  of  May,  1817.  One-third 
of  the  amount  to  be  paid  on  the  execution  of  the  contractor’s  bond;  one- 
third  to  be  paid  when  room  No.  2 is  completed,  and  the  remaining  installment 
three  months  after  the  completion  of  the  job.” 

The  records  show  that  on  August  7,  1817,  the  commissioners  accepted 
the  finished  jail  as  having  been  constructed  according  to  contract.  The 
building  was  constructed  chiefly  of  timbers  taken  from  the  old  block-house, 
called  “Fort  Stidger,”  erected  by  General  Stidger,  of  Canton.  It  may  not 
be  lacking  in  interest  to  more  minutely  describe  this  pioneer  jail.  It  was 
twenty-six  feet  outside  of  the  walls  each  way,  and  was  forty  feet  from  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  lot.  Its  foundations  were  of  “good  stone”  laid  in 
good  lime  mortar.  The  floor  was  of  oak  timber,  laid  on  sleepers  of  sufficient 
size  and  number.  It  was  one  story  high,  eleven  feet  between  floor  and  ceiling, 
the  walls  being  of  hewed  timber  not  less  than  eight  inches  square  and  notched 
together  at  the  corners,  “so  as  to  be  strong  and  close.”  In  some  of  the  rooms 
the  logs  were  doubled.  Over  the  entire  interior  was  laid  a floor  eight  inches 
thick,  made  from  hewed  logs.  The  eaves  were  boxed  with  plain  boxing,  the 
gable  ends  weather-boarded,  and  the  whole  was  covered  with  a shingle  roof. 
It  contained  four  door  frames,  of  good  and  sufficient  size  to  make  it  secure, 
“fitted  to  the  ends  of  the  logs  that  were  cut  off,”  and  was  “well  spiked  with 
at  least  four  good  and  sufficient  spikes,”  not  less  than  three-quarters  of  an 
inch  square.  It  had  “four  good  and  sufficient  doors,  planed  and  plowed,  of 
two-inch  stuff,  or  of  such  stuff  as  would  make  the  doors  four  inches  thick.” 
The  boards  were  put  across  each  other,  and  made  with  at  least  four  “good 
and  sufficient  iron  straps  to  run  lengthwise  of  the  door,  and  at  the  base  four 
straps  of  the  same  kind.”  The  doors  were  hung  with  three  “good  and  suffi- 
cient iron  straps  and  hooks  to  each,  of  sufficient  strength  to  make  it  secure.” 
Each  door  had  a good  strong  lock  on  the  inside  and  on  the  outside,  “the  doors 
to  the  entry  having  a double  set  of  iron  bars.” 

The  building  contained  a hall  and  three  rooms,  marked  Nos.  1,  2 and  3. 
The  lower  floor  was  laid  with  oak  plank,  planed  and  grooved,  well  nailed 
down.  The  rooms  were  lined  on  each  side  and  overhead,  with  “dry  two-inch 
plank.”  Rooms  2 and  3 were  well  covered  with  a “good  coat  of  coarse  sand 


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and  small  gravel  well  beat  in,  so  as  to  fill  each  crevice  between  the  logs  and 
then  it  had  a good  coat  of  lime  mortar  plastered  over  it.” 

Such  is  the  description  of  the  commissioners  who  entered  into  contract 
with  the  builder,  to  furnish  a good  jail  for  Wayne  county,  and  from  the 
wording,  it  appears  that  all  was  “good  and  sufficiently”  constructed. 

It  is  believed  that  the  first  prisoner  to  be  lodged  within  the  oaken  walls 
of  the  “sufficient”  jail  was  one  Thomas  Porter,  “a  prisoner  who  had  escaped 
from  jail  and  other  service,”  as  he  was  advertised  by  Joseph  Barkdull.  He 
was  confined  here  as  early  as  1818. 

A “jailor's  house”  was  built  in  1824,  adjoining  the  jail  just  mentioned. 

The  second  jail  of  the  county  was  known  as  the  “Stone  Jail”  and  was 
built  in  1839  by  O.  Boughton.  It  was  a solid,  dungeon-like  building,  in 
which  were  incarcerated  many  of  the  Wayne  county  and  Wooster  offenders 
of  the  laws  of  the  commonwealth.  It  was  burned  December  18,  1863, 
during  the  Civil  war  period,  Sheriff  Wilson,  the  then  official  incumbent, 
occupying  it.  At  the  date  of  the  fire  there  were  confined  in  it  a boy  (John 
Bowers),  and  Isaac  Wiler  for  attempting  to  kill  his  wife. 

The  next  jail  was  built  on  the  northwest  comer  of  North  Walnut  and 
North  streets,  and  was  counted  among  the  finest  jails  in  Ohio,  when  it  was 
erected  in  the  early  seventies.  It  was  built  of  both  brick  and  stone,  and  cost 
a large  sum  of  money. 

OLD  AND  NEW  COUNTY  OFFICE  BUILDINGS. 

Aside  from  the  court  house  and  jail,  there  have  also  been  other  county 
buildings  for  the  use  of  the  county  officials.  These  are  now  spoken  of  as  the 
“old”  and  the  “new”  county  buildings.  The  first  set  of  these  offices  came 
about  in  the  following  manner: 

Friday,  March  27,  1829,  a year  or  so  after  the  burning  of  the  old  court 
house,  a special  session  of  the  county  commissioners  was  held,  the  commis- 
sioners then  being  Stephen  Coe,  Jacob  Ihrig  and  Abram  Ecker,  who  met 
for  the  purpose  of  making  some  provisions  for  the  erection  of  public  build- 
ings. It  was  resolved  by  the  board  “to  erect  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
public  square,  in  the  town  of  Wooster,  four  substantial  fire-proof  offices  of 
such  dimensions  as  may  hereafter  be  agreed  upon.”  The  auditor  of  the 
county  was  authorized  to  “give  notice  by  advertisement  in  the  Republican- 
Advocate  and  by  getting  hand-bills  struck  and  circulated.” 

April  24th,  the  same  year,  the  commissioners  met  in  the  public  square 
of  Wooster,  between  ten  and  four  o'clock  and  offered  the  contract  at  public 


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auction,  Daniel  Miller  appearing  as  the  lowest  bidder;  but  the  commissioners, 
upon  consultation,  concluded  that  he  was  not  a suitable  person  to  award  the 
contract  to  and  adjourned  the  session  until  the  next  morning,  when  the 
contract  was  let  to  Calvin  Hobart.  The  buildings  were  of  brick  and  stone; 
were  seventy-two  and  a half  feet  in  length,  with  walls  eight  and  a half  feet 
high  between  the  foundation  and  the  commencement  of  the  arches.  The 
contractor  obligated  himself  to  have  the  building  completed  by  December  1, 
1829,  and  for  such  work  he  was  to  receive  the  sum  of  nine  hundred  eighty- 
nine  dollars  and  ninety-nine  cents.  The  brick  from  the  walls  of  the  old 
court  house  (burned  in  1828)  were  appropriated  in  these  buildings. 

This  office  building  served  well  the  purpose  for  which  it  had  been  con- 
structed until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  when  more  and  better  office  accom- 
modations were  demanded  by  the  prosperous,  growing  county.  The  “new’' 
county  building,  that  accommodates  the  present  offices  of  the  county,  stands 
adjoining  to  the  court  house  proper,  to  the  west  on  Market  street.  The 
structure  is  built  of  stone,  brick  and  iron,  solidly  and  massively  constructed, 
and  is  ample  in  room  and  appliances  for  the  present  needs  of  the  county. 
The  first  floor  is  devoted  to  the  offices  of  the  county  treasurer,  auditor, 
recorder,  surveyor  and  county  commissioners;  the  second  floor  was  planned 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  probate  judge,  clerk  and  sheriff.  The  laying 
of  the  corner  stone  was  an  occasion  of  great  rejoicing  and  speeches  were 
delivered  by  Hon.  George  Bliss  and  others.  The  date  of  building  this 
structure  was  1866. 

As  viewed  by  a stranger  today,  this  building  seems  to  be  but  a wing  of 
the  court  house  proper,  and  from  its  fine  state  of  preservation  one  would 
conclude  that  it  was  a part  of  the  original  building,  notwithstanding  the 
court  house  is  built  of  stone,  while  the  office  building  is  a compound  of  brick, 
stone  and  iron.  This  building  is  still  in  use  (1909)  and,  from  its  excellent 
style  of  building,  seems  almost  like  a modern-built  structure. 

THE  COUNTY  INFIRMARY. 

The  citizens  of  Wayne  county  have  always  been  a liberal  minded  and 
truly  charitable  people.  They  have  never  encouraged  idleness,  but  have  ever 
provided  for  the  poor  and  unfortunate  subjects  within  its  borders.  Prior 
to  the  adoption  of  the  state  constitution  of  1852.  the  paupers  of  Wayne 
county  were  cared  for  by  the  various  townships,  as  best  they  could  be  by 
the  commissioners  and  township  trustees,  but  upon  the  passage  of  this  consti- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tution,  and  at  the  first  session  of  the  board  of  county  directors,  held  July  24, 
1852,  the  Wayne  county  infirmary  was  located  two  miles  east  of  Wooster. 
The  original  builder  of  this  institution  was  Simon  Christine,  and  Dr.  S. 
Pixley,  of  Wooster,  was  the  first  physician  in  charge.  The  original  building 
was  a three-story  structure,  the  basement  being  of  stone,  while  the  super- 
structure was  of  brick.  It  contains  one  hundred  rooms  and  the  entire  build- 
ing is  heated  with  hot  air.  Cyrus  Senger  was  appointed  the  first  superin- 
tendent, and  served  until  1858,  when  A.  R.  Sweeney  was  appointed,  and 
served  many  years. 

The  official  report  of  this  county  institution  for  1876  showed  the  admis- 
sion of  forty-nine  paupers  during  that  year,  with  ninety-seven  other  paupers 
supported  by  other  means,  at  a total  cost  of  eight  thousand  and  forty-three 
dollars,  or  amounting  to  a cost  of  seventeen  cents  per  day  for  each  one 
cared  for.  Connected  with  the  infirmary,  there  was  originally  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land  which  helps  to  sustain  the  institution. 

Of  the  present  standing  of  this  benevolent  institution  let  it  be  said  that 
the  last  annual  (1909)  report  shows  that  there  were  fifty-two  inmates — 
thirty-two  men  and  twenty  women.  The  total  value  of  property,  as  per 
invoice  just  taken,  is  sixty-nine  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  The  total  ex- 
penditures for  the  last  fiscial  year  was  nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  dollars,  including  a fire  escape  costing  five  hundred  and  sixty-nine  dollars. 

THE  CHILDREN'S  HOME. 

Not  unmindful  of  the  unfortunate  children  of  the  county,  as  early  as 
July,  1881,  steps  were  taken  for  the  securing  of  land  and  the  erection  of 
proper  buildings  to  care  for  the  children  without  suitable  homes  of  their 
own.  The  county  commissioners  issued  bonds  and  purchased  eighty-two  and 
a fourth  acres  of  valuable  land  in  section  28  of  Wayne  township,  about  two 
miles  from  the  city  of  Wooster,  for  which  they  paid  the  sum  of  twelve  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  E.  Baum,  the  deed  of  which  was 
recorded  July  7,  1881.  There  suitable  buildings  were  soon  erected  and  today 
this  humane  institution  is  the  pride  of  Wayne  county  among  those  who  see 
the  goodness  in  thus  caring  for  the  poor  children  in  their  midst.  The  last 
quarterly  report  shows  that  this  home  had  in  its  care  and  safe  keeping  forty- 
two  children.  The  total  cost  of  keeping  them  for  this  quarter  was  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  forty-seven  dollars,  or  forty-three  dollars  per  child 
for  the  quarter.  W.  E.  Jarvis  is  the  careful  superintendent  at  this  date. 


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October,  1909.  With  plenty  of  good  land  to  till  and  plenty  of  excellent, 
wholesome  food,  and  proper  training,  these  children  will  ere  long  grow  to 
men  and  women  of  usefulness  and  not  find  their  way  into  vice  and  crime. 

PROPERTY  VALUATION  OF  COUNTY. 

The  subjoined  is  a list  of  the  valuations  in  the  various  townships  and 


villages  and  cities  in  Wayne  county,  for  the  year  ending  August 

1, 1908: 

Baughman  township.  . 

...  $1,347,803 

Saltcreek  township 

$ 620,797 

Chippewa  township.  . 

. 1,045,816 

Wavne  township 

1.441.715 

Canaan  township.  . . . 

870,486 

Wooster  township 

1.037.905 

Congress  township.  . . 

836,033 

Wooster  City 

. 2,550,000 

Chester  township 

• • 1.050.359 

Fredericksburg  Village. 

101,691 

Clinton  township.  . . . 

878,380 

Applecreek  Village. . . . 

157,122 

East  Union  township. 

947.399 

Creston  Village 

333.828 

Franklin  township.  . . 

. 1,012,507 

Mt.  Eaton  Village 

67,055 

Green  township 

..  1.688,347 

Dalton  Village 

184.225 

Milton  township 

. 1,325,580 

Orrville  Town 

370,000 

Paint  township 

750,004 

Marshallville  Village. . . 

129,000 

Plain  township 

..  1,003.360 

Doylestown  Village.  ...  . 

268,000 

Sugarcreek  township. 

■ • 1.259.577 

• 

Grand  total 

of  valuation  in 

county 

$24,374,153 

(9) 


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CHAPTER  VIII. 


CIVIL  AND  POLITICAL  HISTORY  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

By  Hon.  L.  R.  Critchfleld,  Sr. 

PREFACE. 

We  read  with  curiosity  the  histories  with  which  it  has  been  sought  to 
perpetuate  some  memory  of  man.  Rollin  has  condensed  the  history  of  the 
ancient  world;  Grote  has  given  us  the  history  of  Greece;  Livy  and  Gibbon 
the  history  of  the  Roman  empire.  We  read  Hallam’s  Middle  Ages,  and 
Guizot’s  Civilization,  Hume  and  Macaulay,  Prescott’s  Peru  and  Mexico,  the 
life  of  Washington,  the  history  of  the  United  States,  the  modern  histories  of 
Asia  and  Africa;  but  the  world  has  no  history  of  the  masses  of  mankind.  It 
is  only  by  the  mental  effort  called  “faith”  that  we  know  that  the  common 
people  of  the  world  were  like  ourselves;  that  they  lived  and  labored,  loved, 
and  perished  as  we  do.  Even  in  our  own  day  we  celebrate  the  birth  of 
Washington,  the  greatness  of  Jackson;  we  have  non-partisan  Lincoln  clubs 
to  keep  alive  the  memory  of  the  lamented  martyr;  but  what  of  the  dead,  the 
heroes  in  common  life,  the  faithful  guardians  of  self  government?  The  age 
is  breaking  this  immortal  solitude.  Family  reunions  are  resurrecting  the 
old  fathers  and  mothers;  yearly  gatherings  are  extricating  ancient  virtue 
from  the  mould  of  the  wilderness,  and  a new  heart  is  throbbing  loud  enough 
to  stir  the  dust  of  the  pioneers.  That  toe  have  constructed  this  magnificent 
era,  is  no  longer  thought  by  the  reflecting  man  and  we  are  beginning  to 
confess  in  books  the  grandeur  of  the  great  actors  of  the  past! 

Of  the  very  foremost,  Wayne  county  is  keeping  these  records  of  grati- 
tude. An  elaborate  history  of  Wayne  county,  some  thirty  years  ago,  came 
from  the  toilsome  genius  of  Ben  Douglas;  but  the  age  is  advanced  in  spirit- 
ual conception,  the  rude  necessities  that  clothed  the  early  fathers  and  mothers 
must  give  place  to  that  mystic  robe  that  adorned  the  visits  of  Gabriel,  and 
amidst  the  clouds  that  habited  the  early  settlements,  the  pure  and  splendid 
virtues  of  the  pioneer  must  blaze  like  the  morning  star.  As  a sign  of  individ- 
ual royalty  a chain  of  gold  must  be  thrown  about  the  necks  of  these  heroes 
of  self  government!  It  is  to  the  man  of  common  life,  the  king  of  the 


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wilderness,  the  nobleman  of  the  log  cabin,  and  the  man  that  caught  their 
mantle,  that  the  better  history  commemorates.  The  New  History  of  Wayne 
County  is  the  history  of  men  and  women  and  children  and  their  civil  and 
political  agency  in  the  formation  of  government.  To  this  subject,  the  writer 
has  contributed  the  following  pages.  Strictly  non-partisan,  the  words 
“republican”  or  “democratic”  have  reference  to  form  of  government,  and 
not  to  parties;  and  whatever  of  party  politics  intervened  in  the  great  work  of 
the  fathers,  the  differences  but  enlarged  that  intellectual  force  necessary  for 
greater  objects.  Constantly  feeling  the  inclination  to  record  more  of  the 
names  of  the  prominent  men  that  honored  Wayne  county  by  their  patriotism 
and  ability,  the  limits  of  the  article,  and  the  probable  details  of  the  history, 
were  a restriction  to  the  more  ample  record. 

To  raise  the  inference  that  some  of  our  ideas  of  individual  independence, 
and  American  courage,  that  defies  a world  in  arms,  and  some  principles  of 
government,  may  have  been,  possibly,  influenced  by  colonial  association  with 
the  Indians  for  two  hundred  years,  and  their  defiance  of  a higher  civilization, 
and  stubborn  retreat  before  a superior  foe,  that  portion  of  the  article  on 
“Indian  Government”  is  presented.  That  the  Indian  was  a great  barbaric 
man,  intellectual,  eloquent,  and  savage,  our  early  history  illustrates. 

To  give  the  high  origin  of  the  early  settlers  of  Wayne  county,  their 
character,  their  social  purity  and  patriotism,  the  influences  that  perfected 
their  vigilance  for  free  institutions,  the  grandest  of  all  labors  that  they  per- 
formed in  government  in  the  Northwest,  the  practical  and  glorious  results 
that  have  immortalized  their  early  struggles,  and  their  example  as  followed 
by  their  descendants,  seemed  to  the  writer  an  appropriate  method  of  ampli- 
fying the  subject. 


The  civilization  of  the  new  states  of  the  Northwest,  and  the  renown 
of  the  pioneers,  are  attributable  to  a great  ancestry. 

The  highest  and  most  symmetrical  system  of  government  is  at  once 
suggested  by  even  a superficial  view  of  the  form  and  character  of  our  na- 
tional and  state  constitutions;  they  involve  the  perfection  of  intellectual  and 
moral  development  and  the  presence  of  a sublime  spirit.  All  antiquity  was 
measured  in  this  constitutional  system  to  obtain  the  finish  of  a magnificent 
monument  of  government  with  surer  foundations  and  more  scientifically  sus- 
taining arches  than  had  been  conceived  in  the  history  of  nations.  It  was 
true,  and  it  was  also  a commonplace,  and  all  Americans  knew  it,  before  it 
was  uttered  by  the  lips  of  Pitt  and  Burke,  that  all  history  might  be  searched, 
and  the  men  of  the  Revolution  were  the  learned  and  greatest  men  of  the 


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world!  It  would  be  a prolixity,  in  eulogy,  to  name  the  immortal  patriots 
that  gathered  about  the  cradle  of  liberty,  and  offered  devotion,  and  gifts  of 
rhetoric,  and  wisdom,  to  the  young  goddess  of  the  Revolution! 

There  is  not  only  symmetry  in  form,  but  logic  and  power,  in  the  ex- 
pression and  action  of  the  three  great  divisions  of  government,  federal,  state 
and  the  reserved  power  of  the  people.  The  general  poverty  and  virtue  of 
the  Revolutionary  era  was  the  frame  about  the  splendid  picture,  a picture  hung 
upon  the  heavens  for  the  world  to  look  at ! The  spirit  of  the  system  an- 
nounced the  sublime  expectation  uf  the  supreme,  commanding  force  of  popular 
action;  and  the  people,  in  the  marvelous  impulses  of  patriotic  sensibility  of 
that  era,  started  the  machinery  of  liberty. 

The  first  of  the  great  concerns  of  practical  government  was  the  unity 
of  empire.  Colonial  claims  extended  from  the  silvery  beaches  of  the  Atlantic 
to  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Elysian  fields  of  Hiawatha.  Wrestling  with  the 
jealousies  of  colonial  priority  to  obtain  these  boundless  domains  conveyed  by 
the  charters  of  the  virgin  Queen,  and  the  Charleses,  and  the  Jameses  and 
the  Georges,  was  a not  less  heroic  labor  than  the  bloody  diplomacy  of 
acquiring  the  vast  possessions  of  the  Indian  nations.  The  achievement  gave 
to  the  new  republic  the  hills,  and  the  rivers  and  the  valleys,  through  whose 
picturesque  gateway  civilization  passed  into  the  new  world  of  the  West. 

EDUCATION. 

Of  education,  the  opportunities  lay  at  the  foundation  of  the  republican 
superstructure.  The  public  gifts  of  lands  by  Congress  to  the  states  for  the 
schools,  the  dedication  of  the  interest  from  perpetual  trust  funds  arising  from 
the  sales  of  the  lands  by  the  constitutions  of  Ohio  of  1802  and  1851  attest 
the  genius  of  our  fathers.  The  old  “School  Section  Sixteen’’  is  one  of  the 
romances  of  our  western  civilization,  but  a romance  in  real  life,  for  the 
states  of  the  Union  now  expend  for  education  twice  as  much  as  Great  Britain, 
three  times  as  much  as  France,  five  times  as  much  as  Germany,  eight  times 
as  much  as  Austria,  and  ten  times  as  much  as  Italy. 

THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PURPOSE. 

Essential  to  the  preservation  of  a complex  system  of  free  government, 
the  peculiar  characteristics  of  revolutionary  purpose  were  to  build  up  political 
levels  and  achieve  the  altitudes  of  personal  life. 


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In  our  history  is  a somewhat  wonderful,  ethical  phenomena.  The  heroic 
fever  of  the  Revolution  consumed  colonial  caste,  and  the  new  man,  the  great 
commoner,  appeared.  Our  Revolution  developed  the  brotherhood  of  man. 
The  magnificent  postulate  of  the  commoners  of  the  republic  was  a political 
and  legal  equality  of  the  people;  the  eternal  philosophical  truth  of  the  great 
system  of  constitutional  liberty.  Predominant  in  the  colonies,  European 
caste  degraded  the  commonalty  by  its  haughty  glance  of  patronizing  benevo- 
lence. The  farmer,  the  laborer,  struggling  with  poverty,  unadorned  with 
imported  ornament,  unwelcome  to  the  fetes  of  the  aristocrats,  contrasted 
greatly  with  the  ruffled  shirts,  golden  shoe  buckles  and  powdered  hair, 
the  stately  processions,  the  wealth,  and  the  courtly  pomp  and  refinement  of 
the  lord  of  the  manor;  but  fashion  faded  in  the  great  solicitudes  of  indepen- 
dence and  the  revolutionist  was  born  in  the  wonderful  contrasts  of  social 
life;  and  the  tradesman,  the  merchant,  the  self-assertive  professions,  the 
school-man  of  New  England  and  of  the  South,  the  people,  arose  in  voluntary 
majesty  to  the  comprehension  of  the  value  of  man.  The  divine  purpose 
had  intercepted  the  young  surveyor  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  Washington  be- 
came the  immortal  commoner  of  every  age.  He  drew  to  his  bosom  the 
young  Hamilton,  and  Greene,  and  Knox,  and  Schuyler,  and  Morris,  and 
other  great  lieutenants,  and  the  thought  of  a continent  was  transformed. 

The  great  commoner  thought  uncommonly  in  the  philosophy  of  human 
rights.  Franklin  and  Jefferson,  Otis  and  Adams,  Henry  and  Morris;  then 
Marshall  and  Jay  and  Webster,  Wright,  Benton  and  Clay,  in  a chorus  of 
eloquence,  aroused  the  world  to  the  beauty  of  free  institutions.  The  great 
republican  commoner  is  the  hero  of  the  great  principles  of  our  Magna 
Charta;  the  Indian  chief  gazed  long  at  his  footsteps  in  the  Northwest. 

THE  CONSTITUTION. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  arises  in  a very  lofty  originality; 
above  the  King  John  charter  extorted  by,  and  for,  the  barons  on  a memorable 
day!  The  principles  of  legal  government  in  the  states  of  England  were  a 
mosaic  variety  of  common  precedents,  hut  only  in  name  a prototype  of  the 
great  system  of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  Dark  medieval 
shadows  confused  the  legal  systems  of  Briton,  Saxon  and  Norman;  nor  do 
Greece  or  Rome,  or  the  states  of  its  fallen  empire,  embellish  any  paragraph 
of  our  great  constitution.  It  stands  alone  in  original,  solitary  grandeur! 
There  is  a delicacy  of  mental  and  moral  touch  in  its  application  and  execution, 


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and  there  has  grown  around  this  popular  system  a literature  of  interpretation, 
a common  law,  created  by  the  superintending  vigilance  of  the  popular  judg- 
ment. 

Statesmanship  is  that  science  that  can  anatomize  the  intellectual  and  moral 
throbs  of  the  great  people  of  America.  Of  popular  progress,  the  Consti- 
tution was  invested  with  the  intention — Liberty  should  unseat  the  king! 
The  magnificent  face  of  men  and  women  of  American  production  should 
invoke  the  admiration  of  the  globe.  The  political  literature  of  presidents, 
and  courts,  senates  and  congresses,  the  taste,  the  dramatic  power,  was  to 
outstrip  all  traditional  civilization! 

No  human  artist  can  wield  such  a sword  of  the  spirit  as  will  dissect 
American  influence  in  the  subtle  transformations  of  the  world’s  barbaric  in- 
stincts. Without  the  presence  of  these  great  men  and  this  constitution, 
Wayne  county  would  be  a political  myth. 

THE  FOUNDERS  OF  GOVERNMENT  IN  THE  NORTHWEST. 

Scarcely  had  the  great  ordinance  of  1787  and  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  electrified  the  people  of  the  old  confederacy  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  national  life,  than  the  star  of  empire  took  its  way  to  the  north- 
western wilderness.  The  genius  of  new  states  followed  the  star,  and  there 
began  to  pour  into  the  happy  valleys  of  Ohio,  and  along  the  sandy  dunes 
of  the  northern  lakes,  the  unique  and  splendid  thinkers  of  the  revolution. 
Uprising  like  an  aurora  upon  the  summits  of  the  Alleghanies  appeared  the 
mighty  school  master,  and  the  teaching  clergyman,  the  artist,  the  surveyor, 
the  hero,  the  soldier  from  the  Indian  frontier,  the  statesman  from  the  con- 
federate congress,  the  legislator,  the  constitution  maker,  the  physician,  the 
lawyer,  the  laborer;  and  likewise  there  came  the  mother  of  heroic  offspring; 
all  cutting  their  way  through  roadless  forests,  rafting  the  streams,  and  fixing 
their  tents  in  nature’s  solitude.  Not  only  of  men  and  women, — it  was  the  im- 
migration of  principles,  the  spiritual  light  of  a new  empire  was  marching 
with  them,  and  the  great  flashing  eye  of  civilization  confronted  the  savage 
and  drove  him  back  among  the  shadows  of  the  forest.  Forms  of  govern- 
ment began  to  methodize  the  inorganic  state;  religion,  too,  spread  her  divine 
wings  over  the  solitude  and  intoned  her  songs  with  the  birds  of  the  woods; 
an  exceptional  race  was  seen  whose  intellectual  face  and  beaming  eyes  soon 
mingled  their  illumination  with  the  brilliant  scenes  of  the  northwestern 
morning!  The  beautiful  face  of  the  American,  the  inviolability  of  virtue, 
were  commencing  their  enchantment,  but  amidst  the  indescribable  dangers 


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that  lurked  in  savage  life.  The  Revolutionary  war  had  not  ceased,  but  con- 
tinued in  dangerous  hostility  for  nearly  thirty  years.  Obliged  by  the  treaty 
of  1783  to  deliver  up  the  western  posts,  Great  Britain,  under  pretext  of 
American  violation  of  the  treaty,  had  refused,  and  had  British  troops  still 
in  the  posts  in  1812;  its  Indian  allies  were  incited  to  deeds  of  blood;  canoes 
of  savages  were  on  the  rivers;  Indians  traversed  the  county;  their  wigwams 
were  in  the  woods;  predatory  bands  murdered  the  inhabitants;  Tecumseh 
had  organized  the  Indian  nations;  battles  were  fought;  Indian  revenge  glutted 
its  savagery  as  it  slowly  retreated;  Indian  titles  were  purchased,  and  safety 
secured  for  our  people  only  long  after  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain 
in  1815,  and  after  British  power  was  extinguished  at  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans.  Attracted  to  the  territory  of  the  Northwest,  as  the  gift  of  Virginia 
to  the  general  government,  many  of  the  early  settlers  of  Wayne  county  were 
from  that  noble  state,  possessed  of  the  sublime  composure,  determined  will 
and  personal  courage  that  were  a part  of  the  education  of  the  southern  man 
and  woman,  and  in  the  danger  about  their  new  homes,  and  in  the  war  of 
1812,  this  southern  manhood  and  womanhood  fearlessly  met  and  conquered, 
not  for  a day,  but  for  years,  the  difficulties  of  primeval  nature.  From 
Maryland  were  many  others,  and  from  every  eastern  and  middle  state  came 
the  founders  of  government.  Amidst  this  splendid  noontide  of  Wayne 
county,  now  embellished  by  art  and  education,  we  can  truly  behold  the  great 
men  and  women  and  the  great  crisis  of  1796.  A future  of  prophecy  ! The 
revelation  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  brooding  over  the 
wilderness  ; only  probabilities,  and  the  visionary  beauty  of  the  manhood  and 
womanhood  of  the  West,  was  in  its  embrace.  Angels  were  fluttering  among 
the  trees ! Study  has  been  given  to  these  great  men ! 

Noted  in  Roman  history  is  Myron’s  celebrated  statue  of  the  heifer,  as 
being  so  fine  a manifestation  of  sculpture  that  the  butchers  of  the  stalls  about 
the  Forum  had  difficulty  in  preventing  their  cattle  from  circling  around  and 
around  the  statue,  to  catch  her  marbled  breath  and  the  lambent  light  of  her 
crystalline  eye.  So  the  impulses  of  the  writer  upon  a higher  plane  and  to  a 
nobler  object,  circle  around  and  around  these  statues  of  the  pioneers  that 
history  has  sculptured  into  divine  expression. 

That  the  ancients  made  demigods  of  their  heroes;  that  the  Chinese 
worship  their  ancestors:  that  the  Roman  soldier  was  the  conqueror  of  the 
world,  bearing  the  urn  that  contained  the  ashes  of  his  father, — is  it  a wonder? 
The  superstition  of  loving  our  fathers  is  an  hereditary  virtue.  Interpreta- 
tion of  fine  principles  and  heroic  deeds,  is  character.  Of  our  heritage,  the 
sublimest  possession  is  the  character  of  the  pioneers  of  government.  Liberty 


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was  then  only  a beautiful  song,  an  ecstacy,  a hope,  an  ideal  goddess,  an  eagle 
upon  her  hand  with  wings  of  gold;  our  ancestors  threw  the  stars  about  her 
divine  form.  The  lion  slumbering  in  the  revolutionary  heart  was  ready  to 
spring  upon  the  world.  He  might  have  had  his  huge  limbs  and  lofty  head 
bound  down  by  the  multiplied  webs  of  ancient  systems;  our  powers  might 
have  become  atrophied  by  disuse;  they  *were  made  glorious.  It  was  a 
magnificent  drama  of  an  early  world! 

On  occasion  of  a pioneer  picnic  several  years  ago,  at  Highland  park, 
my  remarks  were  directed  to  the  subject  of  the  “Pioneer  Mothers,”  and  the 
gratification  of  the  audience  was  a eulogy  upon  that  noble  character  of  the 
early  founders  of  our  institutions.  Hopeful,  patient,  alert,  prophetic,  using 
the  rifle,  fearless,  largely  anxious  in  daily  ministrations,  fierce  as  a female 
lion  over  her  young,  the  pioneer  mother  was  advancing  civilization,  and 
erecting  that  imperishable  monument  that  will  never  cease  to  proclaim  the 
virtue  and  glory  of  our  country ! 

Such  was  the  sublime  character  of  the  founders  of  the  first  of  new 
states;  a new  nation  covered  with  wounds,  and  pulsating  with  the  blood  of 
liberty  behind  them;  an  uncreated  empire  of  untold  magnificence  before 
them.  With  prudent  and  reflective  energy  we  commenced  our  great  career. 
It  was  a "watchful  and  wary  ingress  into  dangers  and  savage  life:  the  meas- 
ured and  steady  progress  of  law,  amidst  the  claws  of  the  bear  and  the  jealous 
tomahawk  of  the  Indian. 

No  settlement  had  been  made  in  this  new  domain  until  April,  1788,  when 
forty-six  immigrants  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum  river.  No 
constituted  authority  being  there,  Return  Jonathan  Meigs  drew  up  a code 
of  rules,  on  a sheet  of  foolscap,  and  tacked  them  to  a large  oak  tree.  Fol- 
lowing up  the  Muskingum  and  its  tributaries,  immigration  made  settle- 
ments towards  the  north:  but  it  was  not  until  1806  that  William  Larwill, 
and  in  1807  Joseph  and  John  Larwill.  his  brothers,  settled  in  Wayne  county, 
John  Bever  being  then  engaged  in  surveying  the  sections  of  the  county.  The 
interminable  exodus  from  the  East  then  flowed,  and  formed  the  great  popula- 
tion of  the  Northwest ! 

The  interesting  and  significant  fact  is  that  law  was  tacked  up  on  an 
oak!  It  was  to  be  an  empire  of  law! 

INDIAN  GOVERNMENT. 

With  nations  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  undefined  territory  of  the  old 
colonies,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  became  a comprehensive 
menace  to  aboriginal  government.  As  a very  ancient  people  they  met  Colum- 


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bus  in  the  South;  they  gazed  with  imperturbable  interest  on  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers!  The  tides  of  the  Atlantic,  and  Pacific,  the  raging  overflow  of  the 
great  rivers,  invaded  their  wigwams  in  every  part  of  North  America;  and 
it  is  a favorite  impression  of  the  writer  that  they  had  a system  of  govern- 
ment. To  the  nationalities  that  the  Romans  found  in  Gaul,  several  centuries 
before  the  Christian  era,  the  aborigines  of  America  bear  resemblance.  Formed 
of  families  were  tribes,  and  of  these  the  nation,  and  of  the  masses  of  the 
tribes  and  of  the  chieftains  the  general  assembly  was  formed.  Of  self-govern- 
ment the  Indian  system  was  conspicuous.  Recognizing  the  inter-Indian  obliga- 
tions, but  without  permanent  confederation,  the  Indian  nations  stood,  solitary 
and  alone,  without  international  relations,  in  military  dictatorship  without  the 
laws  of  war,  and  confronted  by  modern  systems  of  civilization  which  they  re- 
jected in  time  of  peace.  To  the  world  they  were  mere  Arabs  in  an  American 
wilderness.  But  they  had  a local  government.  The  chiefs  of  the  tribes 
were  selected  by  the  tribes,  and  of  the  nations  by  the  tribes,  and,  as  of  all 
other  nations,  the  most  celebrated  for  their  courage,  endurance  and  intelli- 
gence were  elevated  to  the  position  of  leaders,  and  they  were  as  absolute 
military  dictators  as  are  known  in  every  regular  army.  Divided  into  dif- 
ferent nations,  war  was  common  among  them  and  with  the  different  European 
powers  who  contested  territorial  rights  in  the  colonial  period,  and  with  the 
United  States.  Treaties  and  alliances  among  themselves  and  wjth  the  French, 
the  British  and  Americans  were  frequent  in  the  various  contests  of  inter- 
national policy,  and  in  our  Northwest,  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  their 
great  leader,  Tecumseh,  illustrated  the  union  of  Indian  nations  with  the 
British.  To  have  no  permanent  federal  center,  or  capital,  was  incident  to 
the  Indian  claims  of  vast  possessions,  and  to  the  tribal  excursions  to  the 
distant  limits  of  their  territory,  apparently  to  maintain  their  possessory 
right  to  their  hereditary  domains.  In  all  their  negotiations  for  the  sale  of 
their  lands,  the  terms  and  conditions,  and  their  policy,  were  first  considered 
and  voted  on  by  the  Indian  nations,  and  their  leaders  were  selected  and  in- 
structed as  plenipotentiaries  in  national  form,  to  the  meetings  with  American 
national  commissioners.  To  call  the  attention  of  the  government  to  a vio- 
lation of  treaties,  frequent  embassies  of  the  dignified  denizens  of  the  forest 
appeared  at  Washington,  and  their  accomplishments  excited  the  wonder  of 
our  national  authorities. 

The  strict  observance  of  the  marriage  vow  among  the  Indians  was  a 
family  virtue.  Their  religion  was  a direct  relation  to  the  Great  Spirit  whom 
they  worshipped.  They  believed  in  the  future  life.  Their  medicine  man 
was  their  priest,  and  he  invoked  the  divine  healing  power  to  cure  disease. 


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The  antiquity  of  this  belief,  and  the  Indian  idea  of  the  inferiority  of  the 
female,  give  probability  to  the  supposition  of  his  descent  from  some  ancient 
race  of  people;  as  do  also  the  agricultural  department  of  Indian  life,  which, 
together  with  the  common  drudgery  of  the  family,  was  conducted  by  the 
female.  The  disinclination  of  the  Indian  to  any  labor  except  hunting  and 
fishing  and  war,  his  frequent  change  of  location,  his  habits  of  cruelty,  classed 
him  as  a relic  of  barbarism.  With  much  like  the  ceremony  of  knighthood, 
in  the  Middle  ages,  the  youthful  Indian  was  equipped  as  a warrior.  De- 
based by  ignoble  passions,  yet  in  bravery,  in  resenting  a supposed  wrong,  in 
his  slow  retreat  before  superior  forces,  the  Indian  was  possessed  of  the  ele- 
ment of  chivalry,  and  stands  as  a proud,  self-governing,  revengeful  bar- 
barian; and  as  *we  see  him  pictured,  he  is  the  most  skillful,  graceful  and 
splendid  horseman  upon  the  American  prairies.  In  vanity  of  ornament  of 
himself  and  horse,  he  might  well  have  been  ranked  as  a knight  of  the  Cru- 
sades, or  that  composite  being  of  horse  and  man  that  surprised  the  Mexican 
on  the  invasion  of  Cortez! 

Indolent  in  time  of  peace;  painting  the  body,  wearing  the  skins  of 
animals,  expert  in  the  movements  of  infantry  and  cavalry  in  time  of  war, 
with  the  warwhoop  to  encourage  the  attack;  with  weird  songs  and  crude 
poetry,  their  only  records;  these  the  editors  of  Tacitus  continually  compare  with 
the  early  Gaul.  The  tomahawk  was  a Gaulish  weapon.  Marius,  in  his 
great  battles  with  the  Cimbri,  fought  the  same  race  that  were  destroyed  by 
Harrison  and  Wayne  in  this  great  Northwest.  Government  of  the  Indian 
respected  right  of  property  and  person,  punished  crimes,  and  promoted  peace 
if  not  attacked  in  person  or  property.  The  high  physical  development  of 
the  Indian,  his  Roman  nose  and  high  cheek  bones  were  Gaulish,  and  in 
the  Persian,  the  Indian  may  trace  his  ancestry.  The  vast  territory  of  the 
Northwest  was  claimed  by  the  Indian  as  his  heritage,  and  the  international 
law  of  title  by  discovery  and  prescription  was  as  ably  reasoned  by  the  Indian 
orators  as  by  the  supposed  more  civilized  usurpers  of  Europe.  Before  our 
fathers,  some  Indian  tribes  had  been  settled  for  fifty  years  in  what  is  now 
the  state  of  Ohio;  and,  with  a remarkable  humanity,  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  provided  in  the  ordinance  of  1787  that  “the  utmost  good  faith 
shall  always  be  observed  towards  the  Indians ; their  lands  and  property  shall 
never  be  taken  from  them  without  their  consent.”  The  United  States  ob- 
tained possession  of  their  lands  on  the  Muskingum  river  as  early  as  1795, 
and  between  1784  and  1805  some  five  treaties  were  made  between  the  United 
States  and  various  tribes  of  Indians,  quieting  their  title  to  certain  lands  in 


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the  Northwest,  which  the  government  afterwards  purchased,  and  in  1842 
the  last  possession  of  the  Indians  terminated  in  Ohio. 

The  most  dramatic  and  picturesque  scenes  ever  witnessed  were  the  oc- 
casions of  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Indian  chiefs,  to  define  boundaries  and  purchase  Indian  lands.  Treaties  at 
Fort  Stanwix  in  1784;  at  Fort  McIntosh  in  1785;  at  Fort  Finney  in  1786; 
at  Fort  Harmar  in  1789;  at  Greenville  in  1795;  at  Fort  Industry  in  1805, 
with  many  able  representatives  of  the  government,  including  General  St. 
Clair  and  General  Wayne,  and  with  the  chiefs  of  eleven  of  the  most  power- 
ful tribes  of  Indians  of  the  Northwest,  were  as  brilliantly  conducted  as  the 
modern  meetings  of  the  peace  congress,  amidst  the  splendid  architecture  and 
display  of  the  capital  of  the  Netherlands! 

The  more  magnificent  palaces  of  the  stately  oaks,  the  rivers  sparkling, 
nature's  parks  of  'wild  animals  gathering  about  in  the  shadows;  the  con- 
certs of  the  birds,  the  native  dignity  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  with  that  silent 
gravity  that  told  of  the  approaching  migration  to  distant  lands;  their  splendid 
dress  of  doe  skin,  its  fringes  musical  with  the  claws  of  the  bear  and  with 
the  teeth  of  the  wolf,  and  above  that  sombre  and  silent  face,  that  had  been 
bronzed  in  yellow  by  the  Master  Hand  of  untold  centuries,  ’were  waving 
plumes,  that  proclaimed  the  majesty  of  nature  and  native  art,  the  exalted 
denizen,  whose  warwhoop  answered  the  victorious  scream  of  the  eagle,  whose 
feathers  adorned  him, — the  tall,  ornamented  and  thoughtful  negotiator! 

To  intensify  these  great  occasions  was  the  presence  of  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  in  the  continental  dress  of  one  of  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution  and  but  lately  conqueror  of  the  Indians  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
Defiance,  the  immortal  Major-Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  and  this  great  man 
gazed  calmly  into  the  eyes  of  Corn  Planter,  and  Red  Jacket,  and  Little  Turtle, 
and  they  yielded  to  inevitable  destiny;  and  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  ac- 
complished by  General  Wayne,  peace  was  established  and  the  lands  of  the 
Northwest  obtained  for  the  population  of  the  new  states. 

For  negotiating  treaties,  for  intellectual  acumen,  for  embellished  oratory, 
the  Indian  representatives  ranked  among  the  classical  speakers  of  antiquity; 
but  in  his  fine  and  majestic  appearance  there  was  a decadent  chivalry,  and 
an  undertone  that  we  hear  in  the  plaintive  cry  of  the  whippoorwill.  How- 
ever, he  was  wise  in  selling  cheaply  a doubtful  title,  and  in  reserving,  as  it 
appeared  to  him,  his  still  independent  and  proud  seclusion  among  the  ma- 
jestic scenery  of  another  west. 

Coursing  through  Wayne  county  were  many  trails  of  this  nervous  and 
uneasy  race,  traveling  to  and  fro  from  east  to  west,  and  west  to  east,  in 


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fragmentary  'weakness;  with  a village  for  a period  near  the  junction  of  Buck- 
eye and  Madison  streets,  they  were  in  amity  with  the  early  settlers,  and  dis- 
appeared in  the  progressive  pressure  of  irresistible  immigration.  Their  path- 
way was  marked  by  the  spasmodic  desolation  of  revenge,  largely  incited  by 
a British  administration  and  emulated  by  a British  soldiery.  To  their  natural 
passions,  inflamed  by  the  desperation  of  inferior  resistance,  were  added  the 
European  and  Asiatic  methods  of  extermination,  of  which  history  grows 
atrocious  in  the  civil  wars  across  the  oceans.  Of  notice  of  danger  to  the 
pioneers  from  Indian  attack,  there  were  many  magnanimous  examples  of 
Indian  friendship.  At  that  day  the  atmosphere  of  political  life  was  burdened 
with  the  sighs  of  the  Spanish  inquisition,  or  the  slavery,  mutilation  and 
murder  of  prisoners  of  war.  Massacres  of  Wyoming,  or  of  St.  Clair’s  de- 
feat, scarcely  equalled  the  bloody  dignity  of  the  slaughter  in  the  Nether- 
lands. or  in  the  civil  wars  of  England.  Now  but  a reminiscence,  many  of 
the  principles  of  Indian  justice  and  equity  insensibly  became  an  element  in 
the  common  law  of  our  great  Northwest. 

The  philosophy  of  the  Indian  sensibilities  developed  a rare  exhibition 
on  the  great  stage  of  nature;  the  love  of  home,  of  territorial  supremacy,  of 
the  picturesque  hills,  of  the  perspective  valleys,  and  of  their  amphitheatres  of 
forest  and  flower,  of  color  and  odor,  of  wild  animal  and  ambuscade,  gave  to 
the  Indian  the  highest  action  of  the  sensibilities,  and  the  imminency  of  their 
loss,  by  the  inevitable  approach  of  the  immigrant,  aroused  a passion  that 
clothed  many  of  the  beautiful  scenes  of  the  West  with  the  skeletons  of  the 
Indian  and  of  the  victims  of  Indian  atrocity.  His  existence,  and  national 
life,  and  primitive  government,  are  but  a tragic  romance  in  civil  and  political 
life;  an  unique  curiosity  in  the  history  of  nations. 

One  of  the  greatest  novelties  in  all  history  is  the  Indian  in  America! 
And  among  the  early  settlers  of  Wayne  county!  Of  his  characteristics,  his 
insatiate  cruelty  ranked  him  with  the  early  and  bloody  struggles  of  the  human 
race ; his  cruelties  in  the  Revolution  have  no  sanction  in  the  laws  of  modern 
warfare,  and  his  evil  passions  had  the  fixed  habit  of  inhuman  and  merciless 
revenge.  Against  the  invader  he  was  a monster,  with  a high  development 
of  intellectual  power.  Of  George  III,  of  Lord  North,  and  of  the  British 
Parliament,  the  Indian  was  the  bloody  instrument;  associated,  too,  with  the 
Hessian,  'whose  rivalry  in  cruelty,  and  its  British  instigation,  confound  the 
thought  of  several  centuries  of  moral  progress.  Of  the  disordered  sensi- 
bilities of  several  thousand  years,  the  savagery  of  the  Indian  is  an  evolution. 
The  humanity  with  which  he  was  considered  in  the  ordinance  of  1787,  and 
in  his  association  with  the  pioneers,  is  a pleasant  reflection;  and  in  our  love 


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cf  free  government  the  history  of  ideas  might  find  some  political  assimila- 
tion in  two  hundred  years  of  colonial  and  Indian  association;  our  love  of 
liberty  may  insensibly  be  the  partial  reflection  of  that  proud  and  life-sacri- 
ficing passion  of  independence  that  accompanied  this  native  American  into 
the  shadows  of  the  setting  sun! 

ORGANIZED  GOVERNMENT  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

Divided  by  the  ordinance  of  1787  into  three  great  territorial  divisions, 
Hamilton,  Washington  and  Wayne,  the  great  dominion  of  the  latter  em- 
braced northern  and  northwestern  Ohio,  including  the  territory  of  which  was 
formed  the  states  of  Michigan  and  Indiana  and  parts  of  Illinois  and  Wis- 
consin ; and,  but  for  the  crack  of  the  rifle  of  a few  daring  white  men,  and  the 
warwhoop  of  the  Indian,  it  was  an  empire  of  silence.  Aboriginal  government, 
the  tribe  and  its  chief,  alone  disturbed  the  solitude.  The  eagle’s  feather  was 
the  only  emblem  of  sovereignty ; conscience  the  only  lawgiver  of  the  pioneer, 
and  it  was  the  spirit  of  the  great  ordinance.  It  was  then  true,  as  Aristotle 
said  over  two  thousand  years  ago,  that  “It  is  better  for  a city  to  be  governed 
by  a good  man,  than  by  good  laws.”  The  peaceable  acquisition  of  ter- 
ritory, founded  upon  the  recognition  of  Indian  nationality  and  the  equity  of 
possession, — an  acquisition  that  disclaimed  the  old  world  doctrine  of  title  by 
discovery  or  conquest, — established  the  new  political  organism  upon  the 
foundations  of  righteousness,  and  a government  of  good  men  began  to  appear 
in  the  wilderness. 

1.  The  government  of  a territorial  Council  in  1788. 

2.  The  government  of  a territorial  Legislature  in  1799. 

3.  The  government  of  the  state  in  1802. 

As  a policy  of  necessity  from  sparseness  of  population,  until  1799  the 
elective  franchise  was  held  in  abeyance. 

THE  TERRITORIAL  COUNCIL. 

With  the  government  of  a Territorial  Council  in  1788,  composed  of 
Arthur  St.  Clair  as  governor,  Winthrop  Sargent  as  secretary,  and  Samuel 
H.  Parsons,  Mitchell  Varnum  and  Return  Jonathan  Meigs  as  judges,  all 
prominent  men  of  the  Revolution,  meeting  at  Marietta,  organized  political 
energy  began  a memorable  career.  Laws  were  to  be  adopted  by  the  gov- 
ernor and  judges.  To  reside  in  the  district  and  be  possessed  of  one  thousand 
acres  of  land  were  the  qualifications  of  the  governor.  To  have  five  hundred 


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acres  of  land  was  required  of  the  judges.  They  were  to  have  common  law 
jurisdiction.  All  county  and  township  officers  were  to  be  appointed  by  the 
governor.  Freedom  of  religious  worship,  and  the  encouragement  of  schools, 
and  good  faith  toward  the  Indians  were  guaranteed  by  the  great  ordinance. 
Habeas  corpus,  trial  by  jury,  representation,  to  give  bail,  judicial  proceed- 
ings according  to  the  common  law,  were  cardinal  doctrines  of  the  congres- 
sional charter.  Confined  to  the  laws  of  the  original  states,  the  council  at  its 
first  session  adopted  laws  establishing  a militia,  courts,  sheriffs,  a court 
of  probate,  defining  crimes,  regulating  marriages,  creating  the  office  of  cor- 
oner, and  acts  of  limitation.  After  ten  years,  with  changes  of  judges,  and  many 
additional  laws,  now  of  common  knowledge,  the  period  arrived  in  1798  when 
the  territory  contained  five  thousand  free  male  inhabitants,  and  a territorial 
Legislature  was  to  be  elected  by  the  people. 

THE  TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. 

The  Governor  issued  his  proclamaion  for  the  election  of  a General  As- 
sembly to  meet  at  Cincinnati,  in  February,  1799.  The  General  Assembly 
consisted  of  a House  of  Representatives,  and  a Legislative  Council  of  five 
members,  to  be  appointed  by  the  President,  out  of  ten  names  selected  by 
the  House,  and  met  in  Cincinnati  in  September,  1799.  Not  organized  by 
the  territorial  government  until  1796,  Wayne  county  did  not  participate  in 
the  organic  advantages  of  the  council;  but  in  1798  was  represented  in  the 
General  Assembly  by  Charles  F.  Chobert  De  Joncaire,  Solomon  Sibley  and 
Jacob  Viscar,  all  of  Detroit;  and  this  Legislature  elected  William  Henry  Har- 
rison the  delegate  to  Congress  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  Chillicothe  in  1800 
and  again  adjourned  to  1801-2,  and  again  adjourned  until  November,  1802, 
but  never  meeting,  as  in  April,  1802,  Congress  authorized  certain  portions 
of  the  Northwest  to  form  a state  government. 

THE  EARLY  LAWS. 

Commencing  in  1788  to  legislate,  the  early  councils  and  territorial 
legislatures  found  the  necessary  legal  examples  in  the  states  of  Pennsylvania, 
Massachusetts  and  Virginia,  the  homes  from  which  in  the  main  they  had 
made  the  great  exodus  into  the  wilderness  of  the  Northwest.  From  these 
ample  sources  a comprehensive  body  of  laws  were  adopted,  such  as  regulating 
the  militia,  establishing  courts,  for  the  appointment  of  sheriffs,  respecting 
crimes,  marriages,  the  office  of  coroner,  limitation  of  times  for  civil  and 


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criminal  actions,  as  to  the  sale  of  liquor  to  Indians  and  soldiers,  suppressing 
gambling,  for  dividing  the  counties  into  townships,  and  for  the  appointment 
of  constables,  overseers  of  the  poor  and  township  clerks,  to  create  the  office 
of  clerk  of  the  Legislature,  making  the  records  of  the  courts  of  the  United 
States  evidence,  as  to  enclosures  of  ground,  granting  licenses  to  merchants, 
traders  and  tavern  keepers,  creating  the  office  of  treasurer-general  and  county 
treasurers,  and  as  to  the  manner  of  raising  money,  as  to  highways,  public 
buildings,  prisons,  strays,  admission  of  attorneys,  guardians,  procedure  in 
civil  cases,  and  as  to  fees  of  public  officers. 

To  the  common  law  of  Great  Britain  was  added  legislation  defining  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  courts  and  officers  to  execute  process,  providing  for  tax- 
ation and  a treasurer-general,  and  county  treasurer;  organizing  the  militia; 
providing  for  marriage  and  divorce;  defining  crime  and  criminal  and  civil 
procedure;  providing  for  highways,  for  the  poor,  for  the  creation  of  town- 
ships and  counties,  and  such  other  legislation  as  was  in  the  older  states ; for 
conveyance  of  real  estate;  for  the  settlement  of  estates,  and  other  probate 
jurisdiction;  for  public  buildings,  and  protection  of  the  right  of  property  and 
persons,  until,  when  the  constitution  of  1802  was  adopted,  there  existed  a 
body  of  laws  of  which  the  present  voluminous  statutes  are  the  evolution  and 
amplification  of  the  exigencies  of  a growing  commonwealth.  Of  consummate 
wisdom  and  foresight,  the  structure  of  the  new  states  Was  a magnificent  ex- 
ception in  all  the  history  of  government! 

That  the  early  legislators  were  industriously  establishing  a government 
of  the  people,  the  acts  of  the  council  and  territorial  Legislature  above  are 
noted  as  evidences  of  the  popular  sovereignty  of  the  times.  More  con- 
clusive evidence  of  the  sovereignty  of  the  people  arose  between  the  Legis- 
lature and  Governor  St.  Clair  in  1800  in  the  denial  of  his  right  to  exercise  the 
veto  power,  and  to  lay  out  and  change  the  boundaries  of  counties,  under  the 
ordinance  of  1787.  The  contest  grew  more  and  more  determined  and  much 
legislation  was  rendered  useless.  The  Governor  was  afterwards  condemned 
by.  Congress,  and  the  people  were  confirmed  in  their  resistance  to  the  un- 
constitutional attempt  of  the  Governor  to  interfere  with  the  popular  right. 

Of  this  disagreement  the  memory  may  have  remained,  and  it  may  ac- 
count for  the  absence  of  the  veto  power  in  the  constitutions  of  1802  and 
1851. 

THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  l802. 

Reducing  the  great  county  of  Wayne  in  the  year  1800,  the  territory 
constituting  the  state  of  Indiana  was  organized  with  a separate  territorial 
government.  The  territorial  Legislature  not  having  met  in  1802,  owing  to 


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the  act  of  Congress  authorizing  the  eastern  section  of  the  Northwest  to 
form  a state,  in  October,  1802,  an  election  was  held  for  members  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  which  met  at  Chillicothe  in  November,  1802,  and 
adopted  a state  constitution,  and  the  state  of  Ohio  was  recognized  by  Con- 
gress as  a state  of  the  Union,  in  February,  1803.  Its  first  General  Assembly 
met  in  March,  1803.  A supplementary  act  of  Congress  of  March,  1803, 
made  a munificent  provision  of  tracts  of  land,  for  the  use  of  schools  and 
for  making  roads  within  the  state,  limited  to  certain  territory  of  the  three 
divisions,  by  general  bearings.  Wayne  county  was  diminished  by  so  much 
of  the  original  limits  as  embraced  any  portion  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin 
and  Michigan,  and  was  not*  approximately  bounded  until  the  year  1808,  and 
controversies  arising  as  to  the  western  and  northwestern  boundaries  of  the 
new  state.  Congress  ordered  a survey  of  these  boundaries  by  act  of  May 
20,  1812,  and  in  the  same  year  Wayne  county  was  organized  under  the  state 
government,  with  Wooster  as  the  county  seat.  To  the  delays  incident  to 
the  uncertain  boundaries  and  surveys,  Wayne  county  was  not  represented 
in  the  constitutional  convention  of  1802,  nor  in  the  state  Legislature  until 
1815.  In  the  constitutional  convention  of  1851  the  county  was  represented 
by  John  Larwill,  Leander  Firestone  and  E.  Wilson;  and  in  that  of  1872  by 
John  K.  McBride. 

Our  fathers  were  the  careful  architects  of  the  first  new  state  of  the 
LViion.  Slavery  existed  in  all  the  thirteen  states,  except  in  the  states  of 
Massachusetts  and  Maine,  and  was,  as  the  ordinance  of  1787  would  indicate, 
in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction;  the  descent  of  estates  was  especially 
provided  for  in  the  great  charters  of  1787,  adverse  to  the  English  system, 
and  the  ordinance  especially  restricted  all  laws  to  be  made  for  the  North- 
west territory  to  the  policy  of  the  laws  of  the  older  states,  and  carefully  pre- 
served the  right  of  suffrage  and  self-government,  the  veto  of  the  governor, 
freedom  of  religious  sentiment  and  worship,  the  encouragement  of  schools 
and  means  of  education,  and  a republican  form  of  government. 

THE  ELECTIVE  FRANCHISE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  1802. 

The  elective  franchise  was  an  important  question,  both  in  the  territorial 
condition  of  the  government  of  the  Northwest  and  in  framing  the  consti- 
tution of  1802.  The  restrictions  on  the  right  to  vote  were  varied  in  the 
different  states,  but  our  first  constitution  provided:  To  have  been  in  the 

state  one  year,  and  to  have  lalxjred  on  the  roads,  and  to  be  a white  male 
person  above  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  were  the  qualifications  of  a voter 


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The  right  of  suffrage  to  the  negro  and,  his  descendants  was  decided  ad* 
versely,  as  well  as  his  right  to  hold  office.  And  while  the  right  of  suffrage 
was  broad,  by  a strange  perversity  of  principle,  the  exercise  of  it  was  lim- 
ited. It  was  a political  phenomenon.  While  this  first  constitution  of  the 
state  provided  for  the  election  of  senators  and  representatives  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  state,  for  governor,  for  sheriff  and  for  coroner,  and  for  all 
town  and  township  officers  ; the  secretary  of  state,  state  treasurer  and  state 
auditor,  the  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  consisting  of  a president 
and  associate  judges,  \vith  probate  jurisdiction,  and  the  judges  of  the  supreme 
court,  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  joint  ballot  of  the  General  Assembly;  and 
the  clerks  of  the  court  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  respective  courts.  No 
constitutional  provision  being  made  for  county  recorder,  auditor,  treasurer, 
prosecuting  attorney,  or  commissioners,  or  surveyor,  they  were  afterward 
elected  by  provision  of  the  Legislature  as  authorized  by  the  constitution.  The 
resolution  to  submit  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1802  to  the  people 
was  defeated  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote  (twenty-seven  to  seven)  and  the 
constitution  was  put  into  operation  by  the  delegates  to  the  convention;  and  it 
was  provided  that  after  the  year  1806  another  constitutional  convention 
might  be  held.  As  delegates  to  this  convention,  were  many  leading  men 
both  then  and  in  after  years ; they  were  patriots.  Of  the  reasons  that  operated 
to  adopt  the  appointive  system  as  to  some  of  the  state  and  county  officers,  we 
can,  perhaps,  only  surmise  that  impressions  prevailed,  especially  as  to  the 
courts,  that  created  the  judiciary  system  of  the  general  government.  On  the 
frontier,  harassed  by  Indians  in  the  depredations  incident  to  the  war  of  1812, 
and  the  war  itself,  busy  to  live,  our  pioneers  held  no  convention  after  the 
year  1806,  but  the  survivors  of  them,  and  the  generation  younger  than 
them,  conscious  of  the  blot  of  the  appointive  system  on  the  principle  of  self- 
government,  in  the  constitution  of  1851  restored  a complete  elect- 
ive system  to  the  state.  Illustrating  the  popular  prudence  in 
changing  the  fundamental  law,  the  people  refused  the  constitution  of  1872, 
and  for  a period  of  one  hundred  and  six  years,  since  1802,  excepting  some 
amendments  changing  the  time  and  method  of  voting,  and  creating  the  circuit 
court,  and  enlarging  the  supreme  court,  have  adhered  to  the  first  consti- 
tution for  fifty  years,  and  to  the  second  for  sixty. 

Kxercising  a distinguished  influence  on  this  and  similar  great  ques- 
tions, the  names  of  many  of  the  ablest  men  of  Ohio,  and  of  Wayne  countv, 
could  be  given  to  ornament  these  pages. 

In  the  practical  application  of  the  great  principles  of  government,  it  is 
not  extravagant  to  say  that  our  fathers  outranked  all  the  legislators  of  the 
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world.  They  were  educated  and  heroic;  lovers  of  liberty.  They  were  stu- 
dents of  government,  fearless,  grand  and  incorruptible.  Wayne  county  soon 
became  pre-eminent  among  the  counties  of  the  new  state. 

Republican  government  of  the  state  can  only  be  expressed  in  the  legal 
terms  of  county  organization,  and  the  county  organization  in  the  legal  terms 
of  city,  town  and  township  government,  and  these  in  the  primary  legal  terms 
of  the  power  of  the  people.  The  state  and  county  are  but  ministerial  agencies ; 
the  General  Assembly,  the  supreme  and  inferior  courts  are  constituent  pow- 
ers delegated  by  the  people.  That  the  federal  and  state  governments  ascend 
from  the  people,  and  no  power  descends  from  the  federal  and  state  govern- 
ments, both  the  federal  and  state  constitutions  expressly  declare.  But  the 
system  is  inviolable  as  an  organism,  and  is  absolute  law.  Not  only  in  pass- 
ing laws,  but  in  judicial  proceedings,  the  Athenian  populace  voted  by  up- 
lifted hand ; and  in  the  wards  of  the  city  of  Rome  the  people  voted  by  white 
and  black  beans.  The  senate  of  Rome  were  often  rebuked  by  the  popular 
will.  By  the  usurpation  by  the  emperors  of  the  popular  power,  Rome  fell, 
and  Athens  before  the  combinations  of  Philip. 

That  the  civil  and  political  history  of  Wayne  county  may  be  truly  ob- 
served, we  must  look  to  the  city,  the  townships  and  towns  in  which  original 
and  initial  force  always  has  prevailed. 

THE  CITY  OF  WOOSTER. 

The  first  election  for  city  officers  after  incorporation  was  in  March. 
1818.  consisting  of  a president  and  five  trustees,  and  the  board  appointed  a 
marshal,  treasurer  and  collector.  By-laws  were  drafted  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  board,  and  ordinances  passed  for  the  government  of  the  city. 
Wooster,  as  early  as  1814,  was  called  the  Athens  of  northern  Ohio.  It  is 
believed  by  the  writer  that  Wayne  county,  and  Wooster,  the  county  seat,  and 
the  territory  known  as  the  backbone  of  Ohio,  had  more  able  and  educated 
men  at  that  early  day  than  any  locality  of  the  Northwest.  Beall,  Sloane, 
Spink,  William,  Joseph  H.  and  John  Larwill,  Henry,  Bever,  the  Joneses,  the 
Robinsons,  Stibses,  Quinbys,  McConahays,  Cox.  Avery,  Sprague,  Christmas, 
Howards,  Clingen,  Dean,  Lakes,  Bissells,  Tottens,  and  a much  larger  list  of* 
equally  large  men  are  remembered.  Mather,  a graduate  of  Yale,  was  the 
first  teacher.  Surveyors,  physicians,  lawyers,  farmers,  educated  builders  of 
state,  and  mothers,  wives,  daughters,  bright  as  the  stars  themselves,  were 
the  heralds  of  the  splendors  of  the  future  city  and  county  and  the  founders 
of  free  institutions.  Of  the  first  action  of  the  citv  officers  as  far  back  as 


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1812,  having  occasion  to  examine  the  records,  I find  their  meetings  conducted 
in  full  compliance  with  Jefferson’s  manual,  and  the  legal  form  and  character 
of  ordinances  would  be  approved  by  any  court.  For  more  than  eighty  years 
many  of  the  ordinances  for  the  government  of  the  city  have  been  in  force. 
Acquainted  with  the  city  for  many  years,  and  especially  the  last  twenty, 
my  observation  of  its  order,  and  respect  for  law,  has  impressed  me  that  no 
other  city  in  these  respects  is  its  superior.  With  extensive  improvements 
conducted  by  the  public  service  for  several  years,  the  city  is  seldom  in  the 
courts.  The  successful  management  of  its  finances,  its  administration  of 
justice,  and  preservation  of  peace  and  good  order,  are  evidence  of  the  best 
administrative  ability.  It  is  a city  of  law. 

The  cultivation  of  taste  is  a legal  sequence  in  self-government  to  the 
masses  of  the  people.  Peace  and  order,  the  refining  processes  of  individual 
worth,  dwell  in  the  temple  of  the  republican  heart  in  a popular  system  of 
government.  Splendor  is  bred  in  the  conceptions  and  shines  in  external  life. 
Houses  of  lords,  patrician  caste  and  private  egotism  have  mistaken  a birth 
or  a fortune  for  this  spiritual  dignity.  Fine  dwellings  and  ornamental 
houses,  public  improvements,  higher  education  and  universal  taste;  personal 
beauty,  the  magnificent  buildings  of  a university,  and  its  high  purposes,  the 
exceptional  opportunities  of  the  city  schools;  a state  agricultural  experiment 
station,  and  the  manifold  forms  of  its  scientific  development;  manufactures, 
merchandizing,  have  grown  into  a city  of  several  thousands. 

Mental  culture  is  a legal  result  of  a people’s  government;  long  and  occult 
analysis  is  born  in  the  primary  efforts  of  political  philosophy.  The  news- 
paper. the  orator  of  the  pulpit,  the  teacher,  the  physician,  are  metaphysicians ; 
the  lawyer  has  struggled  in  the  deceptive  meshes  of  occult  legal  ideas  in  all 
the  history  of  Wayne  county,  until  a species  of  brilliancy,  a sort  of  traditional 
electric  light,  illumines  the  city,  from  Avery  to  John  McSweeney.  whose 
unrivaled  powers  have  ranked  him  among  the  orators, 

“That  thundered  over  Greece, 

From  Macedon  to  Artaxerxes’  throne.” 

TOWNSHIP  AND  TOWN  GOVERNMENT. 

The  republican  system  existed  in  the  individual  father  and  mother.  A 
great  nation  in  chaotic  conception  was  brooding  in  the  genius  of  the  people. 
The  home,  the  township,  the  county,  the  state,  the  nation,  were  the  ascending 
series  in  the  development  of  government,  and  the  surveyor  as  early  as  1807 
was  defining  the  sections  of  land  to  be  the  future  legal  home  of  the  framers 


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of  government  of  the  Northwest,  and  between  that  date  and  1825  all  the 
townships  of  Wayne  county  were  formed  and  organized  into  political  bodies. 
The  forty-six  families  of  the  county  in  1810,  numbering  three  hundred  and 
thirty-two,  had  grown  in  1825  to  perhaps  over  two  thousand;  in  1850  to 
thirty-two  thousand;  in  1870  to  thirty-five  thousand.  Anterior  to  the  very 
early  period  of  1810,  the  three  hundred  and  thirty-two  population  of  Wayne 
county  was  governed  by  benevolence  and  brotherly  kindness.  Knowing  the 
laws  of  the  older  states,  their  voluntary  righteousness  was  the  common 
law  of  the  early  rights  of  property  and  person;  but  in  the  organizing  periods 
of  the  townships  under  the  constitution  of  1802,  the  observance  of  the  early 
laws  of  the  state  became  the  necessary  and  paramount  obligation.  As  the 
larger  responsibilities  of  representation  in  the  Legislature  of  the  state,  in  state 
officers,  in  Congress,  in  the  associate  judgeships,  and  in  the  county  offices, 
were  to  be  met  by  the  early  settlers,  the  township  governments  supplied 
enlarged  intellectual  forces.  These  distinguished  forces  in  township  ad- 
ministration were  the  moral  and  spiritual  foundation  of  a great  republic. 
They  were  to  observe  the  public  roads,  to  care  for  the  public  schools,  for  trials 
by  jury,  for  a local  court,  for  a religious  home,  for  individual  liberty,  for 
economy,  for  industry,  for  self-government;  these  are  in  divine  harmony 
with  the  highest  purpose  that  ever  sanctified  a state.  The  township  is  the 
primary  organ  of  sentiment.  Its  legal  environment  the  only  free  system 
ever  formulated  for  the  defense  of  human  rights!  And  it  but  gives  clear- 
ness to  the  view  of  township  government  when  we  consider  that  the  then 
and  present  county  treasurer,  auditor  and  recorder  are  county  agencies; 
that  the  entire  judicial  system  and  its  officers  is  but  corrective;  that  the  com- 
missioners of  the  county  in  that  early  period,  who  exercised  local  adminis- 
tration. had  but  small  means  and  could  do  but  little  for  the  people  of  the 
townships.  These  early  people  stood  alone  amidst  the  tall  oaks  of  the  forests, 
the  swollen  streams,  the  bridle-paths  of  the  surveys,  savage  animals,  and 
the  dangers  of  Indian  marauding.  But  they  built  roads  and  bridges;  as 
overseers,  they  assisted  the  poor,  they  established  and  maintained  justice's 
courts  and  juries;  they  punished  breaches  of  the  peace,  and  violations  of 
the  rights  of  persons  and  property;  observed  inviolate  the  rights  of  suffrage, 
and  required  the  strictest  accountability  of  their  public  officers;  they  con- 
tributed to  the  public  expense  by  taxation,  and  required  the  strictest  economy 
in  public  expenditures.  Mindful  of  the  constitutional  recitals  that  “religion, 
morality  and  knowledge”  are  necessary  to  good  government,  they  early  erected 
churches  and  established  religious  wor  ship  ; they  erected  school  houses,  and 
maintained  schools  by  private  subscriptions,  and  had  the  peculiar  advantage 


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of  that  great  class  of  teachers  that  accompanied  the  immigration  of  the  early 
settlers  from  the  eastern  states;  and  they  laid  the  foundation  for  that  school 
system  created  by  the  legislation  of  the  state  in  1853,  formulated  by  the 
senate  committee,  composed  of  Harvey  Rice,  George  Rex,  of  Wayne  county, 
and  Alonzo  Cushing.  They  observed  with  patriotic  care  all  the  provisions 
of  the  bill  of  rights  of  the  constitution  of  1802.  Industry  pervaded  the 
townships,  and  in  but  a little  while  Wayne  county  began  its  career  of 
beautiful  farms  and  magnificent  productiveness.  For  a eulogy  on  the  intelli- 
gence, dignity  and  versatility  of  the  early  settlers,  we  find  them  associate 
judges  in  the  court  of  common  pleas,  when  at  an  early  period  the  writer 
admired  the  wisdom  and  integrity  of  their  public  services,  and  which  judicial 
system  continued  until  the  system  of  the  constitution  of  1851  Was  substituted 
in  its  place.  Out  of  the  number  of  these  early  statesmen,  the  county  officers 
were  largely  chosen,  and  so  great  was  the  influence  of  the  township  leaders 
and  the  special  domestic  importance  of  township  policy  and  control  of  the 
county  treasury,  that  the  commissioners  of  the  county  have  almost  wholly 
been  selected  from  the  people  of  the  townships;  and  one  is  impressed  that 
the  selection,  at  an  early  day,  of  many  of  the  members  of  both  houses  of  the 
state  Legislature,  members  of  Congress,  and  constitutional  conventions,  from 
the  townships,  was  somewhat  precautional  for  the  promotion  of  the  original 
principles  of  our  republican  system. 

An  intentional  study  of  the  development  of  township  life  shows  the 
early  formation  of  villages,  the  facilities  for  exchange  of  valuable  ideas; 
the  early  advantages  for  education;  in  many  instances,  the  establishment  of 
the  newspaper;  the  discussion  of  the  legislative  policy,  and  the  fitness  of 
men  for  public  office ; the  best  methods  of  agriculture,  and  the  supplementary 
knowledge  of  the  press  of  the  county  seat  and  of  the  older  states ; and  I am 
led  forward  from  the  early  struggles  of  high  purpose  and  republican  gov- 
ernment to  that  magnificent  present,  to  the  conventions  of  county  and  state 
exhibitions  of  agricultural  wonders;  to  the  comprehensive  systems  of  edu- 
cation ; the  high  qualification  of  teachers,  and  to  the  personal  taste  and  at- 
tainments of  the  young  women  and  men,  that  rival  all  productions  of  learn- 
ing at  the  county  seat.  As  an  inevitable  evolution,  villages,  towns  and  cities 
have  modified  monarchy.  France.  England.  Germany,  nearly  the  whole 
world,  have  yielded  to  representation.  A financial  question  has  become  the 
menace  to  arbitrary  power. 

Public  convenience  was  a natural  organizing  incentive  to  the  formation 
of  villages  and  towns.  The  blacksmith,  the  tailor,  the  shoemaker,  the  wagon- 


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maker,  the  carpenter,  the  merchant,  the  watch-repairer,  the  miller,  the  post- 
master, and  useful  trades  and  employments  required  a center  as  a market; 
defined  lots,  streets,  the  correction  of  illegal  conduct,  and  law  and  its  ad- 
ministration was  necessary,  and  self-government  found  its  original  center  in 
the  village  and  township.  And  in  the  village  marshal,  trustees  and  super- 
visor of  the  village;  of  the  justice  of  the  peace;  the  constable,  the  township 
trustees,  we  find  the  beginnings  of  self-government. 

Guizot,  in  his  History  of  Civilization,  and  Hallam  in  his  History  of  the 
Middle  Ages,  the  one  of  France,  the  other  of  England,  describe  with  ad- 
mirable fidelity  the  disorders  of  independent  chieftains,  barons,  earls,  defiant 
estates,  rendering  government  a continual  revolution.  Silently,  popular  life 
was  developing;  villages,  towns,  cities,  for  domestic  convenience,  for  foreign 
trade  at  the  ports,  and  local  exchange,  grew,  governed  themselves,  became 
the  champions  of  order,  aided  the  government  to  obtain  the  mastery  over  the 
fortified  robber  and  lawless  bandit  of  the  large  realms  in  which  violence 
enslaved  the  people  and  debased  the  state.  The  foundation  of  all  European 
government  was  force,  power  usurped  by  the  sword,  but  the  people  have 
grown  into  the  governing  capacity  of  most  of  the  governments  of  the  world, 
and  largely  within  the  century  just  elapsed. 

The  logic  of  our  splendid  system  of  elective  peace,  and  that  the  state 
is  the  logical  conclusion  of  the  premises  of  individual  freedom,  and  that  the 
federal  government  is  the  logical  conclusion  of  the  premises  of  state  and 
popular  organizations, — all  known  as  the  constitutional  system  of  the  United 
States, — has  pervaded  the  world.  Of  this  self-governing  principle,  the  col- 
onies had  no  completed  practice  or  publication,  and  the  settlement  of  the 
Northwest,  the  growth  of  government  from  the  individual  to  the  state,  had 
their  birth  in  this  Northwest  territory,  and  necessarily,  the  new  counties, 
the  new  state,  have  generated  other  states,  and  the  world  is  in  the  embrace 
of  the  twro  American  oceans.  The  grandest  endowments  of  the  age  are  our 
personal  freedom  and  our  all-pervading  American  liberty! 

The  Christian  religion  was  uttering  its  voice  in  the  early  township, 
village  and  city  churches,  or  even,  anterior  to  these,  in  the  log  cabins  of  the 
pioneer.  And  here  are  the  two  sublimities  of  republican  theory, — political 
and  religious  freedom;  not  voiced  by  the  constitutions  of  our  country  solely 
to  avoid  the  ignorance  and  cruelty  of  the  sectarian  persecutions  of  the  Middle 
ages,  the  thousand  years  of  blood  from  the  fourth  to  the  fourteenth  century, 
but  that  the  genius  of  the  people  might  illumine  their  pathway  in  their  ascent 
to  happiness,  and  inspire  them  with  the  wisdom  of  brotherhood;  and  that  the 


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ever  present  spirit  might  endow  them  with  the  genius  of  national  life!  With- 
out these  conditions,  the  civil  and  political  history  of  Wayne  county  would 
be  a tinkling  cymbal.  Wayne  county  owes  its  greatness  to  being  an  en- 
lightened and  Christian  county! 

THE  EARLY  METHOD  OF  ENFORCING  THE  LAW. 

It  may  be  observed  with  justice  that  a patriotic  care  governed  our  early 
people  in  the  execution  of  fundamental  law.  To  our  early  agencies  of  govern- 
ment we  owe  a debt  of  gratitude.  The  ordinance  of  1787  restricted  legis- 
lation in  the  Northwest  territory  to  the  policy  and  laws  of  the  older  states,  and 
when  the  council  had  violated  this  provision  the  laws  were  instantly  vetoed  or 
repealed.  In  the  execution  of  the  laws  passed  by  the  early  legislatures,  con- 
stitutions were  strictly  construed,  and  power  was  exercised  by  officers  from 
the  highest  to  the  lowest  in  a respectful  manner  to  avoid  infraction  of  the 
rights  of  person  or  property.  It  was  the  exercise  of  logic  in  discrimination 
of  republican  ideas,  and  these  ideas  were  paramount  in  legislation  primarily 
necessary  in  forming  government.  They  continually  prevailed  in  the  ampli- 
fication of  laws,  so  that  the  growth  of  legislation  was  of  an  endogenous  char- 
acter, covering  by  broader  provisions  similar  greater  necessities.  Provisions 
for  the  poor,  school  systems,  roads  and  highways,  taxes,  always  remained 
the  same  in  principle,  so  that  in  the  constitutions  of  1802  and  of  1851,  while 
the  larger  population  and  progressive  necessities  demanded  a broader  and 
more  perfect  application  of  principles,  the  principles  Were  identical,  and  not 
inimical  to  the  spirit  of  the  government.  Enlightenment  and  conscience,  pa- 
triotism, directed  the  execution  of  law.  There  was  something  signally  broth- 
erly in  the  motives  of  the  early  agencies  of  the  people,  and  these  were  a 
tremendous  force  in  promoting  civil  and  political  government. 

PROFESSIONAL  INFLUENCES. 

Of  the  wise  and  tenacious  men  of  the  profession  in  asserting  republican 
principles  in  the  early  days,  were  the  early  physicians  and  lawyers,  of  the 
press  and  the  churches. 

Of  the  physicians,  James  Townsend  was  the  first  in  1811,  remaining 
thirty  years  at  Wooster;  John  Cunningham,  at  Jeromeville  in  1830.  and  from 
1848  in  Wooster ; Daniel  McPhail,  in  Wooster,  in  1818;  Edward  Thompson, 
in  1820.  afterward  a bishop  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church;  Stephen  F. 
Day,  at  Wooster  in  1827,  and  remained  for  thirty-four  years;  Hezekiah 


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Bissell  and  Samuel  N.  Bissell,  at  an  early  day;  Moses  Shaffer,  first  at  Mt. 
Eaton,  and  about  1831  removed  to  Wooster,  where  he  practiced  for  fifty 
years;  Leander  Firestone,  first  at  Congress  in  1841  and  removed  to  Wooster 
in  1856;  James  D.  Robinson,  resident  in  Wooster. 

Of  lawyers  who  were  in  Wayne  county  at  an  early  period  was  Levi 
Cox,  in  1815;  Edward  Avery,  in  1817;  Ezra  Dean,  in  1824;  Samuel  Hemp- 
hill, about  1838;  John  P.  Jeffries,  in  1836;  C.  C.  Parsons,  in  1841;  George 
Rex,  in  1843  ; John  McSweeney,  in  1845;  Ohio  F.  Jones,  in  1846;  and  the 
influence  of  these  representatives  and  judicial  officers  and  professional  men 
was  incalculably  valuable  in  formulating  the  methods  and  carrying  out  and 
preserving  the  principles  of  the  new  government.  The  republican  system 
was  favorable  to  the  development  of  plain  and  democratic  methods  in  the 
administration  of  justice  as  contrasted  with  the  woolsack  and  the  wig; 
physicians  became  patriots,  and  great  lawyers  were  allowed  the  cultivation 
of  eloquence  and  political  philosophy;  the  courts  and  the  legislators  were, 
for  the  first  time,  free  to  modify  the  common  law  to  accord  with  the  self- 
government  of  the  people  and  the  plainer  legal  rules  of  action.  Having  in- 
creased in  population  to  thirty-two  thousand  in  1851,  very  eminent  results 
were  apparent  in  the  county,  in  finer  buildings,  in  the  facilities  of  farming, 
in  conveniences  of  travel,  in  education  and  religious  worship,  and  in  the 
professions  of  medicine  and  law.  In  the  added  half  century,  incalculable 
beauty  marks  the  country  and  the  numerous  towns  and  county  seat ; a county 
infirmary;  a children’s  home;  public  buildings  suggest  expensive  philanthropy; 
great  schools,  musical  devices,  fashion,  taste,  refinement,  beauty,  dignity,  in- 
dependenee,  dwell  in  palatial  homes;  the  county  seat  has  become  the  most 
desirable  dwelling  place;  and  in  railroads,  newspapers,  social  integrity,  and 
prosperity,  Wayne  county  stands  the  meritorious  rival  of  any  county  in 
Ohio. 

Of  the  most  eminent  forces  in  asserting  the  inviolability  of  the  principles 
of  popular  right  were  the  early  newspapers,  that,  after  many  transformations 
of  name,  yet  remain  the  medium  of  patriotic  influence.  From  1817  to  the 
present  time  the  newspapers  of  Wooster  and  Wayne  county,  in  the  broader 
field  of  fundamental  principles  of  free  government,  voiced  the  patriotism  of 
the  pioneers  and  their  descendants,  and  informed,  encouraged  and  supported 
the  intellectual  and  moral  struggle  for  the  great  institutions  of  the  North- 
west, and  for  the  systems  of  federal  and  state  constitutions. 

For  the  republican  system,  the  religion  of  the  people  of  Wayne  county 
was  a powerful  influence.  W hether  in  the  log  cabin,  or  in  God’s  first  temples 


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among  the  umbrageous  shadows  of  the  forest,  the  Divine  Presence  was 
solacing  the  pioneer  with  hope,  giving  rest  to  the  heavy  laden  and  assurance 
of  the  dignity  of  his  belief  in  the  freedom  of  man.  Churches  were  being 
erected  as  early  as  1812,  and  church  influence  has  been  a magnificent  con- 
clusion of  the  righteousness  of  self-government.  In  the  East  they  gave  in- 
spiration to  the  struggle  for  independence,  in  the  Northwest  they  were  the 
champions  of  liberty  and  gave  sanctity  to  the  cause  of  the  people. 

THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  1851. 

Presumably  the  constitution  of  1851  embraced  the  best  thought  of  re- 
publican government.  Rufus  P.  Ranney,  as  a leader,  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  ablest  man  in  the  convention;  from  Wayne  county  Leander  Fire- 
stone and  John  Larwill  and  Ezra  Wilson  were,  as  non-professionals  in  legal 
study,  among  the  ablest  of  their  class.  The  convention  was  thoroughly  im- 
bued with  democratic  ideas.  Correcting  the  appointive  system  of  the 
constitution  of  1802,  every  office  was  made  elective;  much  of  the  constitution 
of  1802  was  adopted,  enlarged  upon,  and  more  clearly  expressed;  additional 
offices  were  created,  as  lieutenant-governor  and  attorney-general,  a com- 
mission of  five  members  to  assist  the  supreme  court,  state  school  commis- 
sioner, board  of  public  works,  sinking  fund  commissioners,  probate  court  and 
comptroller  of  the  treasury.  To  change  the  time  of  holding  elections,  and 
the  time  of  electing  officers,  amendments  were  adopted  since  1851. 

That  the  federal  form  of  executive,  legislative  and  judicial,  is  also  the 
state  form  of  governor,  legislature  and  the  supreme  court,  is  worthy  of  ob- 
servation, being  closely  related  to  the  principles  of  individual  interests,  and  in 
the  counties  may  be  observed  the  legal  checks  on  the  closely  related  county 
agencies  and  the  people.  As  a contrast  to  the  refusal  to  submit  the  con- 
stitution of  1802  to  the  vote  of  the  people,  the  constitution  of  1851  was  ratified 
at  the  state  election  in  1851,  and  the  latter  constitution  provided  that  all 
amendments  shall  be  voted  on  by  the  people.  With  enlargements  of  the 
public  agencies,  and  labors  incident  to  the  growth  of  population,  the  consti- 
tution and  laws  since  1851  have  been  a remarkable  system  of  popular  en- 
couragement ; education  alone  stands  pre-eminent  in  practical  example.  The 
refinement,  the  appropriation  of  invention,  the  dignity  of  social  life,  are 
splendidly  manifest  among  the  masses  of  Wayne  county.  Not  the  least  among 
the  acquirements  of  the  people  of  Wayne  county  was  an  education  in  politics, 
not  only  in  the  law,  but  in  the  policy  of  administration. 


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THE  INFLUENCE  OF  PARTY  ORGANIZATION  AMONG  THE  PEOPLE. 

As  to  the  interpretation  of  constitutional  expression,  the  conformity  of 
legislation  to  fundamental  principles,  and  as  to  the  practical  effects  of  the 
exercise  of  executive  power,  political  parties  represent  the  divergence  of  pub- 
lic thought.  They  imply  intellectual  activity  in  the  concerns  of  government. 

That  portion  of  the  farewell  address  of  Washington  as  to  parties  had 
rather  a reference  to  the  future  than  the  then  present.  Much  confusion  ex- 
isted in  the  public  thought  at  that  day  as  to  the  effect  of  constitutional  pro- 
visions on  the  rights  of  the  states,  much  enhanced  by  Hamilton’s  doctrine 
of  ‘'implied  power.”  French  emissaries  formed  Jacobin  clubs,  in  antagonism 
to  the  policy  of  Washington  in  not  forming  entangling  alliances  in  the 
French  and  British  war.  The  federalist  and  republican  of  that  day  were 
not  only  in  disorganization  as  to  any  definite  party  plans,  but  their  beliefs 
were  a mosaic  of  individual  and  local  contradictions.  Not  until  1828,  when 
a portion  of  the  people  nominated  Andrew  Jackson  for  President,  and  other 
portions  supported  his  opponent,  were  there  party  organizations,  and  it  is 
difficult  to  find  any  difference  of  political  views  in  that  contest,  except  it  be 
on  the  immense  uncertainty  of  the  meaning  of  a strict  construction  of  the 
constitution!  The  possibility  is  hardly  historical  that  the  people  of  the 
Northwest  were  largely  influenced  by  the  party  questions  at  Washington, 
until  the  population  in  the  new  state  of  Ohio  was  augmented  to  twenty  thou- 
sand or  thirty  thousand.  That  at  the  county  seats  politics  played  some  part 
in  the  intellectual  and  moral  action  of  men  of  leisure  and  of  the  professions, 
during  and  after  Jackson's  administration,  the  existence  of  the  county  news- 
paper. the  somewhat  advanced  methods  of  communication  among  the  people, 
a partial  relief  from  the  burdens  of  clearing  the  forests,  would  indicate. 
The  Missouri  Compromise  in  1820,  the  national  strife  as  to  the  re-chartering 
of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States  in  Jackson's  administration;  in  1832,  the 
so-called  nullification  attempt  of  South  Carolina,  the  presidential  election  of 
1840,  the  Mexican  war  of  1845,  aroused  the  intellectual  action  of  the  people, 
but  not  that  state  of  friction  of  a later  period.  Relegated  to  the  states  of 
Southern  slavery,  the  question  of  the  balance  of  power,  of  the  free  and  slave 
states,  grew  into  discordant  controversy  all  along  the  highway  of  national 
events.  Arrogance  threatened  dissolution  of  the  Union ; the  demand  of  con- 
gressional action  in  favor  of  slavery  marked  the  statesmanship  of  the  South- 
ern states,  and  a great  moral  question  involved  in  the  question  of  slavery 
itself  inspired  in  1854  the  creation  of  the  Republican  party.  The  great 


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political  forces  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  Northern  states  dissevered  their 
relation  to  the  unconstitutional  claims  of  slavery,  and  two  of  the  leading 
men  of  Ohio,  Henry  B.  Payne  and  George  E.  Pugh,  in  the  Democratic 
national  convention  at  Charleston  in  i860,  repudiated,  in  the  name  of  the 
state  of  Ohio,  the  southern  claim  of  constitutional  protection  to  slavery.  Now 
traversing  the  whole  history  of  the  federal  union,  public  thought  was  aroused 
and  became  invincible  in  the  Civil  war.  Wayne  county  was  not  the  least  in 
thought  and  action  in  this  great  contest  to  finally  settle  the  great  constitutional 
principle  of  final  union.  Upon  great  questions  of  administration  of  the  fed- 
eral government,  of  state  legislation,  of  county  and  township  interests,  the 
two  great  parties  have  expended  thought  and  action;  and  intervening  with 
apparent  weakness  for  many  years,  a Prohibition  party  has  beheld  a popular 
conquest  of  the  principle  of  temperance.  In  debate,  in  public  oratory,  in 
newspaper  rhetoric,  in  conscientious  thoughtfulness  and  patriotism,  the  people 
of  Wayne  county  have  grown  great  reasoners  in  the  philosophy  of  govern- 
ment. Critical  in  the  alertness  of  intellect,  party  politics  has  become  a 
popular  science,  and  in  Wayne  county  the  politician  has  become  as  gentle 
and  courteous  as  ever  Plato  and  his  disciples  were  in  the  gardens  of  the 
Academy. 

THE  HEREDITY  OF  GOVERNING  CAPACITY. 

One  of  the  valuable  thoughts  of  the  occasion  is  that  great  governmental 
faculties  are  continued  in  mental  suggestion  and  heredity.  Public  force  is 
propagated  by  example  and  emulation;  and  in  the  succeeding  inflexible  ad- 
herence to  principle,  we  see  the  acumen,  the  high  integrity,  and  unsullied 
good  breeding  of  the  descendants,  or  successors,  of  the  early  fathers;  we 
hear  in  the  later  orators  the  eloquence  and  logic  of  the  early  republicans, 
and  our  love  of  the  distinguishing  features  of  a republic  is  commingled  with 
the  love  we  bear  to  the  great  founders. 

Signally  illustrative  of  this  heredity  was  a consciousness  of  a violation 
of  the  principle  of  popular  elections  in  the  constitution  of  1802,  when  the 
reason  for  the  appointive  system  had  ceased  in  the  growth  of  the  population 
of  the  state.  The  constitution  of  1851  asserted  the  complete  system  of  elective 
officers,  changed  the  judicial  system,  and  in  the  wisdom  of  revolutionary  sug- 
gestion enlarged  the  legislation  of  the  state.  The  eminence  of  this  adherence 
to  free  government  gave  an  unusual  sanction  to  the  principles  of  1776. 

A patriotic  jealousy  and  watchfulness  characterized  the  early  founders 
of  our  local  government,  and  was  aroused  in  1824  when  the  alleged  com- 


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bination  of  John  Quincy  Adams  and  Henry  Clay  defeated  the  election  of 
Andrew  Jackson  to  the  presidency,  as  an  evasion  of  the  spirit  of  the  consti- 
tution and  system  of  government.  As  the  idol  of  the  people,  the  hero  of  the 
Seminole  war,  and  of  the  great  victory  over  the  British  at  New  Orleans, 
Jackson’s  cause  was  almost  universally  espoused  by  the  brave  men  and  back- 
woodsmen of  1815.  His  after  administration  was  supported  by  the  great 
body  of  the  people  in  all  the  contests  involving  supposed  principles  for  which 
the  Revolution  and  the  war  of  1812  were  contested.  Partisanism  does 
not  seem  to  have  entered  into  this  phase  of  political  history.  The  then  still 
living  pioneers  of  the  country  and  the  second  generation  united  in  adherence 
to  what  >was  supposed  to  be  an  important  principle,  and  in  1859  there  was 
instituted  a yearly  celebration  of  the  8th  of  January,  which  has  continued  for 
fifty  years  as  an  offering  to  the  patriotism  and  political  integrity  of  our 
fathers  and  their  attachment  to  a strict  conformity  to  the  republican  system. 
The  solitary  munificence  of  this  tribute  can  be  appreciated  in  the  thought 
of  the  exceptional  character  of  the  early  guardians  of  constitutional  liberty! 
The  permanency  of  this  unique  celebration  is  associated  with  the  enduring 
fame  of  Washington,  and  the  love  of  the  popular  heart  for  the  memory  of 
Lincoln;  these  three  great  Presidents — the  one  achieving  independence  and 
the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  the  one  destroying  British  influence  in 
America  by  the  victory  at  New  Orleans,  and  the  incipient  rebellion  in  South 
Carolina,  the  one  in  magnificent  prudence  and  laborious  wisdom  giving  his 
life  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union!  Where  is  the  history  of  their  equals? 

The  organization  of  to\vnships  as  now  existing  in  Wayne  county  was 
completed  by  the  year  1825,  and  their  system  from  the  first  settlements  in 
1806  until  they  had  completed  township  governments  was  conducted  by  men 
of  ability,  including  many  immigrants  from  France,  Germany,  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland ; and  as  the  older  populations  passed  away,  the  intervening  middle 
aged  and  youth  carried  forward  the  local  government  in  an  uninterrupted 
succession,  a continuous  and  unbroken  intellectual  current.  From  the  very 
beginning  of  man  in  masses,  the  higher  history  of  his  great  spiritual  power 
has  not  been  given;  and  it  is  only  in  the  faith  of  heredity,  reproduction,  or 
occasional  eminency  of  achievement,  that  we  know  the  inspiration  of  our 
predecessors.  In  occasional  family  records  only  may  we  find  the  honest  and 
noble  township  spirit ; but,  to  a moral  certainty,  their  fine  patriotic  thought 
has  descended  to  the  generation  or  two  that  honor  the  townships  of  Wayne 
county.  Illustration  of  this  pleasant  reminiscence  is  largely  exhibited  in  the 
county  seat,  of  the  important  concerns  of  life,  as  religion,  politics,  law,  trade, 


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governmental  policy;  it  is  the  debating  center,  it  is  the  Atlas  that  bears  the 
public  world  of  thought  on  its  shoulders.  Should  any  county  be  celebrated 
for  carrying  forward  the  thought  of  its  founders,  Wayne  county  is  that 
favored  realm.  The  Larwills,  the  Joneses,  the  Quinbys,  the  Millers,  the 
Wilhelms,  the  Currys,  the  Jeffries,  the  McMonigals,  Flattery,  Kaukes,  Douglas, 
Anderson  Adair,  Blackburn,  Zimmerman,  McSweeney,  the  Funcks,  Barretts, 
Marchand,  Foreman.  McClure,  Smyser,  the  Howards,  the  Frances,  Moses 
Shaffer,  Day,  the  Powers,  and  a hundred  others,  all  familiar  names  in  politics, 
religious  sects,  government  policy,  for  their  respective  views,  stood  like  a 
solid  rock  of  hereditary  tenacity.  Avoiding  the  criticism  that  the  idea  is 
commonplace,  it  may  be  observed  that  these  American  conditions,  in  the  pres- 
ent height  of  several  thousand  years  of  progress,  have  no  parallel  in  national 
life;  of  other,  and  all  other  nationalities,  it  is  a king,  and  nobility;  a house 
of  lords;  a military  dictatorship;  a suppressed  popular  movement;  some 
modification  of  the  hypocrisy  of  Augustus;  or  the  bloody  monarchism  of 
Tiberius,  Caligula  or  Nero.  The  dome  of  no  great  capitol  but  ours  is  painted 
with  emblems  of  popular  jealousy  of  an  oligarchy  or  aristocracy  of  power. 
The  thinking  people  of  the  new  Northwest  are  the  bulwark  of  the  republic; 
they  wear  the  mantle  of  their  fathers. 

FORTY  YEARS  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

Of  the  intelligence  and  fine  nerve  of  the  first  citizens  of  Wayne  county, 
the  systems  of  bookkeeping,  the  handwriting  and  the  legal  requisites  of  pub- 
lic business  bear  witness.  Within  the  first  forty  years  after  the  incorporation 
of  Wayne  county  the  character  of  its  institutions  was  determined,  and  some 
of  the  prominent  actors  of  the  people’s  selection  show  a capacity  for  the 
highest  positions. 

Benjamin  Jones  and  Cyrus  Spink  were  representatives  in  Congress: 
Edward  Avery  became  a judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio;  Reazin  Beall, 
a major-general;  John  Sloan,  treasurer  of  the  United  States;  Levi  Cox  and 
Ezra  Dean,  president  judges.  There  were  nineteen  associate  judges,  and 
twenty-three  members  of  the  state  Legislature.  Beall  avenue,  Bever  street. 
Henry  street,  are  memorials  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  name;  and  Larwill 
street  and  the  records  of  Wayne  county  will,  it  is  hoped,  preserve  the  name 
of  Joseph  H.  Larwill,  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  pioneers  of  1807. 

In  1840  there  were  forty-six  Revolutionary  soldiers  in  Wayne  county. 
The  eloquence  of  their  wounds,  the  dignity  of  their  position,  were  constantly 
admonishing  the  people  of  the  sacred  trust  of  maintaining  civil  and  political 
liberty. 


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Of  the  county,  city,  tdwn  and  township  officers,  the  public  records  con- 
tain the  history;  of  all  these  municipal  corporations,  the  officers  and  leading 
men  were  intimately  associated  in  official  life. 

That  the  city  of  Wooster  was,  at  an  early  period,  the  centre  of  popula- 
tion; that  the  municipal  and  township  organizers  were  the  source  of  mutual 
information;  that  the  early  officers  selected  the  foremost  in  interest  for  a 
practical  system  of  home  rule,  and  that  these  foremost  men  rose  to  higher 
representative  positions  by  popular  choice,  may  be  assumed.  The  fact,  in 
civil  and  political  history,  became  a magnificent  force,  that  transmuted  all 
other  forces  into  the  popular  system. 

That  Wayne  county  has  always  had  an  exceptionally  good  system  of 
county  administration  may  be  readilly  observed  in  the  records  preserved  since 
1815.  The  entire  judicial  record  of  the  county  is  marked  by  the  able  per- 
formance of  duty.  The  records  at  the  very  earliest  period  are  evidence  of 
consummate  skill  and  complete  formality,  and  are  precedents  for  almost  one 
hundred  years;  and  one  is  impressed,  surprised,  at  the  remarkable  accuracy 
with  which  the  public  business  was  conducted ; and  as  the  judicial  administra- 
tion involves  the  capacity  and  integrity  of  judges,  prosecuting  attorneys, 
lawyers,  clerks  and  sheriffs,  this  reference  to  them  all  is  intended  as  an 
encomium.  No  judge  of  Wayne  county  has  ever  been  impeached;  no  lawyer 
disbarred;  no  prosecuting  attorney,  no  clerk  or  sheriff  ever  charged  with 
delinquency  in  office.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  has  never  been  infringed, 
and  no  juryman  has  ever  been  charged  with  any  irregularity  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duty.  There  is  not  a single  known  instance  of  a grand  jury 
being  other+wise  than  conscientious  in  either  returning  or  failing  to  return 
an  indictment.  The  same  high  character  belongs  to  the  probate  court,  since 
it  was  created  by  the  constitution  of  1851,  or  while  the  probate  business  was 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  under  the  constitution 
of  1802.  The  judges  of  this  court  for  more  than  fifty  years  have  been  beyond 
reproach. 

The  judgments  of  these  courts  have  been  reviewable  by  the  higher 
courts  ever  since  the  formation  of  the  county,  and  the  whole  system  has  been 
and  is  a protection  to  every  right,  and  a relief  against  every  wrong,  to  prop- 
erty or  person.  But  few  instances  have  occurred  of  violation  of  law  being 
unpunished,  and  crimes  of  any  magnitude  are  very  rare  in  the  history  of  the 
county.  Of  divorces,  of  which  the  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  has 
the  sole  jurisdiction,  but  few  have  been  granted  not  necessary  to  the  pro- 
tection of  the  wife,  or  the  honor  of  the  husband.  The  financial  system  of 


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the  county,  conducted  by  a board  of  commissioners,  the  auditor  and  treas- 
urer. the  occasional  duties  of  the  prosecuting  attorney  and  probate  judge, 
and  involving  the  safe  custody  and  legal  expenditure  of  the  money  con- 
tributed by  the  people  for  the  support  of  the  county  and  state  government, 
is  about  as  perfect  as  human  ingenuity  could  devise.  Of  personal  property 
enlisted  by  the  assessors,  and  of  real  property  as  appraised,  returned  to  the 
auditor,  duplicates  are  given  to  the  treasurer,  exhibiting  the  amount  to  be 
collected  as  ascertained  by  the  rate  of  taxation  necessary  for  public  purposes, 
and  upon  which  the  treasurer  enters  his  collections  and  returns  the  same  to 
the  auditor.  Not  only  the  auditor’s  books,  but  the  examination  of  the  treas- 
ury by  the  commissioners  and  a private  committee  appointed  by  the  probate 
judge,  are  precautions  for  the  safety  of  the  public  money.  The  loaning  of 
the  money  of  the  county  to  the  banks  at  interest,  and  upon  security,  is  an 
additional  guaranty,  to  the  treasurer’s  bond,  of  its  safety.  Nor  are  there 
fewer  safeguards  around  the  expenditure  of  the  public  money.  It  cannot  be 
paid  out  but  upon  the  order  of  the  auditor,  nor  can  he  issue  an  order  except 
according  to  express  provision  of  law,  unless  the  claim  is  allowed  by  the 
board  of  commissioners.  The  claim  filed  with  them  must  remain  five  days 
before  allowance,  and  no  order  can  issue  by  the  auditor  until  five  days  after 
the  allowance.  The  prosecuting  attorney  may  interpose  in  the  expenditure, 
and  the  report  of  the  business  of  the  commissioners  required  to  be  filed  by 
them  in  the  court  of  common  pleas  is  examined  by  a committee,  and  the  ex- 
penditures reviewed  by  the  court.  The  further  review  of  the  action  of  these 
officers  is  provided  for  by  state  inspection.  The  further  view  that  all  the 
financial  officers  of  the  county  give  bond,  that  they  are  governed  by  strict 
law,  and  are  responsible  to  the  people  at  the  election,  present  the  system,  as 
exceedingly  satisfactory  to  the  contributors  to  the  public  expense. 

As  the  growth  of  the  thought  and  experience  of  one  hundred  years,  the 
system  is  a eulogy  upon  the  framers  of  the  government. 

As  early  as  1792  the  offices  of  treasurer-general  and  county  treasurers 
were  created,  and  the  mode  of  raising  money  to  defray  county  expenses  by 
the  Council  of  the  Territory,  and  in  1799  the  Territorial  Legislature  created 
the  offices  of  territorial  treasurer  and  auditor  of  public  accounts  and  for 
levying  a territorial  tax  on  lands,  and  to  regulate  county  levies.  In  1802  the 
constitution  provided  for  the  appointment  by  the  Legislature  of  state  treas- 
urer and  auditor  and  other  officers  were  to  be  appointed  as  directed  by  law. 
Gradually  the  county  system  embraced  a treasurer  and  auditor  as  appointive, 
then  elective,  and  afterwards  developed  in  the  constitution  of  1851.  But 


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prior  to  1802  the  county  treasurer  was  a collector  who  reported  to  the  state 
treasurer  and  auditor,  and  progressive  legislation  has  added  to  the  defective 
systems  of  the  past  the  fine  checks  and  supervision  of  the  present. 

A successful  administration  of  the  finances  of  Wayne  county  is  apparent 
from  the  records.  Complications  some  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  in  connection 
with  the  temporary  use  of  county  money  by  the  banks,  and  from  the  good 
nature  and  accommodating  spirit  of  the  elective  system,  arose  and  produced 
a disturbance  in  the  treasurer's  office;  but,  in  view  of  the  large  amount  of 
money  safely  received  and  disbursed  in  the  history  of  the  county,  a further 
notice  of  the  trouble  is  not  deemed  of  importance.  The  writer  does  not  regard 
it  inappropriate  to  say  that  the  virtues  of  generosity  were  more  predominant 
in  the  single  case  or  two  of  financial  embarrassment  in  the  treasurer's  office, 
than  any  inherent  vice  in  the  officer. 

Surveys  underlying  conveyances,  the  office  of  county  surveyor  and 
recorder  may  be  considered  in  this  relation.  Records,  maps,  plats  in  these 
offices  would  tend  to  give  them  the  name  of  the  Wayne  County  Museum; 
more  than  relics,  different  from  mere  calculations  or  journal  entries,  associated 
with  what  seem  the  hieroglyphics  of  the  surveyor,  and  the  time-worn  and 
time-stained  canvas  upon  which  human  and  departed  genius  has  impressed 
the  studious  manifestation  of  scientific  thought,  they  seem  the  interesting 
memorials  of  a superior  race. 

To  transfer  the  record  evidence  of  the  government  land  offices,  to  per- 
petuate the  legal  right  of  every  section  of  land  in  Wayne  county,  of  every 
plat  of  every  town,  their  lots  and  streets  and  alleys,  additions,  vacations  and 
dedications,  their  boundaries  and  the  ranges  and  sections  and  divisions  of 
sections,  their  purchase,  sale,  transfer  deeds,  mortgages,  leases  and  releases, 
commencing  a hundred  years  ago,  these  records  attest  the  truth  of  history, 
without  which  truth  the  ownership  of  property  would  be  a chaos.  Not  only 
the  magnitude  of  work,  but  the  accuracy  of  it,  attest  the  good  fortune  of  the 
people  that,  as  early  as  1813,  had  William  Larwill  as  the  first  and  Levi  Cox 
as  the  second  recorder,  and  that,  as  early  as  1814,  had  Joseph  H.  Larwill  as 
the  first,  and  Cyrus  Spink  as  the  second  surveyor  of  Wayne  county,  and 
that  they  laid  the  foundations  for  the  system  of  records  that  led  on  to  the 
immense  volumes  of  these  offices  and  to  the  scientific  methods  of  surveying. 
That  there  were  so  many  distinguished  men  early  and  later  that  formed  and 
continued  the  methods  of  county  administration,  is  a remarkable  fact  in  the 
history  of  Wayne  county;  perhaps  not  as  remarkable  in  any  other  county 
in  the  Northwest. 


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Of  the  participation  of  the  residents  of  the  towns  and  townships  in  county 
administration,  a cursory  observation  of  the  records  produces  the  impression 
that  after  the  active  energies  of  the  first  generation  were  employed,  for 
twenty-five  years,  in  county  administration,  it  was  conducted  largely  by  offi- 
cers of  the  townships,  and  almost  wholly  so  in  the  .respect  of  county  commis- 
sioners. Of  the  associate  judges,  senators  and  representatives  in  the  General 
Assembly,  treasurers,  auditors,  recorders  and  surveyors,  a majority  came 
from  the  townships;  at  this  present  writing,  every  officer  of  the  county  ad- 
ministration, except  the  prosecuting  attorney,  is  either  from  the  townships 
directly  or  recently  after  removal  to  the  county  seat.  The  significance  of 
this  fact  leads  to  a very  brief  consideration  of  the  conditions  out  of  which 
it  arises.  The  townships  being  organized  in  1825  were  rapidly  settled,  of 
the  same  character  of  population  as  the  county  seat;  many  of  them  were 
educated  men  and,  township  government  demanding  justices  of  the  peace, 
trustees  and  other  officers  both  in  the  townships  and  towns,  they  became 
familiar  with  modes  not  only  of  self-government,  but  county  administration, 
and  many  of  them  were  conspicuous  for  their  intelligence  and  ability.  Doubt- 
less acquainted  with  the  laws  and  official  procedure  of  the  older  states,  they 
were  competent  to  make  and  administer  laws  that  were  necessary  to  the 
growth  of  a great  state.  The  great  principle  of  unity  was  the  well  authenti- 
cated fact  of  the  integrity  and  patriotism  of  the  people  and  their  conscious 
responsibility  of  a sacred  duty. 

In  addition  to  some  local  legislation  for  the  construction  of  public  build- 
ings, and  to  enable  the  city  of  Wooster  to  obtain  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  rail- 
way, an  important  elective  principle  was  established  by  the  supreme  court 
in  the  case  of  Lehman  vs.  McBride,  by  which  the  former  was  elected  probate 
judge,  in  holding  that  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  in  service  in  or  out  of  the 
state  were  entitled  to  vote  and  have  the  same  returned  to  the  county  of  their 
residence. 

In  forty  years,  a period  that  embraced  the  constitution  of  1851,  and  a 
much  shorter  period  than  that  in  which  any  government  of  which  history 
speaks  was  perfected,  the  people  of  Wayne  county,  and  it  is  true  of  the 
whole  state,  in  one  single  classification,  were  the  distinguished  authors  of 
their  county  administration. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  AS  THE  SOURCE  OF  NORTHWESTERN  GOVERNMENT. 

Wavne  county  having  been  organized  as  a separate  political  body  in 
1812,  an  election  was  held  to  elect  county  officers  in  April  of  that  year,  as 
provided  in  the  constitution  of  1802.  The  county,  within  the  state  lines,  was 

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laid  out  in  the  year  1808,  but  incorporated  with  diminished  territory  in 
1812.  By  changes  in  forming  new  counties,  it  seems  to  have  been  re-incor- 
porated in  1817,  and  not  defined  in  its  present  form  until  1846,  a portion 
of  its  territory  having  been  taken  in  1824  to  form  Holmes  county,  and  a por- 
tion to  form  Ashland  county  in  1846.  Of  the  Northwest,  the  rapidly  increas- 
ing population,  the  formation  of  new  counties,  and  the  immigration  from 
Wayne  county  to  the  yet  farther  west,  decreased  its  population  from  thirty- 
six  thousand  in  1840  to  thirty-two  thousand  in  1850,  and  carrying  with  it 
the  advanced  methods  of  civil  and  political  life,  of  their  first  homes  in  the 
new  country.  Of  government  as  a necessity,  such  methods  travel  with  rapid- 
ity and  reflect  their  origin  in  institutions  and  practical  life,  at  advanced  dis- 
tances of  civilization.  Of  this  transmission  of  population  and  experience  in 
promoting  order  and  obedience  to  law,  Wayne  county  has  been  the  continuous 
source  from  a very  early  day  to  the  present  time. 

INDIVIDUAL  AND  SOCIAL  LIFE. 

The  individual  and  social  life  of  the  pioneers  has  been  scarcely  men- 
tioned, and  demands  a consideration  in  this  article. 

The  elevation  of  man  by  the  consciousness  of  freedom,  and  by  the  doc- 
trine of  equal  rights,  is  manifested  in  the  high  development  of  the  sensibilities. 
Liberty  is  the  progenitor  of  love.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
created  family  emotion.  It  created  the  neighbor,  the  neighborhood,  the  peace 
and  pleasure  of  proximity;  it  is  the  father  of  family  history  and  reunions. 
Wayne  county  is  celebrated  for  the  yearly  reunions  of  widely  scattered  de- 
scendants. The  reproductions  and  reminiscences  of  home  are  incentives  to 
good  government.  That  holy  veneration  for  ancestors  is  distinguished  in 
Wayne  county.  In  memory  of  the  immigrants  of  the  Northwest, — the  fathers 
and  mothers, — yearly  pioneer  celebrations  are  regularly  held  by  the  aged 
living  and  participated  in  by  every  age.  In  August,  1896,  by  civic  proces- 
sions, addresses,  pyrotechnic  displays,  the  people  of  Wayne  county  gave  a 
week  of  conspicuous  sensibility  to  the  memory  of  the  pioneers. 

The  great  character  of  these  early  architects  of  government  is  the  logical 
theme  of  progress  and  is  among  the  first  solicitudes  of  studious  thought. 

Reciuested  tn  deliver  the  centennial  address  at  the  great  centennial  cele- 
bration then  held  in  Wooster,  the  writer  gave  this  subject  a study  that  he 
does  not  disturb;  and  feels  that  to  give  this  address  a permanent  place  in  the 
new  history  of  Wayne  county  would  be  pleasing  to  the  people  and  pertinent 
to  the  subject,  and  it  is  here  inserted  and  dedicated  to  our  great  ancestors: 


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GREAT  PRINCIPLES  OF  THE  PIONEER  FATHERS  AND  MOTHERS. 

[Address  delivered  by  Hon.  Lyman  R.  Critchfleld  at  the  Pioneer  Day  Centennial  cele- 
bration of  Wayne  county,  August  15,  1896.] 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 

As  a matter  of  philosophical  curiosity  I have  often  thought  that  moral 
reflection  assumed  the  aspect  of  capillary  attraction — the  ascension  of  succes- 
sive moral  ideas;  that  our  daily  business  thought  was  characterized  by  ex- 
pansion and  our  immoral  processes  of  mind  by  gravitation,  our  highest  trains 
of  thought  are  religious  and  are  the  most  ennobling  and  refining.  The  sensi- 
bilities constitute  the  highest  class  of  human  faculty,  and  hence  in  the  ethics 
of  religion,  which  display  the  grace  of  good  manners,  politeness,  taste,  beau- 
tiful expression,  luminosity,  a higher  conception  of  personal  art,  of  skill  and 
harmony,  and  reverence  for  the  good,  we  climb  to  the  height  of  an  exalted 
century.  This  is  civilization ! The  rhetoric  of  the  flags,  the  great  orations 
of  the  human  face,  the  ihutual  enthusiasm  of  reverence  for  the  pioneers,  are 
playing  upon  our  hearts  like  the  sunbeams  on  the  singing  statue  of  Memnon. 

Civilization  is  only  about  a hundred  years  old ! Liberty  is  only  about  a 
hundred  years  old ! The  republicanism  of  the  heart  is  only  about  a hundred 
years  old!  History  contains  no  such  beautiful  picture  as  the  pioneer  and 
his  wife,  as  they  stand  in  the  umbrageous  setting,  with  their  faces  all  glow- 
ing with  the  splendor  of  the  century  ahead ! 

Amidst  the  thronging  reminiscences  of  a hundred  years,  We  meet  in  com- 
memoration of  the  legal  incorporation  of  our  great  county,  and  with  grateful 
hearts  we  honor  the  pioneers.  Our  century  is  perfected  on  a day  of  beauty, 
in  a time  of  gorgeous  apparel,  in  an  illumination  of  many  fixed  stars  of 
progress.  Centuries  come  and  centuries  go,  and  man  goes  on  forever,  but 
the  world  has  never  witnessed  such  noble  sensibilities  intoning  the  harmony 
of  any  civilization.  August  15,  1796;  August  15,  1896!  We  gaze  upon  a 
century  of  virtue  and  love  and  liberty.  And  it  commenced  a hundred  years 
ago!  Noble  footsteps,  sweet  voices,  are  echoing  along  the  corridors  of  time. 
Flowers  of  every  hue  and  every  fragrance  are  blossoming  in  the  dust.  Rosv- 
fingered  Aurora,  as  she  stands  tiptoe  upon  the  misty  mountain-top,  gives  her 
first  morning  kiss  to  the  green  hillocks,  and  the  clustering  flowers,  beneath 
which  repose  the  divine  imagery  of  the  pioneers;  and  the  sun,  in  all  his  course, 
illumines  no  more  sacred  mould  than  that  which  was  wont  to  ennoble  life 
within  the  little  circle  of  our  woodland  heroes.  The  heroic  man!  Aye.  and 
the  heroic  Woman,  the  early  American  woman  of  more  than  historic  virtue,  of 
more  than  historic  courage. 


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With  what  inspiration  may  I conceive,  or  with  what  rhetoric  or  elo- 
quence may  I paint  the  physical  and  moral  picture  of  the  pioneers ; how  in  the 
fullness  of  the  providence  of  God  they  glowed  with  the  revelation  of  the  lib- 
erty and  power  of  the  people  in  government,  of  faith  in  a personal  God,  and 
in  immortality,  and  how  they  divinely  fixed  the  purity  of  domestic  life  and 
social  order,  and  the  dignity  of  woman,  and  endured  and  loved  through  the 
great  martyrdom  of  founding  the  greatest  institutions  of  the  world.  They 
were  the  philosophers  of  free  institutions.  They  were  the  greatest  of  their 
race.  Plume  ourselves,  as  self-love  may  dictate,  upon  our  higher  nerve  and 
less  muscle,  less  conflict  and  more  judicial  reflection,  we  are  less  brave  and 
less  pure  than  those  whose  voluntary  dedication  took  the  vanguard  on  the 
forest  lines  of  progress.  And  it  was  an  age  of  greatest  peoples  throughout 
the  world,  and  of  greatest  institutions  of  any  previous,  or  of  all  the  centuries. 
Excelling  as  did  the  pioneers  of  a hundred  years  ago,  our  philosophy  traverses 
the  prior  ages  for  the  great  formative  causes  of  the  illustrious  Americans, 
who  are  our  fathers  and  mothers.  To  acknowledge  the  eternal  sovereignty 
of  hereditary  influences  is  an  imperative  premise,  in  the  logic  of  American 
character.  And  we  may  recur  to  the  broken  annals  of  centuries.  We  may 
scan  the  absoq)tion  of  Greek  civilization  by  the  Romans,  the  downfall  of 
the  Roman  empire,  and  the  mixed  populations  of  Roman,  Goth  and  Vandal, 
and  Anglo-Saxon,  and  Hun,  and  Celt,  and  Dane,  with  all  their  diversity  of 
customs,  laws  and  religion,  and  the  storms  of  violence,  and  dissolution  of 
states,  and  warring  cities,  and  independent  principalities,  without  union  or 
magistracy,  all  bleeding  on  foreheads  debased  by  an  iron  crown,  dismembering 
into  a thousand  fragments,  and  forming  and  reforming  for  a thousand  years 
and  more,  over  all  the  European  states,  and  see  the  temper  of  populations 
toward  the  order,  constitutional  government  and  liberty  which  inspired  the 
American  pioneer  With  the  great  principles  of  government. 

Students  of  history,  as  all  Americans  were,  they  seem  to  have  had  the 
birthright  perception  of  the  grandeur  of  the  great  hereditary  thought  and 
impulse  which  a century  ago  presided  over  the  political,  moral  and  social  life 
of  the  great  pioneers.  For  twelve  centuries  the  struggle  went  on  of  arrogant 
baron,  and  city,  without  an  umpire;  then  an  elective  one,  then  an  elective 
monarchy,  then  an  hereditary  one:  then  the  struggle  for  constitutional  limi- 
tations of  regal  authority  and  all  authority.  As  long  practice  and  skill  in 
sculpture  worked  out  the  divine  beauty  of  the  Greek  woman,  or  reflection 
and  example  in  a thousand  tests  of  color  and  proportion  fixed  Pilate  to  future 
ages  uttering  his  “ecce  homo”  as  lie  delivered  Jesus  to  be  crucified,  so  we 


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may  trace  the  patriot  with  his  great  and  beautiful  face  and  exalted  bearing 
in  the  beginning  of  this  Western  empire,  fashioned  by  centuries  of  struggle. 
And  he  was  born  amidst  that  tumult  of  popular  revolution  which  then  and 
thereafter  ensanguined  the  battlements  of  every  modern  state. 

An  age  of  storms  lowered  upon  the  pioneers.  Product  of  the  evolution  of 
political  and  moral  causes,  our  fathers  were  felling  oaks  \vhile  the  invention 
of  Doc.  Guillotine  was  felling  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
heads  of  aristocracy,  and  monarchy,  which  had  grown  in  France  from  law- 
less banditism,  when  there  was  no  people  but  aristocracy,  and  feudal  serfs, 
and  enslaved  citizens  of  municipal  tyranny,  and  no  judicial  idea  in  govern- 
ment, and  no  executive  power  but  the  sword.  The  fathers  of  the  pioneers 
were  contending  with  savagery  in  a Western  hemisphere  while  the  feudal 
barons  were  slaughtering  their  poor  peasantry  in  the  Thirty  Years  war  in 
the  German  provinces.  Holland  was  struggling  for  liberty  under  the  Prince 
of  Orange,  Switzerland  by  isolation,  as  much  as  by  principle,  was  playing  her 
political  romance  in  her  mountains  fired  by  the  story  of  Tell,  the  Austrian 
Gessler,  and  the  immortal  Winkelried,  and  the  little  republic  of  San  Marino 
sat,  like  an  American  child,  amidst  the  flaming  and  bleeding  contentions  of 
the  Italian  cities.  Beyond  the  analysis  of  all  philosophy  a composite  English 
ancestry  of  Dane  and  Anglo-Saxon  and  Norman  had  risen  to  the  awful 
dignity  of  beheading  the  usurping  Charles  I,  and  English  democrats  like 
Vane  and  Sidney  and  Pym  and  Hampden  had  perished  on  the  scaffold,  or 
in  the  tower,  in  the  advocacy  of  constitutional  restriction  of  royal  oppression, 
and  of  the  power  of  the  representative  assembly,  the  great  House  of  Com- 
mons, to  govern  the  English  people.  Fleeing  from  the  revengeful  axe  of 
Charles  II,  the  regicides  and  the  ironsides  of  Cromwell,  and  from  the  religious 
inquisitions  of  the  state,  the  revolutionists,  the  vanguard  of  the  reign  of  the 
popular  will,  began  to  appear  in  Virginia,  in  North  Carolina  and  in  Mas- 
sachusetts; the  Quakers  and  German  in  Pennsylvania;  the  French  began  to 
appear  in  Louisiana,  and  all  European  populations  of  America  were  educated 
in  the  struggle  of  the  Middle  ages  for  the  unity  of  government  under  the 
limitations  of  law.  Under  magistracy  and  judicial  authority  of  government 
rose  the  pioneers.  The  great  constitution  of  the  United  States  is  but  the 
manifestation  of  the  judicial  elective  principle  which  struggled  for  its  ex- 
istence from  the  decline  and  fall  of  the  Roman  empire  to  the  day  of  its 
adoption.  The  pioneers  of  settlement  were  also  thoughtful  pioneers  of  great 
principles  of  government. 

But  the  science  of  pioneering  demanded  the  supremacy  of  another  great 
principle  of  life — religious  faith.  Vain  would  be  the  attempt  to  trace  the 


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history  of  that  philosophy  which  attempted  to  spiritualize  matter,  to  give  it 
self-creative  power,  and  to  analyze  the  human  mind  into  the  faculties  of  in- 
comprehension. Disclosing  the  most  abstruse  and  the  most  absurd  schools 
of  philosophers  involved  in  the  meshes  of  the  agnostic  fallacies  of  the  great 
unknowable — from  five  hundred  years  before  Christ — from  Pythagoras  and 
his  disciples  to  Socrates,  on  to  Plato  and  Aristotle,  and  Zeno,  and  Epicurus, 
and  their  disciples,  Greeks,  and  Seneca,  Lucretius  and  Cicero,  Romans,  to 
the  Middle  ages,  when  scholasticism  attempted  to  adjust  the  Christian  theory 
to  the  doctrines  of  Plato,  reason  became  imbecile  in  the  poison  of  infidelity, 
and,  like  government,  religion  was  wielding  its  sceptre  over  a world  of  con- 
fusion. And  then  modern  philosophy  arose,  and  the  German  reformation,  and 
the  emancipation  of  thought,  brought  upon  the  stage  Melancthon,  and  Eras- 
mus, and  Luther,  and  Locke  and  Lord  Bacon,  and  on  the  other  hand  Des- 
cartes, Spinosa,  Voltaire,  Leibnitz,  Kant,  Schilling,  Hegel,  and  later  followed 
by  Comte  and  Spencer,  and  hundreds  of  others,  the  former  supporting,  the 
latter,  in  platonic  renaissance,  attacking  the  great  idea  of  a personal  God. 
And  notwithstanding  the  cruelties  of  the  church,  its  inquisitions,  its  destruc- 
tion of  whole  communities,  the  corruptions  of  its  temporal  power,  and  the  deg- 
radation of  its  theology,  w'hich  transformed  our  Heavenly  Father  into  a 
savage,  who  took  delight  in  the  torture  and  death  of  the  inquisition,  and  not- 
withstanding the  almost  universal  influence  in  France  and  Germany  of  the 
infidel  philosophers,  Holland  and  Switzerland  and  England  stood  impreg- 
nable upon  that  promontory  of  progressive  thought  wiiere  God  had  erected 
the  lighthouse  of  religious  truth.  In  all  the  bloody  contentions  of  Catholic, 
and  Episcopalian,  of  state  religion,  Presbyterianism,  and  Puritanism,  of  Luth- 
eran and  Jesuit,  and  notwithstanding  the  French  infidelity  which  accom- 
panied French  supplies  and  arms  in  the  revolution,  there  flourished  the  great 
Christian  merchants  of  Manhattan,  the  poor,  but  inflexible  Puritan  of  Ply- 
mouth, the  refugee  of  the  Albigenses  and  Huguenots  of  the  Carolinas,  and  the 
Republican  Catholic  of  Maryland.  God  led  the  great  republican  hosts  from 
wilderness  to  wilderness  by  the  pillar  of  fire  and  pillar  of  cloud.  The  pioneer 
was  a Christian  and  the  prayerful  worshipper  of  a personal  Father. 

The  pioneers  believed  in  domestic  equality,  one  of  the  great  principles 
of  civilization,  which  emerged  from  the  dark  and  bloody  sea  of  the  Middle 
ages.  Disappearing  in  the  convulsions  of  empire,  the  beautiful  face  and  form 
of  the  Greek  female,  the  dignified  and  lofty  bearing  of  the  Roman  matron,  is 
seen  no  more  for  fifteen  enslaving  centuries.  As  they  were  even  in  the  hal- 
cyon days  of  their  renown  in  the  thoroughfares  of  Athens  and  Rome,  they 


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were  the  sport  of  the  law-maker;  and  in  the  common  perception  of  the  so- 
called  philosophers  of  the  prytaneum  of  the  one  city,  and  of  the  Roman  sen- 
ate, so  inferior  that  they  bore  the  personal  blows  of  their  husbands  and  the 
shadow  of  the  harem ; and  legal  brutality  and  death  clouded  the  bright  fancies 
of  their  exalted  sex. 

As  prisoners  of  war  enslaved,  trampled  to  death  by  a brutal  soldiery, 
the  females  of  the  dark  ages  gave  birth  to  inferior  men  and  women,  and 
through  all  the  tumult  of  cities  stormed,  and  estates  dismantled,  the  hideous 
process  of  depreciating  populations  made  progress  toward  the  mental  and 
moral  decreptitude  of  the  race,  and  prolonged  the  darkness  of  the  centuries. 
In  his  history  of  civilization,  Guizot  announces  that  marriage  was,  in  the 
dark  ages,  less  esteemed  than  continence  or  celibacy. 

Aroused  into  moral  enthusiasm  by  the  Crusades,  the  creation  of  some 
unity  and  protection  in  government  and  the  free  thought  and  Christian  light 
of  the  Reformation,  the  ancient  mothers  were  rehabilitated  in  something 
of  the  tenderness  and  adoration  with  which  remote  antiquity  had  clothed  them, 
and  as  the  principles  of  free  constitutions,  and  of  the  recognition  of  the  true 
personality  of  God  and  the  equality  of  all  souls  before  Him,  became  the  law 
of  liberty  and  social  life,  they  regained  the  queenly  crown  which  had  been 
beaten  from  woman’s  head  in  the  ages  of  violence.  And  she,  the  ornament 
of  the  new  world,  was  also  a pioneer,  and  around  her  the  protecting  arm 
of  her  husband  was  placed  in  tenderness  as  the  dangers  of  the  woods  uttered 
their  weird  voices,  and  her  noble  bosom  warmed  his  heart  as  it  grew  cold  in 
the  hardships  and  struggles  of  the  frontier. 

The  magnificent  conditions  of  their  freedom,  their  faith  and  their  love 
inspired  the  pioneers  with  the  noble  philosophy  of  republicanism. 

Washington  was  then  President  of  the  United  States;  the  eulogies  of 
history  were  ranking  him  with  Caesar  and  Fabius.  Napoleon  as  First  Con- 
sul was  imitating  his  swift  marches  and  sudden  attacks,  as  he  descended  into 
the  plains  of  Italy;  he  had  become  estranged  from  the  lordly  Fairfaxes  and 
the  aristocracy;  his  moderate  education,  his  long  marches  in  the  woods  as 
surveyor;  the  fidelity  of  the  common  people,  and  the  treason  of  the  influential, 
had  hedged  him  all  about  with  deathless  patriotism,  and  he,  with  the  Otises, 
and  Adams,  the  Morrises,  the  Putnams,  the  Carrols,  the  Jeffersons  and  Hamil- 
tons  constituted  a new  and  immortal  race  of  great  commoners.  They  had 
created  the  elective  and  popular  system  of  the  constitution ; they  had  by  the 
ordinance  of  1787  prohibited  slavery  in  all  this  Northwest  territory;  the 
common  schools  of  New  England  had  inspired  the  philosophical  analysis  of 


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human  rights;  Webster  and  Clay  and  Silas  .Wright  and  Benton  and  Jackson, 
and  the  great  statesmen  and  generals  of  the  West,  grew  into  majesty  as  the 
composite  blood  of  the  heroic  commonalty  swelled  the  heart  and  soul  of  a new 
nation  of  commoners;  commoners  who  fifty  years  thence  were  to  tie  them- 
selves to  the  masts  amidst  bursting  shells  and  cannon  balls,  or  from  some 
promontory  won  by  blood  pour  the  storms  of  resistless  war  upon  the  last 
surviving  deformity  of  feudal  arrogance  and  slavery.  Such  were  the  pio- 
neers; heralds  of  a great  nation,  a great  religion,  and  a great  domestic  life. 
Power  could  not  frighten  them ; infidelity  could  not  confuse  them ; divorce  did 
not  dishonor  them.  Believe  not  that  anything  of  outward  splendor  marked 
the  simplicity  of  their  great  appointment.  Moccasins  for  shoes,  homemade 
linen  or  woolen  for  clothes  somewhat  uncouth,  the  red  wammus,  the  coon- 
skin  cap,  the  uncut  hair  and  beard,  and  the  stalwart  frame  is  the  statue  of  the 
pioneer,  as  he  stands  in  the  background  of  the  forest  his  shining  rifle  barrel 
across  his  arms;  and  she  is  the  statue  in  flannel  clad,  with  a quilted  hood  in 
winter,  and  a calico  one  for  summer,  and  the  blush  of  the  clearing  upon  her 
cheek.  Longfellow's  Priscilla : 

She,  the  Puritan  girl,  in  the  solitude  of  the  forest, 

Making  the  humble  house  and  the  modest  apparel  of  home  spun, 

Beautiful  with  her  beauty,  and  rich  with  the  wealth  of  her  being! 

And  they  grew  upward  as  they  gazed  at  the  stars  through  the  tree-tops,  and 
their  steps  were  soft  in  the  moss  of  primeval  shade,  and  they  were  agile  and 
fleet  among  the  deer,  and  the  speculation  of  wary  watching  was  in  their  eves 
at  hostile  identations  of  the  leaves  of  pro'wling  animals  and  Indian  cunning. 
Near  by  some  limpid  spring  singing  in  rippling  monotone  the  subterranean 
song  of  cooling  hills,  rose  their  cabin  of  rounded  logs  and  puncheon  floors, 
with  doors  of  wooden  hinges,  and  windows  glassed  in  oil,  and  tables,  benches 
and  bedsteads  made  by  hand  from  the  growing  tree,  and  in  the  broad  fire- 
place with  its  external  chimney  of  sticks  and  mud,  the  housewife  cooked  with 
heated  cheeks  and  baked  her  cornbread  in  the  ashes,  and  sat  her  table  with 
pewter  plates ; bunches  of  sage  and  medicinal  roots  were  about  the  walls, 
and  the  rude  ceilings  were  festooned  with  strings  of  drying  pumpkins  and 
hanging  corn,  and  the  cabin  was  noiseless  in  the  shoeless  feet  of  children,  and 
upon  a rude  ladder  they  gracefully  ascended  garrets  to  their  evening  nests; 
and  the  lullabys  of  the  day  were  drowned  in  the  hum  of  the  spinning  wheel 
and  in  the  feathery  songs  of  the  surrounding  shades;  and  their  light  was  the 
tallow  dip,  and  their  clock  was  the  sunbeam  in  the  door;  and  the  leaves  pil- 


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lowed  and  mattressed  the  muscles  of  daily  struggle  among  the  roots,  and  sleep 
had  its  dreams  of  home.  Here  was  the  dignity  of  prose  amidst  the  romance 
and  poetry  of  nature.  Sallying  forth,  either  of  them  master  of  the  rifle,  either 
of  them  dispersed  the  prowling  panther  or  the  bear  from  the  stable  or  the 
pen: 


Hidden  in  the  alder  bushes 
There  he  waited  till  the  deer  came, 

Till  he  saw  two  antlers  lifted, 

Saw  two  eyes  look  from  the  thicket, 

Saw  two  nostrils  point  to  windward, 

And  a deer  came  down  the  pathway, 

Flecked  with  leafy  light  and  shadow. 

Scarce  a twig  moved  with  his  motion 
Scarce  a leaf  was  stirred  or  ruffled. 

And  the  fearless  and  noble  mother  met  the  Indian  at  the  doorway  and  cowed 
him  with  that  sternness  of  penetration  with  which  the  divinity  of  a noble 
glance  conquers  all  savage  life.  The  pioneers  were  incomparably  brave.  And 
around  them  were  prowling  the  nomadic  butchers  of  the  French  and  British 
wars,  who  veiled  their  clear  purpose  of  assassination  in  the  humble  hypocrisy 
of  a broken  tongue,  and  a simulated  friendship,  and  who  never  for  a moment 
ungrasped  the  murderous  weapon  which  their  orators  had  chosen  for  savage 
arbitration. 

A resident  of  Europe  in  pre-historic  times,  and  crossing  to  America 
upon  the  isthmus  of  the  fabulous  Atlantis,  or  in  the  opposite  of  Behring 
Straits,  a great  race  and  government  existed  in  America  before  the  acorns 
grew  to  mighty  oaks.  Vicissitudes  unwritten  dispersed  a dismembered  rem- 
nant before  the  mighty  presence  of  moral  forces.  Of  native  brain  and  ner- 
vous powers  excelled  by  few  of  the  human  family,  the  noble  virtues  were  ob- 
solete in  the  vacuity  of  moral  will,  and  the  cunning,  artifice,  and  cruelty,  with 
the  inventive  ingenuity  of  the  Indian,  were  in  the  menacing  shadows  which 
enveloped  the  pioneer;  and  he  became  learned  in  the  simulated  signals  of  the 
bear  and  the  mocking  bird  and  the  owl,  and  heard  their  warwhoop  in  the 
adjacent  wigwams,  and  looked  with  sacrificial  bravery  upon  the  terrors  with 
which  a confederacy  had  menaced  the  gathering  civilization  far-reaching 
from  the  woodland  realms  of  King  Philip,  Pontiac,  Tecumseh  and  Osceola. 
Upon  the  morning  horizon  of  the  pioneers  rose  the  savage  files,  and  he  heard 
the  savage  murmur  of  their  favorite  retreats. 


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Down  the  rivers,  o’er  the  prairies, 

Came  the  warriors  of  the  nations, 

Came  the  Delawares  and  Mohawks, 

Came  the  Choctaws  and  Comanches, 

Came  the  Shoshones  and  Blackfeet, 

Came  the  Pawnees  and  the  Omahaws, 

Came  the  Mandans  and  Dacotahs, 

Came  the  Hurons  and  Ojibways, 

With  their  weapons  and  their  war  gear 
Painted  like  the  leaves  of  autumn, 

Painted  like  the  sky  of  morning; 

In  their  faces  stern  defiance, 

In  their  hearts  the  feuds  of  ages, 

The  ancestral  thirst  of  venegance. 

But  danger  lurked  in  the  suppressed  fury  and  in  the  warning  glance  of 
the  pioneer,  and  his  moral  power,  rather  than  his  prowess,  working  in  the 
providence  for  which  he  prayed,  had  the  leverage  and  the  pressure  of  a great 
victory  over  savage  life;  and  the  growl,  and  the  chatter,  and  the  rustle,  and 
the  crackling,  and  the  ominous  impressions,  the  savage  undertones  of  nature, 
the  song  of  the  cricket,  the  hoarse  bass  of  the  frog,  the  dreadful  chimes  of 
the  rattlesnake,  the  rhythmic  pulsations  of  the  night,  the  weird  beating  vitality 
of  the  voiceless  woods,  mingled  With  the  echoes  of  the  warwhoop,  and  the 
drunken  chant  of  these  barbarians,  and  grew  by  the  moral  chemistry  of 
virtue  into  the  sweet  tenor  of  patience  and  endurance  in  the  great  soul  of  the 
pioneer.  Before  the  gigantic  savage  chief,  painted  hideously  for  war,  and 
with  a tiger’s  eye,  and  armed  with  gleaming  instruments  of  revenge  and 
of  death,  the  pioneer  was  the  royal  disarming  angel  of  a new  covenant  of  the 
family,  religious  faith  and  liberty. 

In  social  relations  the  pioneer  was  great  hearted.  Benevolence  and  hos- 
pitality reigned  in  the  cabins  of  the  pioneer.  Magnetic  forces  massed  the 
incomparable  few  into  raisings,  and  log  rollings,  and  huskings,  and  the  red 
ear  of  corn  made  fiery  faces  and  rumpled  frills.  Little  Killbuck  bore  upon 
his  tortuous  bosom  the  floating  raft  laden  with  skins  of  the  coon,  the  opos- 
sum, the  deer,  the  bear,  and  the  wild  cat,  and  a few  Spanish  or  American 
silver  dollars  to  exchange  at  Zanesville  for  salt  and  flour,  tobacco  and  Whisky, 
and  the  missionary  with  saddle  bags  on  horseback,  of  Baptist,  Presbyterian, 
Lutheran  or  Methodist,  was  welcomed  at  the  cabin  doors,  smoked  the  pipe 
of  peace,  strengthened  his  inspiration  with  the  bottle  of  tansy  bitters,  and 
related  the  news  of  long  Eastern  months,  and  how  the  government  at  Phila- 
delphia, at  New  York  or  Washington  still  lived,  how  the  great  commoners 
were  still  defying  the  world,  and  how  John  Marshall  was  electrifying  the 


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magistracy  of  the  older  continent,  by  his  great  luminous  conscience  and 
philosophical  intellect;  and  these  early  judges  of  the  township  exteriorly  rough 
and  interiorly  refined,  sat  upon  stumps  and,  as  jurors,  upon  logs,  and  ad- 
ministered justice  intuitionally  according  to  the  inspiration  of  the  Woods  and 
the  common  law  of  necessity. 

The  politician  was  a rara  a*  is  among  the  pioneers: 

Then  none  was  for  a party; 

Then  all  were  for  the  State; 

Then  the  great  man  helped  the  poor, 

And  the  poor  man  loved  the  great; 

Then  lands  were  fairly  portioned; 

Then  spoils  were  fairly  sold; 

The  romans  all  were  brothers 

In  the  brave  days  of  old. 

For  almost  a half  a century  from  the  formation  of  the  constitution, 
political  parties  were  mere  nomenclature,  and  but  little  less  than  depositaries 
of  exploded  suggestions  of  constitutional  debate.  Political  independence 
now  is  retrograding  to  the  more  noble  reflection  and  conservatism  of  the 
pioneer. 

Supposed  to  have  been  gradually  ascending  the  zenith  of  civilization,  if 
the  present  age  adorns  its  ascension  with  the  universality  of  great  physical 
condition,  of  education,  of  science,  of  art,  of  commerce,  of  architecture,  of 
magnificent  houses  and  great  cities,  and  great  churches  and  great  popula- 
tion, then  its  ascension  is  incomparably  true.  But  great  principles  have  not 
been  added  to  constitutional  government,  not  one  beam  from  the  effulgent 
throne  of  God,  not  one  throb  to  the  love  of  domestic  life,  not  one  impulse  to 
the  noble  souls  of  the  pioneer!  Patriotic,  religious,  pure,  patient,  suffering 
all  things,  and  true  and  unchanging  to  the  virtue  of  all  future  ages,  my  con- 
science, your  conscience,  at  this  hour,  are  full  of  the  glory  of  a great  ancestry, 
and  we  bow  before  them,  with  only  less  reverence  than  that  we  feel  for  the 
Divine  Father. 


Attended  by  thousands  of  people  of  Wayne  and  adjoining  counties,  this 
celebration  involved  a high  condition  of  the  sensibilities.  As  the  anniversary 
of  the  first  organization  of  the  county,  a hundred  years  presented  a panorama 
in  which,  from  the  log  cabin  to  the  palace,  from  a few  to  thousands,  from 
poverty  to  wealth,  from  humble  patriotism  to  greatness,  the  reminiscences 


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invoked  the  dearest  memories.  The  then  present  was  Worthy  of  the  past. 
Heroism  had  not  died.  There  were  present  the  heroes  of  the  great  wars. 

The  patriotic  spirit  of  the  people  of  Wayne  county  has  been  demonstrated 
in  every  war  of  the  republic.  Many  of  the  early  settlers  had  served  under 
Washington  ; they  joined  Gen.  Reasin  Beall  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  marched  to 
the  support  of  the  frontier  inhabitants  of  Wayne  and  Richland  counties,  and 
ultimately  to  Camp  Huron;  they  enlisted  and  fought  in  the  battles  of  the 
Mexican  war  of  1845;  they  volunteered  by  thousands  and  fought,  and  many 
of  them  perished,  in  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  in  1861,  and 
the  same  hereditary  patriotism  inspired  a noble  array  of  young  men  to  enlist 
in  the  war  with  Spain  in  1898.  Splendid  in  courage,  the  fathers  and  mothers 
of  early  Wayne  county  transmitted  their  virtues  to  their  posterity. 

WAYNE  AND  ASSOCIATE  COUNTIES  PROLIFIC  OF  GREAT  MEN. 

That  the  counties  of  Ohio  were  and  are,  respectively,  of  early  super- 
iority, leads  to  a broader  suggestion  and  inspiration  that  solves  the  riddle  of. 
Ohio's  great  leadership  and  presidential  glory  among  the  states.  The  people 
were  a distinguished  composite  race.  The  Celt,  the  Briton,  the  Dane,  the 
Saxon,  the  Norman,  the  German,  the  Welsh,  invulnerable  to  the  attack  of  the 
Roman  empire,  the  Virginian,  the  followers  of  Penn,  Maryland's  colonial 
great  men,  the  Puritan,  and  the  Dutch  of  Manhattan,  the  Scotch,  and  the 
courtiers  of  the  Carolinas;  this  composite  American  conceived  and  bred  a 
race  too  great  for  Britain,  and  transplanted  the  heroism  and  love  of  liberty, 
and  the  wisdom  that  attended  Washington  in  his  conquest  of  British  soil 
and  her  great  armies.  From  the  races  of  the  world  there  arises  the  new 
man,  and  the  new  woman,  exalted  to  the  intellectual  dominion  of  govern- 
ment, and  the  progenitors  of  forty  states.  Of  the  third  county  of  the  North- 
west, this  unrivalled  race,  whose  men  were  fearless  and  wise,  and  whose 
women  were  good  and  beautiful,  made  their  home  here  a hundred  years  ago. 
Government  was  the  absorbing  question  and  principles  of  government  the 
absorbing  philosophy. 

Into  the  very  nerves  of  men,  into  the  very  spirit  and  motive  of  action, 
into  the  very  and  only  scheme  of  growth,  individualism,  personal  liberty, 
patriotism,  l>ecame  incorporated  elements.  Liberty  echoed  in  the  crash  of 
the  falling  oaks.  She  was  delightful  in  the  sunshine  of  the  fields;  she  was 
aromatic  in  the  odor  of  the  flowers.  She  garlanded  the  determined  faces  of 
men  and  women  with  the  bloom  of  orchards,  and  golden  grain.  She  made 


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them  beautiful,  strong  and  heroic,  and  great  generations  of  eloquent,  thought- 
ful people  filled  Ohio.  The  eastern  division  of  the  Northwest,  and  the  wide 
territory  of  Wayne,  the  greatest  of  the  subdivisions  of  the  state,  was  un- 
equalled in  the  character  of  its  founders  in  all  the  counties  of  the  new  states 
of  the  Union.  This  splendid  inception  and  continuance  for  over  a century 
of  the  government  of  the  people,  we  may  safely  leave  to  the  present  and 
posterity,  and  repeat  the  invocation  of  Longfellow : 

Thou,  too,  sail  on,  O ship  of  State! 

Sail  on,  O Union,  strong  and  great! 

Humanity  with  all  its  fears, 

With  all  the  hopes  of  future  years, 

Is  hanging  breathless  on  thy  fate! 

We  know  what  Master  laid  thy  keel. 

What  workmen  wrought  thy  ribs  of  steel. 

Who  made  each  mast,  and  sail,  and  rope, 

What  anvils  rung,  what  hammers  beat, 

In  what  a forge,  and  what  a heat 
Were  shaped  the  anchors  of  thy  hope! 

Fear  not  each  sudden  sound  and  shock, 

’Tis  of  the  waves,  and  not  the  rock; 

'Tis  but  the  flapping  of  the  sail, 

And  not  a rent  made  by  the  gale! 

In  spite  of  rock  and  tempest’s  roar, 

In  spite  of  false  lights  on  the  shore, 

Sail  on,  nor  fear  to  breast  the  sea! 


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CHAPTER  IX. 


COUNTY,  STATE  AND  NATIONAL  REPRESENTATION. 

The  subjoined  is  a correct  list  of  the  various  officers  who  have  served 
from  Wayne  county,  in  various  official  capacities,  since  the  county’s  or- 
ganization in  1812.  The  members  of  Congress  who  have  represented  dis- 
tricts of  which  Wayne  county  formed  a part  were : 


Reasin  Beall 1813-1815 

David  Clendennin 1815-1817 

Peter  Hitchcock 1817-1819 

John  Sloan 1819-1821 

John  Sloan 1821-1823 

John  Sloan.  . . . .* 1823-1825 

John  Sloan 1825-1827 

John  Sloan 1827-1829 

John  Thomason 1829-1831 

John  Thomason 1831-1833 

Benjamin  Jones 1833-1835 

Benjamin  Jones 1835-1837 

Mathias  Shepler 1837-1839 

David  A.  Starkweather.  . . 1839-1841 

Ezra  Dean 1841-1843 

Ezra  Dean 1843-1845 

David  A.  Starkweather.  . 1845-1847 

Samuel  Lahm 1847-1849 

David  K.  Carter 1849-1851 

David  K.  Carter 1851-1853 

Harvey  H.  Johnson 1853-1855 

Philemon  Bliss 1855-1857 

Philemon  Bliss 1857-1859 

Harrison  G.  Blake 1859-1861 


Harrison  G.  Blake 1861-1863 

George  Bliss 1863-1865 

Martin  Welker 1865-1867 

Martin  Welker 1867-1869 

Martin  Welker 1869-1871 

James  Monroe 1871-1873 

James  Monroe 1873-1875 

James  Monroe 1875-1877 

William  McKinley,  Jr. . . . 1877-1879 

James  Monroe 1879-1881 

Addison  S.  McClure 1881-1883 

Joseph  D.  Taylor 1883-1885 

Isaac  H.  Taylor 1885-1887 

William  McKinley,  Jr. . . . 1887-1889 

M.  L.  Smyser 1889-1891 

A.  J.  Pearson 1891-1893 

J.  D.  A.  Richards 1893-1895 

Addison  S.  McClure 1895-1897 

John  A.  McDowell 1897-1899 

John  A.  McDowell 1899-1901 

J.  W.  Cassingham 1901-1903 

J.  W.  Cassingham 1903-1905 

M.  L.  Smyser 1905-1907 

W.  A.  Ashbrook 1907-1909 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION. 

The  members  of  the  Ohio  constitutional  convention  of  1851-52  were 
John  Larwill,  Leander  Firestone.  M.  D.,  and  E.  Wilson:  in  1873-74,  the  sec- 


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ond  constitutional  convention,  the  member  from  Wayne  county  was  John  K. 
McBride. 

STATE  SENATORS. 

Columbia,  Stark  and  Wayne  District — Lewis  Kinney  and  Joseph  Rich- 
ardson, 1812  to  1814;  John  Thompson.  1814  to  1816;  John  G.  Young,  1815 
to  1817. 

Stark  and  Wayne  District — John  Myers,  1816  to  1818;  Thomas  G. 
Jones,  1818  to  1820. 

Wayne  District — Thomas  McMillan,  1820  to  1824;  Edward  Avery, 
1824  to  1826. 

Wayne  and  Holmes  District — Joseph  H.  Larwill,  1826  to  1829,  resign- 
ing the  last  named  year. 

Wayne  District — Benjamin  Jones,  1829  to  1832;  Thomas  Robinson, 
1832  to  1836;  George  Wellhouse,  1836  to  1838;  Jacob  Ihrig,  1838  to  1840; 
John  H.  Harris,  1840  to  1842;  Charles  Wolcott,  1842  to  1844;  Levi  Cox, 
1844  to  1846;  John  Willford,  1846  to  1847;  Andrew  H.  Byers,  1847  to  1850. 

Wayne  and  Ashland  District — George  W.  Bull.  1850  to  1852. 

Wayne  and  Holmes  District — George  Rex,  1852  to  1854;  James  Hock- 
inberry,  1854  to  1856;  Joseph  Willford,  1856  to  1858;  D.  J.  Perkey,  1858  to 
i860;  Benjamin  Eason,  i860  to  1862. 

Wayne,  Holmes , Knox  and  Morrow  District — Davis  Miles,  1862  to  1864; 
Joseph  C.  Deven,  1864  to  1866;  Frank  H.  Hurd,  1866  to  1868;  Lyman  R. 
Critchfield,  1866  to  1867,  resigning  after  the  first  session  of  1866;  Robert  Jus- 
tice, 1867  to  1868,  filling  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Mr.  Critchfield;  George 
Rex  and  C.  H.  Scribner,  1868  to  1870;  Hinchmen  S.  Prophet,  1870  to  1872; 
Henry  McDowell,  1872  to  1874;  Daniel  Paul,  1874  to  1876;  John  Ault,  1876 
to  1878;  John  W.  Benson,  1878  to  1880;  E.  F.  Poppleton,  1878  to  1880;  J.  J. 
Sullivan,  1880  to  1882;  Benjamin  Eason,  1882  to  1884;  Allen  Levering,  1884 
to  1886;  J.  J.  Sullivan,  1886  to  1888;  J.  S.  Bra'ddock,  1888  to  1890;  John 
Zimmerman,  1890  to  1892;  Hugh  A.  Hart,  1891  to  1892,  vice  Zimmerman, 
deceased;  William  G.  Beebe.  1892  to  1894;  N.  Stilwell,  1894  to  1896;  W.  M. 
Harper,  1896  to  1898;  Lake  F.  Jones.  1898  to  1900;  N.  Stilwell,  1900  to 
1902;  N.  Stillwell,  1902  to  1904;  L.  B.  Houck.  1904  to  1906;  M.  Vanover, 
1906  to  1908;  John  M.  Thompson,  19C8  to  1910. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Stark  and  Wayne  District — Samuel  Coulter,  1813  to  1814;  William 
Henry,  1814  to  1815  ; John  Harris,  1815  to  1816.  From  1816  to  1848,  Wayne 
county  formed  a representative  district. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Wayne  District — Thomas  McMillan,  1816  to  1820;  Jacob  Barker,  1820  to 
1821;  Benjamin  Jones,  1821  to  1822;  Cyrus  Spink,  1822  to  1823:  Robert 
McClarran,  1823  to  1824;  James  Robinson.  1824  to  1825;  Jacob  Frederick, 
1824  to  1826;  David  McConahay,  1826  to  1829;  John  Lohr,  1828  to  1829; 
James  Robinson,  1829  to  1831 ; Jacob  Ihrig,  1830  to  1835;  Jacob  Ihrig,  1834 
to  1836;  Jacob  Miller,  1835  to  1836;  William  Peppard,  1837  to  1839;  Elzy 
Wilson,  1839  to  1840;  Thomas  Shreve,  1839  to  1841  ; Charles  Wolcott,  1841 
to  1842;  John  Larwill  and  Joseph  Willford,  1842  to  1843;  Peter  Wiloz,  1843 
to  1844;  John  Brown,  1844  to  1845;  Michael  Totten  and  Joseph  Willford, 
1845  to  1846;  George  Emery,  1846  to  1847;  Michael  Totten,  1847  to  J848. 

Wayne  and  Ashland  District — Abraham  Franks,  Jr.,  and  Jacob  Miller, 
1848  to  1849;  Abraham  Franks,  Jr.,  and  George  W.  Bull,  December,  1849, 
to  1850;  Charles  R.  Deming  and  Clinton  Wilson,  1850  to  1852. 

Wayne  District — Clinton  Wilson  and  Josiah  H.  Hitchcock,  1852  to  1854; 
Ezra  V.  Dean  and  Joseph  H.  Downing,  1854  to  1856;  John  W.  Buckingham 
and  Lorenzo  D.  Odell,  1856  to  1858;  Lorenzo  D.  Odell,  1858  to  i860;  Wil- 
liam C.  Moore,  i860  to  1862;  John  Ault,  1862  to  1864;  John  Brinkerhoff, 
1864  to  1866;  John  Ault,  1866  to  1868;  William  R.  Wilson,  1868  to  1872; 
Thomas  W.  Peckinpaugh,  1870  to  1874;  E.  B.  Eshelman,  1874  to  1876; 
Thomas  A.  McCoy,  1876  to  1878;  T.  A.  McCoy,  1878  to  1880;  A.  M.  Arm- 
strong, 1880  to  1882;  W.  P.  VanDooran,  1882  to  1884;  C.  C.  Stauffer, 
1884  to  1886;  J.  W.  Baughman,  1886  to  1888;  J.  W.  Baughman,  1888  to 
1890;  M.  J.  Carroll,  1890  to  1892;  M.  J.  Carroll,  1892  to  1894;  C.  H.  Weiser. 
1894  to  1896;  A.  Wiley,  1896  to  1898;  A.  Wiley,  1898  to  1900;  U.  F.  Wells, 
1900  to  1902;  U.  F.  Wells.  1902  to  1904;  Ed.  S.  W ertz,  1904  to  1906;  Ed. 
S.  Wertz,  1906  to  1908;  Price  Russell,  1908  to  1910. 

GENERAL  REPRESENTATION  FROM  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

In  the  state  and  national  government  Wayne  county  has  furnished  the 
following  men : 

Judge  of  the  supreme  court,  Edward  Avery  and  George  Rex;  Martin 
Welker,  lieutenant  governor  and  judge  of  the  United  States  court  for  the 
northern  district  of  Ohio;  Hugh  A.  Hart,  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Campbell; 
John  MeSweenev.  Jr.,  as  trustee  of  several  state  institutions;  Leander  Fire- 
stone. as  superintendent  of  the  Ohio  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Columbus  and 
of  the  Northern  Ohio  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Xewberg;  John  Sloane,  as 
secretary  of  state  for  Ohio,  and  secretary  of  the  treasure  of  the  United  States. 


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under  President  William  Henry  Harrison;  Gen.  Reasin  Beall,  as  major-gen- 
eral of  the  United  States  army;  Louis  P.  Ohliger,  collector  of  internal  rev- 
enue; James  Newkirk,  statistician  for  the  state;  Benjamin  Jones,  a member 
of  the  third  state  board  of  equalization;  Jacob  Ihrig,  member  of  the  fifth  state 
board  of  equalization;  William  Barton,  member  of  the  seventh  board  of 
equalization. 

THE  CIRCUIT  COURT. 

A circuit  court  was  created  by  an  amendment  to  the  constitution,  to  con- 
sist of  three  judges.  The  circuit  consists  of  the  following  fifteen  counties : 
Ashland,  Coshocton,  Delaware,  Fairfield,  Holmes,  Knox,  Licking,  Morgan, 
Morrow,  Muskingum,  Perry,  Richland,  Stark,  Tuscarawas  and  Wayne. 

The  following  members  of  the  bar  have  acted  as  judges  in  this  court: 
Charles  Follet,  John  W.  Turner,  John  W.  Albaugh,  John  I.  Adams,  Julius 
C.  Pomerene,  Charles  Kibler,  George  E.  Baldwin,  Richard  M.  Voorhis,  Silas 
M.  Douglass,  M.  H.  Donahue,  Martin  L.  Smyzer,  John  W.  Swartz,  T.  T.  Mc- 
Carty, Frank  Taggart,  John  W.  Craine  and  John  Shields. 

The  present  court  is  composed  of  Frank  Taggart,  M.  H.  Donahue  and 
Richard  M.  Vorhis. 


JUDGES  OF  COMMON  PLEAS  COURT. 

The  dates  below  are  when  the  judges  were  elected,  as  a rule: 


Benjamin  Ruggles 1812 

William  Wilson 1816 

George  Todd 1816 

Alexander  Harper 1822 

Ezra  Dean 1834 

Jacob  Parker 1841 

Levi  Cox 1848 

Martin  Welker 1852 

William  Sample 1857 

William  Given 1859 

Joseph  FI.  Downing.  1866 

William  Reed 1867 

('lurles  C.  Parsons 1877 


(12) 


Carolus  F.  Voorhis 1878 

J.  D.  Nicholas 1887 

W.  Stillwell 1883 

E.  S.  McDowell 1888 

E.  S.  McDowell. 1893 

John  T.  Maxwell 1897 

Frank  Taggart 1896 

(Vice  McDowell,  deceased.) 

C.  Pomerene 1897 

John  T.  Maxwell 1897 

S.  B.  Eason 1898 

Samuel  FI.  Nicholas 1907 

W.  E.  Weygandt 1908 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ASSOCIATE 

JUDGES. 

Christian  Smith 

1812 

Jacob  Frederick 

1826 

David  Kimpton 

1812 

James  Robinson . . 

ro 

00 

John  Cisna 

1812 

Hugh  Culbertson 

1833 

David  McConahav 

1819 

Stephen  F.Day 

1833 

Thomas  Townsend. . . . 

18x9 

George  Wellhouse 

1838 

Thomas  G.  Jones 

Samuel  N.  Bissell 

1845 

Tohn  Nimmon 

1819 

Smith  Orr 

1847 

John  Patton 

1821 

Neal  McCoy 

1848 

William  Goodfellow. . . 

Thomas  Robinson 

1848 

Hezekiah  Bissell 

1826 

James  Swart 

1849 

By  the  constitution  of  1852  associate  judges  were  abolished. 


CLERKS  OF  COMMON  PLEAS  COURT. 

William  Larwill  was  appointed  clerk  of  this  court  by  the  supreme  judges 
of  the  state  of  Ohio,  for  seven  years,  the  length  of  a term,  serving  from  1812 
to  1826  in  all  in  this  office;  Levi  Cox  served  from  1826  to  1828;  from 
1828  to  1852,  William  Larwill,  John  Sloane  and  Samuel  L.  Lorah  conducted 
the  office,  though  here  the  record  is  not  quite  clear  as  to  the  years  served  by 
these  gentlemen.  From  there  on  the  record  is:  Benjamin  Eason,  1852  to 

1858;  William  Weiker,  1858  to  1861;  C.  C.  Parsons,  Sr.,  1862  to  1868; 
John  W.  Baughman,  1868  to  1874;  George  Power,  1874  to  1877;  George 
Power,  1877  to  1880;  John  Van  Nostran,  1880  to  1886;  Eli  Zaring,  1886  to 
1892;  D.  W.  Musselman,  1892  to  1898;  Samuel  Esselburn,  1898  to  1904; 
J.  Harrold,  1904  to  1910. 


COUNTY  TREASURERS. 

William  Smith  was  appointed  first  county  treasurer  in  1812.  The  first 
executed  treasurers  bond  on  record  in  the  auditor’s  office  is  that  of  Francis 
H.  Foltz,  dated  1819.  the  office  to  be  held  by  him  until  the  first  Monday  of 
the  following  June.  In  1820  a similar  bond  was  executed  by  Mr.  Foltz. 
In  1822  Samuel  Quimby  was  appointed  to  the  office,  holding  it  until  1830, 
when  he  was  duly  elected,  filling  the  position  for  eight  more  years.  James 
Finley  was  elected  in  1837,  and  held  the  office  twelve  years.  The  list  from 
the  above  dates  to  the  present  time  is  as  follows: 


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Neal  Power 1849 

David  Carlin 1853 

John  Zimmerman 1857 

M.  W.  Pinkerton 1861 

Anthony  W right 1 863 

M.  W.  Pinkerton 1865 

Jacob  B.  Koch 1867 

John  R.  Helman 1871 

Lewis  P.  Ohliger 1875 

J.  S.  Caskey 1879 


H.  McClarran 1883 

R.  B.  Wasson 1887 

C.  M.  Lovett 1891 

A.  B.  Blackburn 1895 

D.  Heller 1899 

George  J.  Kreiger 1903 

George  J.  Kreiger 1905 

George  J.  Kreiger 1907 

W.  H.  Zaugg 1909 


COUNTY  AUDITORS. 

From  1810  to  1820  the  county  commissioners  appointed  their  clerks, 
who  did  the  duties  now  discharged  by  the  county  auditors.  In  1820  the  office 
of  clerk  of  commissioners  was  abolished,  and  that  of  county  auditor  created. 


Cyrus  Spink 1 820- 1821 

Cyrus  Spink 1821-1 822 

Samuel  Knapp 1822-1823 

Samuel  Knapp 1823-1 824 

Samuel  Knapp 1 824- 1 826 

Samuel  Knapp 1 826- 1 828 

John  Smith 1828-1834 

John  H.  Harris 1836-1840 

Michael  Totten 1840-1844 

A.  H.  Byers 1844-1846 

Lucian  Upham.  1846-1848 

J.  P.  Coulter 1 848- 1 852 

C.  C.  Parsons,  Sr 1852-1854 

Thomas  A.  Adair 1854-1856 

Frederick  Fluke 1856-1858 

Thomas  A.  Adair 1858-1860 

F rederick  Fluke 1 860- 1 864 

T.  W.  Peckinpaugh 1864-1868 

David  Kling 1868-1870 

W.  W.  Hamilton 1870-1872 


George  W.  Henshaw 1872-1873 

W.  W.  Hamilton died  1873 

J.  H.  Carr served 

T.  J.  McElhenie.  1874-1878 

John  B.  Wilson. 1878-1880 

John  B.  Wilson 18801882 

John  B.  Wilson 1882-1884 

T.  E.  Peckinpaugh 1884-1886 

T.  E.  Peckinpaugh 1886-1888 

T.  E.  Peckinpaugh 1888-1890 

Henry  Marshall 1890-1892 

Henry  Marshall 1892-1894 

Henry  Marshall 1894-1896 

A.  B.  Peckinpaugh 1896-1898 

A.  B.  Peckinpaugh 1898-1900 

A.  B.  Peckinpaugh 1900-1902 

I.  N.  Hough 1902-1904 

I.  N.  Hough 1904-1906 

I.  N.  Hough 1906-1909 

James  L.  Zering 1909 


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l8o  WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


PROBATE 

JUDGES. 

Samuel  L.  Lorah 

. . .1852-1855 

Isaac  Johnson 

. . . .1881-1887 

Henry  Buckmaster .... 

. . .1855-1858 

Hiram  B.  Swartz.  . . . 

....  1887-1890 

Thomas  Johnson 

. . . 1858-1864 

Hiram  B.  Swartz.  . . . 

1890-1893 

Henry  J.  Lehman 

. . . 1864-1867 

John  C.  McClarran.. 

1893-1899 

John  K.  McBride 

. . .1867-1873 

Robert  L.  Adair 

....1899-1905 

Joseph  H.  Downing. . . 

. . . 1873-1876 

T.  W.  Orr 

1905-1908 

Aquila  Wiley 

. . . 1876-1878 

T.  W.  Orr 

1908 

John  P.  Jefferies 

. . .1878-1881 

SHERIFFS. 

Josiah  Crawford 

. . . 1814-1814 

William  Coulter 

1876-1878 

Robert  Orr 

. . . 1814-1818 

William  Coulter 

. . . . 1878-1880 

John  Updegraff 

. . . 1818-1820 

H.  E.  Messmore.  . . . 

....  1880-1882 

Joseph  Barkdull 

. . . 1820-1824 

H.  E.  Messmore.... 

1882-1884 

John  Smith 

. . . 1824-1828 

Jacob  Mougev 

....  1884-1886 

Thomas  Robison 

. . . 1828-1832 

Jacob  Mougey 

. . . . 1886-1888 

Mathias  Johnston 

. . .1832-1836 

E.  A.  Brown 

1888-1890 

Daniel  Yarnell 

. . . 1836-1838 

E.  A.  Brown 

1890-1892 

M.  C.  Shant 

. . . 1838-1842 

John  Brown 

. . . . 1892 

Samuel  Kermickel .... 

. . . 1842-1846 

(Vice  E.  A.  Brown, 

deceased. ) 

Samuel  Cutter 

. . . 1846-1848 

Cyrus  D.  Smith 

. . . . 1892-1894 

George  W.  Lorah 

. . . 1848-1852 

W.  W.  Garver 

....  1894-1896 

John  Bechtel 

. . .1852-1856 

W.  W.  Garver 

. . . . 1896-1898 

Neal  McCoy 

...1856-1858 

J.  S.  McCov 

. . . . 1898-1900 

W.  A.  Eaken 

. . . 1858-1860 

J.  S.  McCoy 

. . . . 1900-1902 

Joshua  Wilson 

. . . 1860-1864 

Armstrong  Brown.  . . 

....  1902-1904 

John  B.  France 

. . . 1864-1868 

Armstrong  Brown.  . . 

. . . . 1904-1906 

George  Steele 

. . . 1868-1872 

W.  M.  Caskey 

. . . . 1906-1908 

Jacob  R.  Bowman .... 

. . . 1872-1876 

W.  M.  Caskev 

. . . . 1908 

COU  NTY  C( ) M MISSION EKS. 

1811 —  James  Morgan,  John  Carr  and  Jacob  Foulkes. 

1812 —  Janies  Morgan,  Jacob  Foulkes  and  John  Carr. 

1813 —  Oliver  Jones.  Jonathan  Butler  and  Benjamin  Miller. 


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1814 —  Oliver  Jones  and  Samuel  Mitchell. 

1815 —  Oliver  Jones,  Samuel  Mitchell  and  Robert  McClarran. 

1816 —  Samuel  Mitchell,  George  Bair  and  Aaron  Baird. 

1817 —  George  Bair,  John  Lawrence  and  Thomas  Taylor. 

1818— 19 — John ‘Lawrence,  James  Robison  and  Benjamin  Jones. 

1820 —  John  Lawrence,  Matthew  Johnson  and  James  Robison. 

1821 —  Matthew  Johnson,  Charles  Hoy  and  Joseph  H.  Larvvill. 

1822 —  Charles  Hoy,  Matthew  Johnson  and  Basil  H.  Warfield. 

1823 —  B.  H.  Warfield,  William  McFall  and  Charles  Hoy. 

1824 —  B.  H.  Warfield,  William  McFall  and  James  Hindman. 

1825 —  William  McFall,  James  Hindman  and  Stephen  Coe. 

1826 —  James  Hindman,  Stephen  Coe  and  Abram  Ecker. 

1827— 28 — Stephen  Coe,  Abram  Ecker  and  George  Wellhouse. 

1829 —  Jacob  Ihrig,  Stephen  Coe  and  George  Wellhouse. 

1830 —  Stephen  Coe,  George  Wellhouse  and  John  P.  Coulter. 

1831— 32 — John  P.  Coulter,  Samuel  Wilford  and  George  Wellhouse. 

1833 —  Samuel  Wilford,  George  Wellhouse  and  James  McFadden. 

1834 —  George  Wellhouse,  James  McFadden  and  Peter  Emery. 
*835-36 — James  McFadden,  Peter  Emery  and  Andrew  Ault. 

1837- 38 — James  McFadden,  Andrew  Ault  and  William  Burgen. 

1839 —  Andrew  Ault,  William  Burgen  and  James  Cameron. 

1840 —  Andrew  Ault,  James  Cameron  and  John  Hess. 

1841 —  John  Hess,  James  Y.  Pinkerton  and  James  Cameron. 

1842 —  James  Y.  Pinkerton,  Henry  Swart  and  Josh  Kelley. 

1843— 44 — James  Y.  Pinkerton,  Henry  Swart  and  John  Walters. 

1845 —  James  Y.  Pinkerton,  John  Walters  and  Clinton  Wilson. 

1846 —  James  Y.  Pinkerton,  Clinton  Wilson  and  Moses  Foltz. 

1847— 48 — Clinton  Wilson,  John  Rice  and  Moses  Foltz. 

1849 —  Clinton  Wilson,  John  Rice  and  Henry  Kramer. 

1850- 51 — Henry  Kramer,  J.  M.  Blackburn  and  Conrad  Franks. 
1852-53 — J.  M.  Blackburn,  Conrad  Franks  and  John  Hough. 

1854 —  J.  M.  Blackburn.  J.  B.  Gregor  and  J.  Hough. 

1855 —  J-  B*  Gregor,  J.  M.  Blackburn  and  Alex  Ramsey. 

1856 —  Benjamin  Norton,  J.  B.  Gregor  and  Alex  Ramsey. 

1857 —  Alex  Ramsey,  William  Barton  and  Benjamin  Norton. 

1858 —  Benjamin  Norton,  William  Barton  and  John  Sickman. 

1859— 60 — William  Barton,  John  Sickman  and  Henry  Shreve. 
1861-62 — Henry  Shreve,  V.  W.  Ault  and  William  Barton. 


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1863-64 — Henry  Shreve,  V.  W.  Ault  and  Joseph  Firestone. 

1865 —  V.  W.  Ault,  S.  M.  Henry  and  Joseph  Firestone. 

1866 —  V.  W.  Ault,  S.  M.  Henry  and  A.  Dawson. 

1867 —  S.  M.  Henry,  A.  Dawson  and  John  McGill. 

1868 —  S.  M.  Henry,  I.  Schriber  and  A.  Dawson. 

1869— 70 — S.  M.  Henry,  I.  Schriber  and  A.  Adair. 

1871 —  I.  Schriber,  A.  Adair  and  John  W.  Newkirk. 

1872 —  I.  Schriber,  J.  W.  Newkirk  and  F.  N.  Haskins. 

18 73 —  John  W.  Newkirk,  F.  N.  Haskins  and  Benjamin  Weygandt. 

1874 —  Benjamin  Weygandt,  F.  N.  Haskins  and  Peter  Stair. 

1875— 76 — Benjamin  Weygandt,  Peter  Stair  and  Henry  Goudy. 

By  years  the  following  were  elected: 


1878 —  E.  Quinby,  Jr. 

1879 —  Peter  Mougey. 

1880 —  E.  Spangler 

1882 —  John  McGlenen. 

1883 —  Isaiah  Byall. 

1884 —  W.  Spangler. 

1885 —  John  McGlenen. 

1886 —  Isaiah  Byall. 

1887 —  W.  Spangler. 

1887 —  L.  Graber. 

1888 —  Jacob  Hess. 

1889 —  John  McGlenen. 

1890 —  Anderson  Oberlin. 
1890 — Jacob  Hess. 

1892 —  P.  H.  Blosser. 

1893—  M.  M.  Miller. 


1894 —  E.  J.  Pocock. 

1895 —  P.  S.  Blosser. 

1896 —  M.  M.  Miller. 

1898 —  J.  W.  Cutter. 

1899 —  Dan  Leiner. 

1900 —  John  Ramsey. 

1901 —  John  F.  Harrison. 

1902 —  W.  Ramsey. 

1904 —  S.  I.  Lehman. 

1905 —  J.  F.  Harrison. 

190 6—  j.  F.  Villard. 

1907 —  D.  Mcllvain. 

1908 —  J.  F.  Harrison. 

1909 —  G.  W.  Plasterer. 
1909 — J.  F.  Villard. 


COUNTY  SURVEYORS. 


Joseph  H.  Larwill 1814-1815 

Cyrus  Spink 1815-1817 

Samuel  Knapp 1817-1 81 S 

James  L.  Spink 1818-1819 

Cyrus  Spink 1819-1820 

James  L.  Spink 1820-1821 

C.  W.  Christmas 1821-1832 


George  Emery 1832-1837 

C.  W.  Christmas 1837-1838 

John  A.  Lawrence 1838-1844 

John  Brinkerhoff 1844-1847 

Lorenzo  D.  Odell 1847-1850 

John  Brinkerhoff 1850-1863 

J.  H.  Lee 1863-1872 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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John  Brinkerhoff 1872-1875 

E.  D.  Shreve 1875-1883 

John  Brinkerhoff 1883-1886 

Philip  Markley 1886-1896 


H.  U.  Mowery 1896-1901 

Henry  M.  Knepp 1901-1908 

Henry  M.  Knepp 1908 


COUNTY  RECORDERS. 


William  Larwill 

. . 1813-1819 

James  F.  Methven...., 

. . 1873-1876 

Levi  Cox 

. .1819-1833 

Jacob  Stark 

. . 1876-1879 

Joseph  Clingan 

• • 1833-1836 

Jacob  Stark 

. . 1879-1882 

J.  Thompson 

. . 1836-1842 

Henry  Marshall 

. . 1882-1888 

J.  W.  Crawford 

. . 1842-1848 

Joseph  A.  Schuch 

. . 1888-1894 

H.  J.  Conner 

. . 1848-1854 

Florian  Schaffter 

. . 1894-1900 

H.  J.  Kauffman 

. .1854-1858 

L.  G.  Franks 

. . 1900-1906 

Emanuel  Schuckers . . . 

. . 1858-1864 

A.  S.  Saurer 

. . 1906-1909 

Gideon  B.  Somers.... 

. . 1864-1867 

A.  S.  Saurer 

..1909- 

Charles  E.  Graeter .... 

. . 1867-1873 

PROSECUTING 

ATTORNEYS. 

Roswell  M.  Mason . . . . 

1812 

Hamilton  Richeson 

1864 

Nathaniel  Mather 

18x4 

Thomas  Y.  McCray.  . . 

1868 

J.  W.  Halleck 

1815 

Martin  L.  Smyser 

1872 

Alexander  Harper 

E.  S.  Dowell 

1874 

W.  B.  Raymond 

1817 

E.  S.  Dowell 

1876 

H.  Curtis 

1818 

Cvrus  A.  Reider 

1878 

Lucas  Flattery 

1819 

John  McSweeney,  Sr.  . 

1882 

Levi  Cox 

1825 

John  McSweeney,  Sr.. 

1885 

William  McMahon.  . . . 

1840 

A.  D.  Metz 

1888 

Eugene  Pardee 

Ross  W.  Funck 

1894 

George  W.  Wasson . . . 

1846 

William  E.  Weygandt. 

1897 

George  Rex 

1848 

Eugene  Carlin 

1903 

John  McSweeney,  Sr.  . 

1852 

Eugene  Carlin 

1906 

John  P.  Jeffries 

1856 

L.  R.  Critchfield,  Sr.  . . 

1908 

George  Rex 

i860 

INFIRMARY  DIRECTORS. 

The  first  infirmary  directors  of  Wayne  county  were  Casper  T.  Richey, 
John  Brinkerhoff  and  Thomas  McKee.  Jacob  Hoffman  was  elected  in  1852, 


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serving  four  years.  I.  N.  Jones  was  appointed  to  fill  a vacancy  occasioned 
by  the  resignation  of  Jacob  Hoffman  and  was  elected  in  1855,  serving  ten 
years.  John  Hindman  was  elected  in  1855  and  served  a term  of  six  years. 
Thomas  Elliott  was  elected  in  1857  and  served  six  years.  Aaron  Franks 
was  elected  in  1861,  serving  six  years.  Benjamin  Norton  served  three  years 
and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew  Moore  in  1865,  and  he  held  the  office  for 
six  years.  Jacob  Kramer  was  elected  in  1866  and  served  for  six  years. 
Jacob  Halfhill  was  elected  in  1867,  served  two  months,  and  died.  Charles 
Gasche  was  elected  in  1872,  serving  six  years.  Joseph  Holtzer  was  elected 
in  1872  and  served  six  years.  Adam  Eyman  was  elected  in  1873.  John 
Alexander  was  elected  in  1876.  James  McClarran  was  elected  in  1877. 
Other  directors  have  been  elected  as  follows:  James  McClarran,  1877; 

Peter  Buell,  1878;  John  H.  Alexander,  1879;  James  Taggart,  1881;  J.  F. 
Seas,  1883;  Francis  Little,  1887;  Mr.  Marshall,  1886;  Mr.  Langell,  1888; 
A.  M.  Smedley,  1899;  John  Martin,  1893;  Perry  D.  Cotterman,  1894; 
John  Martin,  1890;  C.  F.  Plasterer,  1889;  A.  H.  Smedley,  1896;  Ira  C. 
Hindman,  1897;  Ira  C.  Hindman,  1900;  E.  D.  Amons,  1901;  A.  Straits, 
1902;  W.  D.  Rosier,  1904;  Andrew  Butler,  1906;  J.  A.  Hamilton,  1908; 
Bradley  Ihrig  and  A.  H.  Smedley,  also  L.  N.  Patterson,  1908. 


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CHAPTER  X. 


EDUCATIONAL. 

When  the  pioneer  band  settled  in  the  forest  lands  of  Wayne  county 
they  came  to  build  for  themselves  homes,  and  to  most  of  them  that  included 
the  proper  training  of  their  children,  both  in  intellect  and  morals.  The 
church  and  the  school  house  were  the  first  things  sought  for  after  the  cabin 
home  had  been  reared  and  a small  patch  of  timber  had  been  cleared  away, 
on  which  land  was  to  be  grown,  the  first  crops  upon  which  the  hardy  pio- 
neer settler  was  to  feed  his  little  flock. 

Wayne  county  was  in  no  wise  behind  her  sister  counties  in  establish- 
ing her  school  system,  and  year  by  year  improved  it  until  today  no  county 
has  better  grades  of  public  schools  than  are  found  here.  At  first  this  county, 
in  common  with  all  sections  of  the  United  States  at  that  early  date,  depended 
on  the  subscription  school  for  the  primary  education  of  their  children. 

PRIMITIVE  SCHOOLS. 

Perhaps  no  better  description  of  the  early-day  schools  in  Wayne  county 
can  be  given  the  reader  of  today  than  to  quote  from  the  late  Ben  Douglas, 
who  had  lived  here  and  made  a careful  study  of  the  growth  of  the  school 
systems  of  Ohio  from  the  earliest  times  to  the  date  he  incorporated  the  fol- 
lowing into  a chapter  of  his  “Wayne  County  History/'  published  in  1878. 
It  reads  as  follows : 

“The  primitive  school  house,  as  described  to  us,  was  eighteen  feet 
square,  built  of  logs,  round  or  hewn,  as  the  caprice  of  the  builders  suggested. 
It  had  a floor  of  split  logs  called  puncheons;  it  was  roofed  with  clapboards, 
with  ridge  poles  to  hold  them  to  their  places  and  keep  the  wind  from  blow- 
ing them  away.  At  the  one  end  was  a fireplace, — in  fact,  in  many  instances, 
the  whole  end  was  devoted  to  such  use,  and  therein  were  rolled  and  tumbled 
in  immense  back-logs.  At  the  other  end  was  a door  with  latch  and  string, 
and  a window  was  formed  by  sawing  out  a section  of  a log,  inserting  therein 
a light  frame  and  stretching  over  the  same  some  white  oiled  paper. 

“In  the  center  of  the  room  were  slabs  which  were  used  for  benches, 
without  backs,  and  these  were  set  on  feet,  or  sticks  set  up  perpendicularly  at 


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each  end.  Boards  arranged  at  a slope  were  fixed  for  the  ‘on  scholars,’  on 
which  to  put  their  copy  books  and  slates. 

“These  early  schools  were  gotten  up  by  subscriptions,  that  is,  parents 
subscribed  so  much  for  each  member  of  the  family  ; if  they  sent  one,  so  much; 
if  more,  that  much  in  proportion  more.  These  subscriptions  were  usually  for 
a quarter,  and  the  school  commonly  began  November  ist.  Though  it  was 
a short  term,  it  was  sometimes  long  for  the  teacher.  The  instructor  was 
most  anybody  they  could  pick  up;  sometimes  an  intelligent  neighbor,  some- 
times the  peripatetic  gentleman  ‘from  York  State.'  In  those  days  the  teacher 
was  held  in  great  esteem,  aye,  reverence.  He  was  a master,  and  was  sup- 
posed to  know  everything.  He  could  solve  puzzles,  do  sums,  make  capital 
letters,  sometimes  he  drank  nothing  but  milk,  and  his  last  and  most  un- 
fortunate gift  was  that  he  could  sing.  He  always  kept  ‘order’  in  the  school 
room,  his  weapons  to  make  the  scholars  ‘behave'  consisting  of  a rule  and  a 
well-filled  quiver  of  ‘gads.’ 

“When  he  touched  somebody’s  son  he  employed  his  whole  intellect. 
If  perchance  he  thumped  him  he  did  it  bodily — boldly.  If  he  struck  his 
knuckles  with  his  club,  he  did  it  with  refined  courage;  if  he  pulled  his  ears — 
why  this  was  government.  At  this,  the  father  thought  the  child  was  being 
instructed.  He  pretty  nearly  always  boarded  with  the  scholars,  and  of  nights 
he  would  call  them  around  him,  the  little  trembling  urchins,  with  black 
marks  on  their  tender  backs  which  resulted  from  his  cruel  hammerings 
during  the  day,  and  pat  them  on  the  head  and  cheeks  and  tell  the  parents 
how  apt  and  smart  they  were;  that  this  was  Cincinnatus  and  that  a Cicero. 
The  father  would  take  it  ‘all  in’  and  reflectively  remark  to  his  good  wife 
of  the  fame  that  was  sure  to  come  upon  them. 

“Sometimes  the  scholars  would  ‘bar’  their  teacher  out  on  Christmas 
or  New  Year’s  day  and  then  his  Satanic  majesty  was  to  pay  with  a depleted 
purse.  He  might  break  in  the  door,  or  crawl  through  a window,  or  jump 
down  the  chimney;  or  if  there  were  any  big  scholars  in  attendance,  he  would 
‘cave  in’  and  promise  to  ‘set  ’em  up’  the  next  day.  The  ‘treat’  he  would  fur- 
nish would  be  composed  of  candles,  cakes  and  gimcracks.  On  the  last  day 
of  the  school  the  heads  of  the  family  would  assemble  and  the  master  would 
use  some  endearing  terms  to  parting  children  and  their  fond  fathers 
and  mothers. 

“The  subjects  taught  were  the  three  rules — celebrated  rules — ‘Readin’, 
Ritin’  and  Rithmetic’  to  the  rule  of  Three.  If  the  teacher  said  he  could 
go  this  far  he  was  hired  with  no  further  examination.  If  a pupil  could  bound 
the  United  States  he  was  considered  classic  and  fit  to  preach  or  practice  law. 


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Spelling  was  a big  thing,  for  the  masters  were  always  spellers  themselves, 
and  in  addition  ‘worked  out  hard  sums’  of  the  neighborhood.  The  children 
sometimes  had  a long  distance  to  go  to  school,  and  in  such  cases  their 
parents  made  furrows  with  their  plows  through  the  woods,  or  ‘blazed  the 
trees’  as  guides  for  them.  Here  they  would  gather,  boys  and  girls,  the 
omnipresent  ‘big  brother’  likewise  putting  in  his  appearance.  The  boys  in 
those  days,  too,  kept  busy  their  eyes  to  all  fun  going  on,  and  occasionally 
they  took  their  dogs  along,  Jew’s  harps,  jackknives,  and  frequently  a pistol 
was  taken  with  them.” 

They  all  voted  for  long  recesses  and  short  recitations.  But  under  all 
these  circumstances  they  managed  to  make  some  acquirements,  and  proved 
to  be  highly  useful  members  of  society  when  they  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood.  To  these  back-woods  pupils  we  are  today  greatly  indebted  for 
the  many  blessings  we  enjoy,  for  when  the  times  were  ripe  and  the  ques- 
tions of  improving  the  school  system  came  up  for  them  to  decide,  they  knew 
the  need  of  a change  and  always  voted  right. 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM. 

With  the  advancing  of  the  decades,  the  settlers  of  Wayne  county  heralded 
with  almost  one  accord  the  advent  of  better  schools  and  they  were  soon 
patterned  after  some  one  of  the  older  Eastern  states. 

The  adoption  of  the  new  state  constitution  gave  a new  impetus  to  the 
educational  affairs  of  Wayne  county.  The  enactment  of  the  first  general 
law  upon  this  subject,  dated  April  14,  1853,  imparted  a giant  impulse  to 
the  cause  and  progress  of  the  public  schools  of  this  county.  This  was  an 
entirely  new  school  law,  on  the  free  school  system  plan.  This  law  was 
prepared  by  a senate  committee,  consisting  of  Hon.  Harvey  Rice,  of  Cuy- 
ahoga county,  Hon.  George  Rex,  of  Wayne  county,  and  Hon.  Alonzo  Cush- 
ing, of  Gallia  county.  Its  provisions  were  grand  and  beneficent. 

Wayne  county  people  seemed  from  the  first  to  grasp  the  intent  of  this 
new  law  and  at  once  were  eager  to  take  advantage  of  the  same.  Among 
the  first  townships  to  move  under  the  law  was  Plain,  and  the  first  school 
house  built  under  the  new  law  was  what  is  known  as  “People’s  College,”  in 
sub-district  No.  7.  It  should  here  be  stated,  however,  that,  as  is  nearly 
always  the  case  in  any  innovation,  it  was  met  with  a stout  opposition;  but 
under  the  direction  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Eason,  Jacob  Welty  and  Robert  C. 
Beard,  the  local  directors,  the  sub-district  completed  its  building,  which 


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served  as  a model  for  many  years  for  other  sub-districts  of  Wayne  county. 
From  time  to  time  various  amendments  have  been  made  to  that  school 
law;  but  in  all  subsequent  legislation  upon  this  subject,  the  salient  features 
of  the  original  law  have  been  retained;  and  today  the  same  system  of  free 
education  to  all  the  youth  of  the  state  remains  as  a monument  to  the  wisdom, 
intelligence,  justice  and  genius  of  the  framers  of  the  first  law. 

SMITHVTLLE  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

What  was  quite  an  educational  institution,  at  an  early  day,  was  the 
Smith ville  high  school,  established  in  August,  1865,  at  Smithville,  Green 
township.  Prof.  J.  B.  Eberly  was  the  first  teacher  and  became  principal 
of  the  school.  In  1867  money  was  raised  by  subscription  to  the  amount  of 
five  thousand  dollars  to  build  a building  to  take  the  place  of  the  old 
“Synagogue,”  or  Presbyterian  church.  By  1878  it  was  reported  to  be  in 
flourishing  condition,  \vith  buildings  in  all  valued  at  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
The  average  yearly  attendance  had,  up  to  that  time,  been  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five  students,  of  both  sexes.  A large  per  cent  of  the  local  school 
teachers  up  to  that  date  had  been  educated  at  this  most  excellent  institu- 
tion. The  school  had  no  endowment,  nor  had  it  received  any  gifts  except 
the  original  subscription  of  five  thousand  dollars. 

The  officers  in  1877-78  were:  President,  Rev.  D.  Kosht,  of  Smithville; 
secretary,  B.  Musser;  treasurer,  Rev.  James  Baldwin;  board  of  trustees,  Ben- 
jamin Hershey,  of  Canton;  D.  B.  Hotchiss,  of  Limaville;  David  Shisler,  of 
North  Lawrence;  Rev.  John  Excell,  of  Limaville;  David  Ecker,  of  Burbank; 
John  Williams,  of  Smithville. 

With  the  settlement  of  the  county,  the  coming  of  railroads  and  build- 
ing up  of  towns,  and  the  growth  of  the  Wooster  University,  this  school 
largely  dropped  out  of  sight. 

The  public  schools  of  Wooster  will  be  treated  in  their  proper  place  in 
the  chapter  on  the  “City  of  Wooster.” 

FIRST  SCHOOLS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY  TOWNSHIPS. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Chippewa  township  was  near  Doylestown. 

The  first  school  in  Milton  township  was  taught  in  a log  shanty  in  1817, 
by  William  Doyle,  where  the  Knupp  church  later  stood.  It  Was  twenty  by 
twenty-four  feet  in  size.  In  the  winter  the  room  was  so  cold  that  the 
scholars’  ink  would  freeze  while  they  were  writing.  This  was  a subscription 
school. 


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In  Congress  township  the  first  school  was  taught  by  John  Totten,  in  the 
first  cabin  ever  erected  there.  The  first  school  house  built  for  such  purposes 
was  in  1819. 

In  Green  township  the  first  school  was  taught  in  1818  by  Peter  Kane, 
a student  of  Oxford,  England.  The  first  school  house  was  erected  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  23,  and  was  a log  cabin  eighteen  by  twenty-two 
feet  in  size. 

In  Sugarcreek  township  the  first  school  building  erected  was  in  Dalton, 
the  site  being  where  the  cemetery  was  later  located.  The  first  teacher  was 
Peter  Vorrhes.  In  the  township  of  Sugarcreek  the  first  school  was  taught 
by  Samuel  Cook. 

In  Franklin  township  one  of  the  very  earliest  school  houses  was  that 
long  known  as  Polecat  school  house,  built  on  what  was  later  known  as  the 
Stephen  Harrison  farm.  Daniel  Daringer  donated  an  acre  of  land  for 
school  house  purposes. 

In  Plain  township,  the  first  teacher  was  John  Cassiday,  in  about  1816. 

The  first  school  house  erected  in  Clinton  township  was  called  the  “New- 
kirk” building,  being  situated  on  Henry  Newkirk's  land,  near  the  stream 
issuing  from  the  big  spring  and  where  the  road  crosses  it.  It  contained  three 
log  benches  for  the  children  to  be  seated  upon.  The  fireplace  ran  along 
the  entire  end  of  the  house.  The  first  teacher  was  Theory  Parker,  of  Holmes 
county,  who  received  seventy-five  cents  a week  for  her  wages. 

In  Saltcreek  township  the  first  school  building  was  that  on  Jacob  Beer- 
bower’s  farm.  The  Fredericksburg  school  house  was  erected  in  1828. 

SCHOOLS  AT  SHREVE. 

The  village  of  Shreve  has  always  paid  much  attention  to  the  school  sys- 
tem, and  had  most  excellent  public  schools  from  the  very  earliest  day  of  free 
schools.  In  1858  the  corporation  limit  of  the  village  was  constituted  into 
one  district  for  school  purposes.  May  1st,  that  year,  a board  was  elected 
and  it  was  decided  to  build  a small  brick  school  house,  which  was  carried 
out  at  an  expense  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight  dollars.  Edwin  Old- 
royd  was  the  first  to  teach  in  the  new  building.  The  first  members  of  the 
board  of  education  at  Shreve  were  as  follows:  John  Robison,  W.  S.  Bat- 

tles. Henry  Everly.  Albert  Richardson,  Daniel  Bertolett  and  W.  G.  Crossnrm. 

In  May,  1867,  it  was  found  necessary  to  build  a new  school  house,  and 
the  present  structure,  in  part,  was  erected.  It  is  a fine  two-story  building 
on  the  high  eminence  overlooking  the  village.  Here  have  been  held  many 


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terms  and  school  years  of  the  best  of  modern-day  public  schools,  and  from 
the  place  have  gone  forth  into  the  world  many  useful  and  well-educated  men 
and  women. 

CANAAN  ACADEMY. 

Canaan  Academy  was  one  of  the  first  educational  institutions  in  Wayne 
county,  located  at  Windsor.  The  building,  a two-story  frame,  thirty-six  by 
forty-eight  feet,  was  erected  in  1842  by  a stock  company.  This  academy  was 
controlled  by  a board  of  directors,  the  first  board  consisting  of  John  Paul, 
M.  D.,  Jonas  Notestine,  Justin  Mills,  Harvey  Rice  and  Alfred  Hotchiss. 
The  school  was  opened  December  3,  1843,  ‘with  forty-seven  pupils,  under 
the  direction  of  Prof.  C.  C.  Bomberger,  A.  B.,  who  taught  three  years. 
Reverends  Barr  and  Barker  had  charge  during  the  summer  of  1847,  being 
succeeded,  in  the  winter  of  1847-48,  by  Prof.  Isaac  Notestine,  who  taught 
with  short  intervals  and  remained  in  charge  until  1863.  After  that  year 
the  school  was  taught  by  a number  of  other  professors  until  1874,  when  it 
was  permanently  closed,  under  Prof.  J.  W.  Cummings.  When  Professor 
Notestine  was  in  charge  in  the  winter  of  1851,  the  house  was  burned,  after 
which  a brick  building  was  at  once  erected.  The  Canaan  Academy  was  a 
great  educator  for  those  living  in  Wayne  and  adjoining  counties. 

SCHOOL  STATISTICS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

From  the  report  of  the  state  commissioner  of  common  schools  in  August, 
1876,  the  following  has  been  taken,  to  show  the  contrast  since  then  in  school 
matters  in  this  county,  as  following  it  will  be  given  the  latest  school  reports. 

In  1876  the  amount  paid  teachers  in  high  schools  and  primaries  was 
$52,797;  amount  for  other  expenditures,  including  the  foregoing,  making  a 
total  of  $121,101. 

There  were  in  the  county,  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one  years, 
13.473  white  children  and  9 colored:  of  this  number  there  were  between  the 
ages  of  sixteen  and  twenty-one  3,253:  there  were  6.228  boys  and  6,645  girls; 
5 male  colored  and  4 female  colored. 

At  that  date  there  were  in  Wayne  county  138  sub-divisions,  11  separate 
districts  and  11  sub-districts  included  in  separate  districts.  The  total  value 
of  school  property  in  the  several  townships  and  separate  districts  was  $243,562. 

There  were  employed  during  the  year  ending  August,  1876,  a total  of 
320  teachers  and  10,064  pupils  enrolled;  of  this  number  there  were  10,029 
between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  twenty-one.  The  average  attendance  was 
6-333- 


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THE  PRESENT  STANDING  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY  SCHOOLS. 

According  to  the  latest  authority,  the  following  is  the  statistical  standing 
of  the  schools  of  this  county  for  1908: 

Number  of  school  houses  in  the  county,  235 ; number  of  school  rooms, 
345;  value  of  all  school  property  in  Wayne  county,  $563,800;  number  of 
teachers  employed,  254;  monthly  average  wages  for  men  in  elementary 
schools,  $46;  women,  $44;  high  schools,  men,  $74;  women,  $50;  boys  of 
school  age,  5,352;  girls,  5,042;  total  number  enrolled  in  schools,  8,127; 
average  daily  attendance,  6,048;  number  of  high  schools,  84;  volumes  in 
school  library,  12,936;  rate  of  school  tax  (1908),  eight  and  one-half  mills 
per  dollar  of  taxable  property ; number  of  high  schools  in  village,  special  and 
township  districts  in  county,  15;  the  grades  in  the  various  districts  are  as 
follows : 

Applecreek,  No.  3;  Burbank,  No.  3;  Congress  township,  No.  3;  Creston, 
No.  1;  Dalton,  No.  2;  Doylestown,  No.  1;  Fredericksburg,  No.  2;  Green 
township,  No.  2;  Marshallville,  No.  2;  Milton  township,  No.  3;  Orrville, 
No.  1;  Paint  township,  No.  3;  Shreve,  No.  2;  Sterling,  No.  2;  West 
Salem,  No.  2. 

CENTRALIZATION  OF  RURAL  SCHOOLS. 

The  average  rural  school  district  has  but  fifteen  pupils,  and  from  that 
number  only  ten  upon  an  average  attend  school  the  full  school  year.  There 
are  eight  hundred  small  sub-districts  in  Ohio.  There  can  be  but  little  enthu- 
siasm in  so  small  a collection  of  children,  either  for  the  teacher  or  the 
students. 

The  first  law  with  reference  to  school  centralization  in  Ohio  counties 
was  passed  April  17,  1894,  and  it  was  applicable  to  Kingsville  township,  Ash- 
tabula county.  A law  of  general  application  was  enacted  April  5,  1898.  The 
good  results  in  Ashtabula  county  led  many  other  townships  in  northern  Ohio 
to  adopt  the  same  system.  In  1908  there  were  within  the  state  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six  schools  wholly  or  partly  centralized. 

ADVANTAGES  OF  CENTRALIZATION. 

The  following  advantages  have  been  set  forth  by  the  best  educators  of 
this  country  regarding  the  combining  of  the  smaller  district  country  schools 
together  into  one  centrally  located  union  school,  to  which  the  children  may  be 
transported  to  and  from  home  by  public  conveyance  at  public  expense : 


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It  brings  into  the  school  pupils  who  would  not  otherwise  enjoy  its 
advantages. 

It  insures  a much  better  daily  attendance  of  pupils  and  greatly  reduces 
the  number  of  cases  of  tardiness  and  truancy. 

It  gives  a better  opportunity  for  a better  classification  of  the  schools 
and  proper  grading  of  the  pupils. 

It  encourages  supervision  and  gives  the  superintendent  a much  more 
favorable  chance  for  thorough  inspection  of  the  work  of  the  lower  grades. 

It  limits  the  field  of  work  for  each  teacher  and  gives  an  opportunity  for 
a more  thorough  preparation. 

It  gives  a few  classes  to  each  teacher  and  longer  recitation  periods. 

It  gives  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  rural  schools  the  benefit  of  such  special 
branches  as  music,  drawing,  and  agriculture,  under  a special  teacher  em- 
ployed by  the  board  of  education. 

It  encourages  the  formation  of  good  township  high  schools  and  gives 
to  the  boys  and  girls  in  the  township  districts  equal  advantages  with  the 
children  of  the  city  districts. 

It  tends  to  prevent  difficulties  which  often  arise  on  the  way  to  and  from 
school  and  to  protect  the  health  and  morals  of  the  children. 

School  affairs  can  be  administered  more  systematically.  Better  equip- 
ment in  the  way  of  apparatus  and  library  for  the  different  grades  can  be  pro- 
vided for  less  money. 

The  children  have  the  benefit  of  better  school  buildings  and  of  modern 
conveniences  in  the  way  of  ventilation  and  sanitary  arrangements. 

Better  janitor  service  can  lie  secured. 

It  helps  to  solve  a difficult  problem  for  the  boards  of  education  where 
the  enumeration  in  several  sub-districts  is  exceedingly  small  and  new  build- 
ings are  needed. 

It  secures  the  employment  and  retention  of  better  teachers. 

It  adds  the  stimulating  influences  of  larger  classes,  with  resulting  enthu- 
siasm and  generous  rivalry. 

It  offers  the  broader  companionship  and  culture  that  comes  from  asso- 
ciation. 

It  serves  to  bring  the  citizens  of  the  township  into  closer  relationship 
and  to  awaken  a deeper  interest  in  the  public  schools. 

Up  to  the  present  time — 1909 — W ayne  county  has  not  taken  this  mat- 
ter up.  There  are  some  townships  certainly  in  which  it  would  not  be  prac- 
tical. while  in  several  others  it  might  be  well  worth  a trial. 


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CHAPTER  XI. 


AGRICULTURE. 

' By  Prof.  Charles  E.  Thorne,  of  Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 

THE  SOIL. 

The  foundation  rock  upon  which  the  soil  of  Wayne  county  is  laid,  and 
which  has  contributed  the  larger  part  of  its  material,  is  the  series  of  argilla- 
ceous shales  and  sandstones,  usually  yellowish  olive  in  color,  to  which  geolo- 
gists have  given  the  name  Waverly.  It  is  true  that  in  the  eastern  and 
southeastern  portions  of  the  county  this  formation  is  covered  by  the  strata 
belonging  to  the  coal  measures,  but  these  strata  are  cut  through  by  valleys 
which  extend  down  to  the  Waverly  floor. 

The  upper  strata  of  the  Waverly,  as  found  in  the  central  and  southern 
parts  of  Wayne  county,  are  soft,  fine-grained  shales,  easily  ground  into  dust, 
only  the  deeper  layers  being  sufficiently  hard  for  building  stone.  The  decom- 
position of  these  shales  gives  rise  to  a silty  soil,  intermediate  in  texture 
between  clay  on  the  one  hand  and  sand  on  the  other,  its  particles  being  so 
fine  and  so  loosely  bound  together  that  the  smallest  stream  of  water  loosens 
them  from  their  surroundings  and  carries  them  to  lower  levels. 

The  soil  of  the  county  has  been  modified  by  the  great  sheet  of  moving 
ice  which  once  covered  the  greater  part  of  Ohio,  and  which  in  some  sections 
exerted  a tremendous  influence  in  the  formation  of  the  soil;  but  in  Wayne 
county  the  effect  of  glacial  action  has  been  comparatively  small,  and  even 
where  the  drift  material  left  by  the  glacier  is  most  in  evidence  it  consists 
chiefly  of  sand  and  gravel  produced  by  the  grinding  up  of  rocks  lying  a 
short  distance  to  the  northward  and  very  similar  in  character  to  those  upon 
which  the  drift  is  laid. 

The  flat,  marshy  plain  which  marks  the  divide  between  the  drainage 
towards  Lake  Erie  to  the  nortli  and  the  Ohio  river  to  the  south  lies  along 
the  boundary  between  Wayne  and  Medina  counties,  chiefly  in  the  latter 
county.  As  the  drainage  from  this  watershed  has  moved  southward  it  has 

03) 


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at  once  begun  the  cutting  of  valleys,  small  and  shallow  at  first,  but  growing 
larger  and  deeper  as  the  volume  of  water  has  been  swollen  by  affluents  from 
the  sides,  until  by  the  time  the  south  half  of  the  county  is  reached  the  entire 
surface  has  been  eroded  into  alternations  of  hill  and  valley,  the  hills,  which 
give  such  beauty  to  the  landscape,  being  hills  simply  because  the  valleys  have 
been  dug  out  between  by  the  floods  of  ages. 

That  this  cause  is  adequate  to  produce  the  effect  no  one  can  doubt  who 
has  observed  the  result  of  a single  heavy  shower  in  a freshly  plowed  field, 
or  the  gullying  which  results  from  a single  season’s  rainfall  on  a neglected 
hillside. 

The  result  of  this  tendency  to  wash  is  that  the  hillsides  are  covered  with 
but  a thin  sheet  of  soil,  which,  though  giving  good  returns  for  a few  years 
after  being  put  under  the  plow,  soon  begins  to  show  the  effect  of  excessive 
cropping.  On  the  higher  and  more  level  lands  the  soil  sheet  is  thicker,  and 
its  productiveness  in  consequence  is  more  permanent  than  on  the  slopes  where 
the  washing  has  carried  away  a larger  proportion  of  the  soil. 

When  the  country  was  first  visited  by  the  white  man  it  was  covered  with 
a dense  forest,  and  the  first  labor  of  the  pioneer  settler — and  strenuous  labor 
it  was — was  expended  in  cutting  away  enough  of  this  forest  to  give  a small 
field  for  cultivation. 

The  location  of  the  pioneer  home  was  determined  by  a spring,  and  the 
multitudes  of  springs  of  pure  water  in  Wayne  county  were  a potent  factor 
in  securing  its  rapid  settlement.  Near  the  spring  the  log  cabin  was  built, 
and  around  the  cabin  home  the  trees  were  cut  away,  the  cleared  area  enlarg- 
ing year  by  year,  and  for  many  years  the  axe  and  the  rifle  were  the  most 
important  implements  on  the  farm — the  one  extending  the  area  on  which 
bread  could  he  produced,  the  other  supplying  a large  part  of  the  meat  re- 
quired to  keep  the  axe  and  plow  in  motion. 

As  the  springs  were  on  the  hillsides,  it  was  on  the  hillsides,  when  not 
too  steep  for  cultivation,  that  the  first  fields  were  cleared:  and  on  these  hill- 
sides the  loose  shales  which  constitute  the  upper  rock  strata  lie  so  near  the 
surface  as  to  give  natural  drainage — this  formation  being  the  cause  of  the 
springs,  as  the  water  passes  readily  between  the  joints  of  the  shales,  to  be 
arrested  and  brought  to  the  surface  at  lower  levels  by  the  denser  strata 
below. 

Within  a few  years  the  earlier  fields  on  these  thin,  hillside  soils  began  to 
show  some  indication  of  reduction  in  yield  under  the  system  of  continuous 
cropping,  which  was  the  logical  system  to  a farmer  who  had  wrested  his 


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little  fields  from  their  natural  condition  at  such  tremendous  effort,  and  who 
had,  by  the  very  exigencies  of  his  situation,  become  more  woodsman  and 
hunter  than  farmer;  but  by  the  time  these  symptoms  had  appeared  the  axe 
had  penetrated  a little  farther  into  the  forest  and  other  fields  were  ready  to 
respond  to  the  plow  with  full  harvests. 

Tf  these  fields  were  on  the  more  level  summit  lands  where  the  soil  sheet 
was  thicker  they  did  not  at  first  suffer  materially  from  lack  of  drainage, 
because  the  deeply  penetrating  tree  roots  as  they  decayed  furnished  drainage 
channels  to  the  rocks  below. 

The  pioneer  farmer,  therefore,  found  in  Wayne  county  a soil  of  such 
physical  texture  as  to  be  easily  worked,  so  situated  as  to  be  perfectly  under- 
drained, and  both  soil  and  climate  admirably  adapted  to  the  growth  of  winter 
wheat,  and  the  production  of  this  cereal  became  the  leading  industry  of  the 
county  at  an  early  date. 

THE  PROGRESS  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

Ohio’s  agriculture  has  passed  through  three  general  periods  and  is 
now  entering  upon  a fourth,  namely: 

1.  The  pioneer  period  (1800  to  1850). 

2.  The  developmental  period  (1850  to  1880). 

3.  The  expansion  period  (1880  to  1900). 

4.  The  scientific  period  (since  1900). 

THE  PIONEER  PERIOD. 

During  the  first  period  the  state  was  settled  by  the  hardy  pioneers,  who 
flowed  into  it  along  three  principal  lines  of  migration:  (1)  The  New  Eng- 

land line,  coming  direct  from  the  New  England  states — largely  from  Con- 
necticut— or  moving  in  after  a temporary  sojourn  in  New  York,  and  settling 
the  country  known  as  the  Western  Reserve  and  the  region  to  the  westward; 
(2)  the  Pennsylvania  line,  consisting  very  largely  of  the  people  who  have 
come  to  be  known  as  Pennsylvania  Dutch,  or  Pennsylvania  Germans,  and  of 
Quakers,  who  occupied  a large  part  of  the  middle  of  the  state,  and  (3)  the 
Virginia-Carolina  line,  occupying  the  southern  counties.  There  were  some 
cross-currents  in  this  migration,  as  in  the  New  England  settlement  at  Mari- 
etta, but  the  inflow  into  Wayne  county  was  very  largely  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Germans,  a people  noted  everywhere  for  industry  and  frugality. 


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During  this  period  there  were  no  cities  within  the  state  to  be  fed,  and 
none  outside  of  it  that  it  was  practicable  to  reach  with  the  ox-team  trans- 
portation of  the  earlier  days,  or  with  the  six-horse  Pennsylvania  wagon  which 
soon  made  its  appearance.  There  was  no  navigable  stream  in  the  county  on 
which  to  float  away  its  produce,  and  the  lake,  at  its  nearest  point,  was  forty 
miles  distant  from  the  northern  boundary  of  the  county.  The  only  practica- 
ble method  of  marketing  farm  produce,  therefore,  was  to  convert  it  into  meat- 
producing  animals  and  drive  them  across  the  mountains  to  the  cities  growing 
up  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  the  demand  by  these  cities  was  very  limited. 

The  clothing  of  the  farmer’s  family  of  that  day  was  spun  and  woven  at 
home  from  flax  and  wool  grown  on  the  farm;  all  the  food  was  produced  at 
home  except  salt,  tea,  coffee  and  spices.  Sugar,  if  not  a product  of  every  farm 
in  the  state,  was  found  in  maple  groves  scattered  so  generally  over  the  state 
as  to  be  practically  within  a day’s  journey  with  the  ox-team  from  every 
farm  (one  of  the  writer’s  early  recollections  is  of  the  annual  bringing  home 
of  the  barrel  of  maple  sugar,  produced  in  the  opposite  side  of  his  county). 

The  implements  of  husbandry  were  chiefly  such  as  had  been  in  use  for 
thousands  of  years.  The  plow  had  an  iron  share,  made  by  the  local  black- 
smith, and  a wooden  moldboard  made  by  the  farmer  himself.  The  harrow 
had  wooden  or  clumsy  iron  teeth;  the  farmer’s  hand  was  the  only  seed- 
ing machine,  just  as  it  had  been  since  the  sower  first  went  forth  to  sow; 
he  reaped  his  grain  with  an  implement  practically  identical  with  the  sickle 
which  Farmer  Boaz  had  used  three  thousand  years  ago,  and  trampled  it 
out  with  oxen  or  threshed  it  with  a flail  of  his  own  making,  just  as  the 
earliest  farmer  had  done.  Probably  the  actual  cash  paid  out  for  the  imple- 
ments used  on  an  ordinary  farm,  outside  of  the  one  wagon  which  served 
every  purpose  for  which  a wheeled  vehicle  was  required,  did  not  exceed 
twenty-five  dollars. 

The  cast-iron  plow  made  its  appearance  in  the  eastern  states  about  the 
beginning  of  the  century,  but  did  not  come  into  common  use  in  Ohio  before 
the  thirties  or  later.  The  grain  cradle  appeared  during  the  thirties.  Seeding, 
harvesting  and  threshing  machinery  followed  slowly,  so  that  at  the  state 
fair,  held  in  Cleveland  in  1852,  it  is  stated  by  Dr.  N.  S.  Townshend  in 
Howe's  “Historical  Collections,”  there  were  shown  grain  drills,  corn  plant- 
ers, broadcast  wheat  sowers,  corn  shellers  for  horse  and  hand  power,  corn 
and  cob  crushers  and  one-  and  two-horse  cultivators. 

The  Ohio  canal  was  completed  in  1830.  thus  giving  to  the  counties 
along  its  route  water  transportation  for  their  products,  and  the  farmers  of 


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Wayne  county  began  hauling  their  wheat  to  the  shipping  points  along  the 
line  of  this  canal.  The  Pittsburg,  Ft.  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad  was  built 
during  the  early  fifties,  thus  opening  the  era  of  steam  transportation. 

This  mid-century  period  marks  the  transition  between  the  agriculture 
of  the  sickle  and  ox-cart  on  the  one  hand,  and  that  of  farm  machinery  and 
steam  transportation  on  the  other,  the  transition  between  the  ancient  and 
the  modern. 

In  1846  a slice  was  cut  off  the  western  side  of  Wayne  county  and  added 
to  the  new  county  of  Ashland,  so  that  the  census  statistics  of  1850  are  the 
earliest  data  respecting  the  county  as  now  constituted.  This  census  gave 
the  county  a 'population  of  32,981.  The  collection  of  agricultural  statistics 
was  begun  in  Ohio  in  1850,  but  the  statistics  for  Wayne  county  were  not 
collected  until  1851.  In  1853  the  lands  listed  for  taxation  in  the  county  were 
appraised  by  the  state  board  of  equalization  at  a total  of  $7,707,222,  or 
$22.47  Per  acre,*  and  the  statistics  collected  by  the  township  assessors  show 
the  following  annual  average  production  of  the  principal  farm  crops  and 
numbers  of  farm  animals  for  the  nine-year  period,  1851-59: 

PRODUCTION  OF  CEREAL  CROPS,  1 85 1 -59. 


Crop.  Acres.  Bu.  produced.  Bu.  per  acre. 

Wheat  38.557  485T38  12.6 

Corn  20,641  560,547  26.8 

Oats 19,198  486,787  25.3 


Farm  animals:  Horses,  11,263;  cattle,  26,710;  sheep,  84,194;  hogs, 

29733- 

If  we  estimate  that  ten  sheep  or  hogs  will  consume  about  the  same  quan- 
tity of  feed  as  one  cattle  beast,  the  livestock  kept  during  this  period  was 
equivalent  to  about  49,366  cattle,  or  100  cattle  to  159  acres  in  the  three 
principal  crops.  It  will  be  observed  that  there  were  nearly  as  many  acres  in 
wheat  as  in  corn  and  oats  combined. 

In  addition  to  the  crops  above  mentioned,  an  average  area  of  24,054 
acres  was  reported  as  in  meadow,  13,623  acres  as  in  clover,  and  6,936  acres 
as  in  minor  crops  during  this  period,  the  minor  crops  including  2,323  acres 
in  barley,  1,296  acres  in  potatoes,  1,267  acres  in  flax,  1,130  acres  in  rye,  762 
acres  in  buckwheat,  133  acres  in  sorghum  and  25  acres  in  tobacco,  making  a 


• Ohio  Statistics,  1881,  pp.  728—730. 


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total  of  123,000  acres  in  cultivation,  including  the  meadow  land,  part  of 
which,  no  doubt,  was  permanent  meadow. 

THE  DEVELOPMENT  PERIOD. 

During  the  thirty  years,  1850  to  1880,  mechanical  invention  wrought 
greater  changes  in  human  industry  than  had  taken  place  in  all  the  preceding 
ages.  In  agriculture  this  era  Witnessed  the  substitution  of  the  self-binding 
harvester  and  steam  thresher  for  the  sickle  and  flail,  and  in  long-distance 
transportation  the  steam  railway  train  on  its  steel  track  displaced  the  wagon 
drawn  by  oxen  or  horses. 

During  this  period  several  great  wars  occurred : The  Crimean  war  dur- 
ing the  fifties;  our  own  Civil  war  during  the  sixties,  and  the  Franco-German 
in  1870,  each  of  which  caused  an  abnormal  demand  for  foodstuffs,  which 
the  rapidly  increasing  facilities  for  production  and  transportation  enabled  the 
Ohio  farmer  to  profit  by.  In  Wayne  county  the  following  averages  were 
maintained  during  the  period  1860-69: 

PRODUCTION  OF  CEREAL  CROPS,  1860-69. 


Crop.  Acres.  Bu.  produced.  Bu.  per  acre. 

Wheat  33>9&2  447*546  131 

Corn  24,217  777*919  32.1 

Oats 19,989  640,527  32.0 


Farm  animals:  Horses,  11,889;  cattle,  29,258;  sheep,  108,990;  hogs, 

3°>673.  Total  cattle  equivalent,  54,913,  or  100  to  143  acres  in  principal 
crops. 

The  war  period  was  one  of  labor  scarcity,  hence  there  was  no  increase 
in  the  area  under  cultivation,  while  the  high  price  of  wool  stimulated  a great 
increase  of  the  sheep  flocks.  The  reduction  of  the  wool  tariff  soon  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  combined  with  the  cessation  of  the  waste  produced  by  the 
war  itself,  resulted  in  lower  prices  for  wool,  which  caused  many  to  lose 
their  interest  in  sheep,  and  the  number  kept  in  the  county  diminished  rapidly. 

The  Franco-German  war  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  decade  of 
the  century  contributed  to  the  mtaintenance  of  high  prices  for  foodstuffs, 
and  the  area  under  cultivation  in  Wayne  county  was  extended  to  a total  of 
95,527  acres  in  wheat,  oats  and  corn,  divided  as  below,  while  the  livestock 
was  reduced  to  the  equivalent  of  49,447  cattle. 


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PRODUCTION  OF  CEREAL  CROPS,  1870-79. 


Crops.  Acres.  Bu.  produced.  Bu.  per  acre. 

Wheat  41,208  694,276  16.8 

Corn  3°>°33  *>237,589  4i*2 

Oats  24,286  838,010  34.2 


Farm  animals:  Horses,  11,573;  cattle,  29,713;  sheep,  51,822;  hogs, 

29,787 ; a total  equivalent  to  49,447  cattle. 

This  was  a period  not  only  of  large  production  but  of  fairly  good  prices, 
the  average  December  price  of  wheat  for  the  United  States  being  estimated 
by  the  national  department  of  agriculture  for  the  ten  years  at  99.3  cents, 
that  of  corn  at  40.5  cents  and  that  of  oats  at  33.7  cents.  These  values,  it 
is  true,  seemed  low,  after  the  nominally  high  prices  based  upon  the  inflated 
currency  of  the  war  period,  but  as  compared  with  what  was  to  follow  they 
meant  prosperity  to  the  careful  farmer,  and  the  Wayne  county  farmer,  as  a 
rule,  was  prosperous. 

At  the  end  of  the  decade  the  farms  of  the  county  were  appraised  for 
taxation  at  a total  of  $12,975,053,  or  $37.66  per  acre,  an  increase  of  68 
per  cent  over  the  valuation  of  1853. 

THE  EXPANSION  PERIOD. 

The  national  statistics  show  that  in  1870  nearly  19,000,000  acres  of 
wheat  were  harvested  in  the  United  States,  yielding  nearly  236,000,000 
bushels.  By  1880  the  area  in  wheat  had  doubled,  and  the  total  yield  had  risen 
proportionately.  This  sudden  increase  in  production  was  due  to  the  rapid 
extension  of  railways  through  the  west  and  northwest,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  to  the  improvement  of  agricultural  machinery,  especially  to  the  perfec- 
tion of  the  automatic  binder,  on  the  other.  For  a time  the  market  absorbed 
the  increased  production  of  wheat  at  remunerative  prices,  but  by  the  early 
eighties  production  had  overtaken  consumption  and  a depression  of  prices 
set  in  which  continued  downward  for  ten  years,  falling  to  an  average  ex- 
port price  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1896,  of  65^  cents  per  bushel. 

Not  only  did  wheat  values  diminish,  but  those  of  livestock  and  its 
products  also,  owing  to  the  rapid  development  of  the  free  range  industry  in 
the  West,  and  many  farmers  either  abandoned  altogether  the  keeping  of  live- 
stock or  greatly  reduced  the  number  kept,  selling  the  grain,  which  had 


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previously  been  fed,  to  the  elevators,  which  started  up  at  every  railway  station, 
and  endeavoring  to  recoup  themselves  for  the  low  price  per  bushel  of  grain  by 
extending  the  area  in  crops  so  as  produce  more  bushels.  The  trend  in  Wayne 
county  is  shown  by  the  following  table,  giving  the  average  production  of 
the  principal  cereals  and  the  livestock  population  for  the  ten  years,  1880-89: 

PRODUCTION  OF  CEREAL  CROPS,  1880-89. 


Crops.  Acres.  Bu.  produced.  Bu.  per  acre. 

Wheat  55.739  942,013  16.9 

Corn  3°.I89  1,035,890  34.3 

Oats  22,519  817,430  36:2 


Farm  animals:  Horses,  11,530;  cattle,  27,922;  sheep,  39,355;  hogs, 

27,620;  total  cattle  equivalent,  46,150,  or  100  cattle  to  235  acres  in  the 
principal  crops. 

The  area  in  wheat,  the  cash  crop,  was  increased  from  the  average  of 
41,208  acres  for  the  seventies  to  that  of  55,739  acres  for  the  eighties,  an 
increase  of  more  than  one-third,  while  the  area  in  corn — the  meat  produc- 
ing crop — remained  stationary,  and  that  in  oats  was  diminished. 

The  introduction  of  commercial  fertilizers  in  Ohio  was  practically  coin- 
cident with  the  development  of  the  ranch  and  range  industries  of  the  West, 
and  during  the  decade  under  review  the  farmers  of  Wayne  county  expended 
an  annual  average  of  $20,646  for  such  fertilizers,  or  thirty-nine  cents  for 
each  acre  sown  in  wheat. 

The  course  of  cereal  and  livestock  production  in  the  county  for  the  ten 
years,  1890-99,  is  shown  below: 

PRODUCTION  OF  CEREAL  CROPS,  1890-99. 


Crops.  Acres.  Bu.  produced.  Bu.  per  acre. 

Wheat  5 2,077  841,207  1 6. 1 

Corn  35.084  1,180,766  33.6 

Oats  25,242  888,872  34.9 


Farm  animals:  Horses,  11,643;  cattle,  22,258;  sheep,  29,651;  hogs, 

24,935  : total  cattle  equivalent,  39.360,  or  100  cattle  to  285  acres  in  the  prin- 
cipal crops. 

The  wheat  area  is  diminished  and  that  of  corn  and  oats  is  increased, 
but  the  continued  decrease  of  livestock  shows  that  part  of  the  corn  and  oats 
have  gone  to  the  elevator  as  well  as  the  wheat. 


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The  purchase  of  commercial  fertilizers  doubled  during  the  period,  the 
average  annual  expenditure  amounting  to  $41,643,  or  eighty  cents  for  each 
acre  in  wheat. 

It  is  true  that  the  wheat  crop  did  not  receive  all  the  fertilizers  used, 
but  much  the  larger  part  was  given  to  that  crop.  Under  this  system  the 
yield  of  wheat,  which  had  been  brought  to  an  average  of  16.8  bushels  per 
acre  for  the  seventies  by  the  use  of  manure,  was  held  at  16.9  bushels  during 
the  eighties,  but  fell  to  16.1  bushels  during  the  nineties,  while  the  yield  of 
com,  which  had  reached  41.2  bushels  during  the  seventies,  went  back  to 
34.3  bushels  during  the  eighties,  and  that  of  oats,  which  rose  from  34.2 
bushels  during  the  seventies  to  36.2  bushels  during  the  eighties,  fell  to  34.9 
bushels  for  the  nineties. 

The  use  of  fertilizers  practically  began  during  the  eighties,  so  that  the 
high  level  of  crop  yields  during  the  seventies  was  attained  under  the  system 
of  livestock  husbandry  which  had  prevailed  up  to  that  period,  and  the  in- 
creasing expenditure  for  fertilizers  during  the  next  two  decades  was  not 
sufficient  to  maintain  the  yields  at  the  level  then  attained. 

The  effect  of  the  low  prices  which  prevailed  during  the  last  decade  of 
the  century  is  shown  in  the  decennial  appraisement  at  its  close,  under  which 
the  farm  lands  of  Wayne  county  were  listed  at  a total  valuation  of  $10,477,- 
580,  or  $30.46  per  acre. 

This  reduction  in  valuation,  however,  does  not  fully  represent  the  actual 
conditions.  Very  few  farm  buildings  were  constructed  during  this  ten-year 
period,  and  old  buildings  were  left  unpainted,  so  that  the  reputation  of  the 
county  for  having  the  finest  farm  improvements  in  the  state  has  been  barely 
maintained.  When  farms  changed  owners,  it  was  on  the  basis  of  far  lower 
valuations  than  had  been  current  twenty  years  earlier,  and  while  there  were 
still  a great  many  farmers  in  the  county  who  were  in  comfortable  financial 
circumstances  there  were  a great  many  more  who  found  it  necessary  to  prac- 
tice very  close  economy. 

Taking  the  present  decade,  the  first  of  the  new  century,  we  find  that 
during  the  nine  years,  1900  to  1908,  the  county's  productions  were  as  follows : 

PRODUCTION  OF  CEREAL  CROPS,  I9OO-I908. 


Crops.  Acres.  Bu.  produced.  Bu.  per  acre. 

Wheat  44*649  822.674  18.4 

Corn  36,376  1,380,826  38.0 

Oats  29,164  1,139475  387 


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Farm  animals:  Horses,  10,017;  cattle,  22,645;  sheep,  17,960;  hogs, 

24,089;  total  cattle  equivalent,  36,867,  or  100  cattle  to  300  acres  in  the  prin- 
cipal crops. 

During  this  nine-year  period  the  annual  expenditure  for  fertilizers  has 
amounted  to  $75,682. 

These  figures  show  that  the  area  in  wheat  has  been  materially  reduced, 
while  that  in  com  and  oats  has  been  increased.  They  also  show  a material 
increase  in  the  yield  per  acre  for  all  three  of  these  crops,  an  increase  due 
in  part  to  a better  system  of  crop  rotation,  in  part  to  better  seasonal  condi- 
tions, and  in  part  to  the  larger  use  of  fertilizers. 

THE  SCIENTIFIC  PERIOD. 

By  the  close  of  the  century  practically  all  the  land  in  the  United  States 
which  is  susceptible  of  cultivation  without  irrigation  was  occupied  with  farms. 
The  range  area  was  restricted  to  lands  unfit  for  cultivation,  and  in  many 
cases  these  lands  had  been  reduced  in  productiveness  by  too  close  pasturing. 

The  area  sown  in  wheat  was  still  being  extended  in  the  Northwest, 
but  the  yield  per  acre  was  maintained  only  by  bringing  fresh  lands  under 
the  plow  every  year,  as  the  yield  was  diminishing  on  the  older  soils.  The 
urban  population  was  increasing  so  steadily,  however,  that  with  the  advent 
of  the  new  century  the  proportion  of  the  wheat  crop  exported  fell  to  24.7 
per  cent  for  the  eight  years,  1900-7,  as  against  33.1  per  cent  for  the  nineties, 
29.9  per  cent  for  the  eighties  and  24.6  per  cent  for  the  seventies,  and  this 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  total  production  for  the  last  period  has 
been  nearly  thirty  per  cent  greater  than  for  the  preceding  period  and  more 
than  double  that  of  the  seventies. 

The  climax  of  wheat  production  was  reached  in  1901,  at  nearly  50,000,- 
000  acres,  yielding  nearly  750,000,000  bushels.  No  crop  produced  since 
that  date  has  equaled  this  record,  either  in  area  or  total  yield,  and  the  price 
of  wheat  has  been  gradually  rising  since  the  beginning  of  the  century.  There 
will  be  a further  expansion  of  wheat  territory  into  the  Canadian  Northwest, 
but  it  does  not  seem  at  all  probable  that  the  increase  in  area  brought  under 
wheat  from  henceforth  can  more  than  keep  pace  with  the  increasing  demand 
from  our  growing  population,  and  the  outlook  for  remunerative  prices  for 
wheat  is  certainly  very  favorable.  This  is  a matter  of  prime  importance  to 
Wayne  county,  for,  as  has  already  been  stated,  its  soil  and  climatic  conditions 
are  especially  adapted  to  the  culture  of  this  cereal,  as  is  shown  by  the  promi- 
nence it  has  occupied  in  the  agriculture  of  the  county  throughout  the  period 
under  record. 


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MINOR  CROPS. 

In  addition  to  the  area  devoted  to  the  four  principal  crops,  com,  oats, 
wheat  and  hay,  the  statistics  show  the  following  areas  devoted  to  other  pur- 
poses during  the  present  decade: 


AVERAGE  AREAS, 

1900-1908. 

Acres. 

Acres. 

Rye 

407 

Sorghum,  broom  corn,  etc. 

. 87 

Barley 

60 

Buckwheat  

33 

Potatoes  

4,656 

Orchards  

• 5,328 

Onions  

247 

Forest 

.36,844 

Tobacco  

708 

Waste 

r 'jri/i 

Flax  

0 

104 

• 5>3y4 

The  potato  crop  has  become  one  of  great  importance  in  Wayne  county, 
the  soil  being  especially  adapted  to  this  crop,  and  the  annual  area  in  pota- 
toes has  increased  from  3,000  acres  in  1900  to  6,000  acres  in  1908. 

Wayne  county  is  also  a large  producer  of  onions,  grown  on  the  muck 
lands  in  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  about  250  acres 
being  annually  devoted  to  this  crop. 

Tobacco  is  grown  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Sterling  and  Creston. 

THE  OHIO  AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 

In  the  spring  of  1891  the  State  Legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing 
the  removal  of  the  Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  from  its  location 
on  the  lands  of  the  Ohio  State  University,  in  Columbus,  to  any  county 
in  the  state  which  would  offer  a donation  to  provide  for  the  purchase 
of  lands  and  the  erection  of  buildings  for  the  use  of  the  station.  Within 
a few  weeks  after  the  passage  of  this  law  offers  were  received  by  the  board 
of  control  of  the  station  from  the  commissioners  of  Wayne,  Clarke  and 
Warren  counties,  and  after  consideration  of  these  offers  and  of  the  soil 
conditions  in  the  several  counties,  the  offer  of  Wayne  county  was  accepted 
by  the  board  of  control  and  ratified  by  the  people  of  the  county,  at  a special 
election  held  for  that  purpose. 


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Pursuant  to  the  law,  the  county  commissioners  issued  bonds  for  eighty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  the  amount  of  the  donation  agreed  upon.  These 
bonds  were  sold,  the  money  paid  into  the  state  treasury,  and  three  adjoin- 
ing farms  and  two  smaller  tracts,  comprising  a total  area  of  four  hundred 
and  seventy  acres,  the  nearest  point  being  one  mile  south  of  the  court  house 
in  Wooster,  were  purchased  and  buildings  were  commenced. 

At  this  point  a dissatisfied  citizen  of  the  county  entered  suit  to  test 
the  constitutionality  of  the  law  under  which  the  bonds  of  the  county  were 
issued.  The  common  pleas  and  circuit  courts  affirmed  the  validity  of  the 
law,  one  of  the  circuit  judges  dissenting.  The  supreme  court,  by  a vote 
of  four  to  one,  reversed  the  decision  of  the  lower  courts  on  the  ground 
that  the  citizens  of  a county  were  being  taxed  for  the  support  of  an  insti- 
tution whose  work  was  conducted  for  the  benefit  of  the  state  at  large,  the 
court  holding  that  the  superior  advantages  possessed  by  Wayne  county 
because  of  the  location  of  the  station  on  its  soil  and  within  convenient  dis- 
tance of  its  farmers  did  not  offset  the  general  principle  above  mentioned 

This  litigation  occupied  about  two  years,  and  necessarily  retarded  the 
work  of  the  station,  as  during  its  continuance  the  Legislature  was  unwilling 
to  appropriate  money  for  permanent  improvements,  but  after  the  final 
decision  of  the  supreme  court  the  Legislature  redeemed  the  bonds  issued 
by  the  county  and  began  making  appropriations  for  buildings  and  other 
necessary  equipment. 

The  station  had  been  moved  to  its  new  location  during  the  summer 
of  1892,  and  immediately  began  preparing  for  experimental  work  by  the 
erection  of  greenhouses  and  other  buildings  and  by  tile-draining  and  lay- 
ing off  in  permanent  plots  of  one-tenth  acre  each  about  seventy-five  acres. 
After  the  settlement  of  the  litigation  affecting  the  station,  the  state  appro- 
priations became  larger.  Substantial  buildings  were  erected  and,  the  sta- 
tion’s permanency  being  assured,  its  Work  expanded  year  by  year,  being 
carried  on  not  only  in  the  fields,  orchards,  barns  and  laboratories  at  Wooster, 
but  reaching  out  over  the  state  in  the  establishment  of  substations  or  test- 
farms  in  different  sections,  and  in  co-operative  work  carried  on  with  the 
assistance  of  hundreds  of  farmers,  located  in  practically  every  county  of 
the  state. 

That  the  station  has  succeeded  in  some  degree  in  serving  the  purpose 
for  which  it  was  established  is  indicated  by  the  increasing  support  given 
it  by  the  state.  When  first  established,  in  1882,  the  appropriation  made 
for  its  use  was  three  thousand  dollars.  This  was  increased  the  next  year 


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to  five  thousand  dollars,  and  remained  at  that  sum  until  1887,  when  the 
national  government  undertook  the  support  of  an  agricultural  experiment 
station  in  every  state  under  an  act  introduced  by  Hon.  W.  H.  Hatch,  of 
Missouri,  and  hence  called  the  “Hatch  Act,”  and  which  provides  for  the 
annual  appropriation  to  each  state  and  territory  from  the  United  States 
treasury  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  for  this  purpose. 

On  the  passage  of  this  act  the  state  withdrew  its  support  from  the 
Ohio  station,  but  after  a year  or  two  the  Legislature  began  the  appropria- 
tion  of  small  amounts,  for  special  purposes,  beginning  with  one  of  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  made  in  1889,  for  a small  greenhouse.  These  special  appropria- 
tions have  been  increased  from  year  to  year  until  in  1909  the  total  amount 
directly  appropriated  to  the  station  reached  one  hundred  and  eighteen  thou- 
sand dollars,  besides  the  privilege  of  using  several  thousand  dollars’  worth 
of  paper  for  the  printing  of  its  bulletins. 

In  1906  the  Hatch  Act  was  supplemented  by  a second  national  law, 
introduced  by  the  late  Henry  C.  Adams,  of  Wisconsin,  and  which  provides 
a fund,  beginning  with  five  thousand  dollars  and  increasing  by  two  thou- 
sand dollars  each  year  until  the  total  shall  amount  to  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  which  is  known  as  the  Adams  fund.  This  fund  is  strictly  re- 
stricted to  the  purposes  of  scientific  research,  and  is  all  the  more  useful  on 
account  of  this  fact,  because  it  permits  the  undertaking  of  investigations 
dealing  with  fundamental  principles,  a class  of  investigations  which  some- 
times seem  to  have  but  little  practical  application,  and  yet  out  of  which 
have  come  results  of  the  highest  usefulness  to  humanity. 

As  at  present  organized  the  station’s  work  is  divided  into  the  depart- 
ments of  administration,  agronomy  (or  field  crops),  animal  husbandry, 
botany  (including  study  of  seeds  and  of  diseases  of  plants),  chemistry, 
co-operative  experiments,  entomology,  forestry,  horticulture,  nutrition  and 
soils,  each  department  having  a specialist  at  its  head  with  one  or  more 
scientific  assistants  and  clerks  and  laborers,  the  staff  of  the  station  during 
1909  reaching  a total  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

In  addition  to  the  land  occupied  by  the  station  in  Wayne  county,  it 
has  a test  farm  of  three  hundred  acres  in  Meigs  county,  on  which  the 
problems  peculiar  to  the  hilly  regions  of  southeastern  Ohio  are  being  studied, 
and  one  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  at  Strongsville,  in  southern 
Cuyahoga  county,  devoted  to  the  study  of  the  thin,  white  clay  soils  of  that 
region,  while  it  holds  under  ten-year  lease  a farm  of  fifty-three  acres  at 
Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  devoted  in  part  to  the  culture  of  tobacco 


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and  in  part  to  the  study  of  soil  fertility,  and  two  fields,  one  of  twenty  acres 
at  Findlay,  Hancock  county,  and  one  of  ten  acres  at  Boardman,  Mahoning 
county,  which  are  being  occupied  under  perpetual  lease  as  demonstration 
fields. 

On  these  various  tracts  are  permanently  located  more  than  two  thou- 
sand plots  of  land,  the  larger  portion  containing  one-tenth  acre  each,  and 
of  the  treatment  and  produce  of  which  the  station  has  a definite  record, 
reaching  over  twelve  to  sixteen  years  in  many  cases. 

In  addition  to  the  study  of  soil  fertility,  some  of  the  more  important 
features  of  the  station's  work  are  the  comparison  of  varieties  of  cereals, 
forage  crops,  vegetables  and  fruits — more  than  one  thousand  varieties  of 
fruits  being  under  observation  in  its  orchard — the  study  of  methods  for  the 
control  of  insects  and  fungous  diseases  of  plants;  the  nutrition  of  animals 
and  the  various  problems  connected  with  forestry. 

As  the  station  is  located  in  Wayne  county,  and  on  a soil  fairly  repre- 
senting that  of  the  county  as  a whole,  its  study  of  soil  fertility  is  of  great 
importance  to  this  county.  This  study  has  demonstrated  that  it  is  easily 
possible  and  thoroughly  practicable  to  produce  much  larger  crops  than  the 
average  of  those  now  grown  in  the  county,  as  the  station  has  produced  thirty 
to  forty  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre  as  an  average  for  ten-year  periods,  or 
larger  in  its  experimental  work,  with  corresponding  yields  of  corn,  oats  and 
clover,  and  is  duplicating  these  yields  in  its  general  farm  work,  on  ten-acre 
fields.  These  results,  moreover,  have  been  accomplished  by  methods  which 
have  paid  the  cost  of  the  increase  and  left  a large  margin  of  clear  profit; 
methods  which  are  in  reach  of  every  farmer,  however  straitened  his  cir- 
cumstances, and  which,  when  put  in  operation,  will  steadily  increase  the 
productiveness  of  the  soil. 

Some  of  the  farmers  in  the  county  are  already  applying  these  methods, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  and  are  obtaining  results  which  confirm  those  shown 
at  the  station.  These  methods  consist  simply  in  draining  such  land  as 
needs  drainage ; in  the  practice  of  a systematic  crop  rotation,  in  which  clover 
or  a similar  crop  is  grown  every'  third  or  fourth  year;  in  the  conversion 
of  the  corn,  hay  and  straw  into  manure,  the  careful  saving  of  this  manure 
and  its  reinforcement  with  some  carrier  of  phosphorus,  to  replace  that  car- 
ried away  in  the  wheat  and  milk,  and  bones  and  tissues  of  the  animals  sold ; 
in  the  use  of  lime  and  in  the  careful  tillage  which  is  now  generally  prac- 
ticed. 

Much  of  this  work  involves  labor  only,  and  its  execution  can  be  gradu- 


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ally  accomplished  by  applying  to  it  a part  of  the  labor  which  is  now  wasted 
by  tilling  two  or  three  acres  to  get  the  produce  that  one  acre  should  yield. 

THE  FUTURE  OF  AGRICULTURE  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

But  the  present  yield  of  wheat  in  Wayne  county  is  far  short  of  an* 
easily  possible  and  thoroughly  practicable  attainment.  One  of  the  three  ad- 
joining farms  purchased  by  the  experiment  station  on  its  removal  to  Wayne 
county  in  1892  had  been  rented  for  many  years  previous  to  its  purchase 
by  the  station,  and  on  this  farm  a series  of  experiments  in  the  maintenance 
and  increase  of  soil  fertility  by  the  use  of  systematic  crop  rotation,  with 
fertilizers  and  manures,  was  begun  in  1893.  These  experiments  have  now 
been  in  progress  for  sixteen  years,  and  following  are  some  of  the  results 
attained : 

In  one  experiment,  com,  oats,  wheat,  clover  and  timothy  are  grown 
in  a five-year  rotation  on  five  tracts  of  land,  each  crop  being  grown  every 
season.  One-third  of  the  land  is  left  continuously  without  fertilizers  or 
manure,  and  on  this  area  the  average  yields  per  acre  have  been  as  below: 

YIELDS  OF  UNFERTILIZED  LAND  IN  FIVE-YEAR  ROTATION  : 


First  5 yrs. 

Second  5 yrs. 

Third  5 yrs. 

1894-8. 

1899-03. 

1904-8. 

Corn,  bushels  

319 

30.8 

31.0 

Oats,  bushels  

3°-9 

28.3 

34-5 

Wheat,  bushels 

9-3 

8.6 

13-7 

Clover  hay,  tons  

9i 

•74 

I.OI 

Timothy  hay,  tons  . . . . 

1.27 

1. 14 

i-57 

During  the  same  five-year  periods  under  consideration  the  average  yields 
per  acre  in  Wayne  county,  as  computed  from  the  statistics  collected  by  the 
township  assessors,  have  been  as  follows: 

AVERAGE  YIELDS  OF  CROPS  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY: 

First  5 yrs.  Second  5 yrs.  Third  5 yrs. 


1894-8. 

1899-03. 

1904-8. 

Corn,  bushels  

36.6 

390 

37-5 

Oats,  bushels  

36.3 

42.9 

36-5 

Wheat,  bushels 

15-3 

17.1 

19.4 

Hay,  tons  

1.22 

1.28 

1.23 

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These  county  yields  are  considerably  larger  than  the  unfertilized  station 
yields,  but  during  these  three  periods  the  county  expended  the  following 
sums  for  fertilizers,  these  fertilizers  being  used  chiefly  on  the’ wheat  crop; 
First  period,  $40,216  per  annum;  second  period,  $59,830  per  annum;  third 
period,  $88,445  Per  annum. 

Live  stock  equivalent  to  about  one  head  of  cattle  to  three  acres  in  corn, 
oats  and  wheat  has  also  been  kept  during  the  three  periods. 

The  considerable  decrease  in  the  clover  yields  at  the  station  during  the 
second  five  years  of  this  test  called  attention  to  the  lack  of  lime  in  the  soil, 
and,  beginning  with  the  crop  of  1900,  lime  was  applied  to  half  the  land  in 
the  test  as  it  \vas  being  prepared  for  corn,  using  burnt  lime  at  the  rate  of  a 
ton  per  acre,  or  ground  limestone  in  double  that  quantity,  and  spreading  it 
over  both  fertilized  and  unfertilized  land.  To  this  liming,  therefore,  is  to 
be  ascribed  a part  of  the  increase  shown  during  the  last  five-year  period. 

Each  of  the  five  tracts  used  in  this  test  is  divided  into  thirty  plots  of 
one-tenth  acre  each.  Plot  twro  in  each  tract,  or  half  an  acre  in  total,  has 
received  every  five  years  320  pounds  per  acre  of  acid  phosphate;  80  pounds 
each  on  corn  and  oats  and  160  pounds  on  wheat.  The  average  yields  on 
these  plots  have  been  as  below : 

YIELDS  FROM  ACID  PHOSPHATE  : 

First  5 yrs.  Second  5 yrs.  Third  5 vrs. 

1894-8.  1899-03.  1904-8. 


Corn,  bushels  36.0  41.9  40.3 

Oats,  bushels  37.6  37.4  45.7 

Wheat,  bushels  12.3  18.7  24.1 

Clover  hay,  tons  1.06  1.01  1.58 

Timothy  hay,  tons  1.44  1.40  1.93 


The  acid  phosphate  has  produced  a considerable  increase  of  crop,  both 
before  and  after  liming,  showing  that  this  soil  is  hungry  for  phosphorus. 
If  we  value  acid  phosphate  at  a fraction  over  $16.00  per  ton,  or  $2.60  for 
the  320  pounds  used  on  each  rotation,  and  rate  corn  at  40  cents  per  bushel, 
oats  at  30  cents,  wheat  at  80  cents,  hay  at  $8.00  per  ton.  stover  at  $3.00 
and  straw  at  $2.00,  the  total  net  increase  due  to  the  320  pounds  of  acid 
phosphate,  after  paying  for  the  fertilizer,  has  been  worth  $5.90  for  the  first 
five  years,  $14.77  f°r  ^ie  second  five  years  and  $21.72  for  the  third  five 
years. 


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The  cost  of  the  lime  is  not  deducted  for  the  third  period,  because  both 
fertilized  and  unfertilized  land  was  limed,  and  other  comparisons,  not  shown 
in  these  statements,  show  that  the  cost  of  liming  has  been  much  more  than 
recovered  in  the  general  increase  of  crop.  Not  only  has  the  lime  increased 
the  unfertilized  yield,  but  it  has  augmented  the  effect  of  the  fertilizers. 

Under  this  application  of  acid  phosphate  the  yields  at  the  station  and 
for  the  county  show  comparatively  little  difference  during  the  first  two 
periods,  but  with  the  addition  of  lime  at  the  station  the  yields  for  the  third 
period  are  decidedly  greater  than  those  for  the  county.  It  will  be  observed 
that  the  county  yields  of  corn  and  oats  show  a marked  falling  off  during  the 
third  period.  The  increased  yield  of  wheat  and  hay  is  easily  accounted  for 
by  the  greatly  increased  use  of  fertilizers,  but  the  hay  increase  in  the  county 
is  much  smaller  than  that  at  the  station,  where  the  additional  expenditure 
has  been  for  lime  instead  of  fertilizer. 

On  another  series  of  plots  (No.  n)  the  same  dressing  of  acid  phosphate 
has  been  applied,  but  re-enforced  with  480  pounds  of  nitrate  of  soda  and 
260  pounds  of  muriate  of  potash,  the  whole  application  being  divided  between 
the  three  cereal  crops,  and  increasing  the  total  cost  to  $23.50  per  acre  for 
each  rotation ; the  outcome  has  been  as  below : 


YIELDS  FROM  COMPLETE  FERTILIZER: 


First  5 yrs. 

Second  5 yrs. 

Third  5 yrs, 

1894-8. 

1899-03. 

1904-8. 

Corn,  bushels  

413 

49-9 

54-i 

Oats,  bushels  

43-6 

52-5 

53-5 

Wheat,  bushels  

20.5 

27-5 

33- 1 

Clover  hav,  tons  

1 .48 

1-3* 

1.92 

Timothy  hay,  tons  . . . . 

1.65 

2.30 

The  increase  from  this  treatment  has  had  the  following  values  over  the 
yields  of  the  unfertilized  land:  First  five  years,  $26.39;  second  five  years, 

$42.43;  third  five  years,  $49.96.  Deducting  the  cost  of  the  fertilizer,  the 
net  gain  has  been:  For  the  first  five  years,  $2.80;  for  the  second  five  years, 

$18.93;  f°r  the  five  years,  $26.46. 

This  treatment,  therefore,  enormously  expensive  as  it  has  been,  has 
produced  a greater  net  profit  than  any  partial  application  of  fertilizers. 

As  has  been  stated  alxave,  of  the  total  cost  of  the  fertilizer,  $20.90  was 

fi4) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


spent  for  nitrogen  and  potash  and  only  $2.60  for  phosphorus.  Whatever 
system  of  agriculture  we  may  follow,  except  the  production  of  butter  or 
sugar,  there  must  be  some  loss  of  phosphorus,  as  this  element  is  carried  away 
from  the  farm  in  large  quantity  in  the  cereal  grains  and  in  the  bones  and 
milk  of  animals,  so  that  if  the  supply  in  the  soil  is  to  remain  undiminished 
there  must  be  a systematic  return,  either  through  the  purchase  of  fertilizing 
substances  or  of  feeding  stuffs;  but  if  all  the  hay,  straw  and  stover  and  a 
considerable  part  of  the  grain  produced  on  the  farm  be  fed  there  and  the 
resultant  manure  carefully  saved  and  returned  to  the  soil,  there  will  be  but 
little  loss  of  potassium,  since  the  greater  part  of  this  element  consumed 
by  the  plant  in  its  growth  is  left  in  the  stem  and  leaves.  Most  of  the  nitro- 
gen contained  in  the  coarse  feeds  will  also  be  recovered  in  the  manure,  while 
the  growing  of  leguminous  crops  for  feeding  will  tend  to  replace  the  losses 
of  this  element.  If,  therefore,  it  were  possible  to  produce  on  the  farm  the 
nitrogen  and  potassium  required  to  produce  the  yield  shown  on  Plot  1 1 in 
this  experiment,  leaving  only  the  phosphorus  to  purchase,  the  net  gain  would 
be  greatly  augmented. 

On  another  part  of  this  same  farm  corn,  wheat  and  clover  have  been 
grown  in  a three-year  rotation  since  1897,  in  a comparison  of  different  meth- 
ods of  treating  barnyard  manure.  One-third  of  this  land  also  has  been  left 
continuously  without  fertilizer  or  manure,  and  its  yield  per  acre  has  been  as 
below : 


YIELDS  OF  UNFERTILIZED  LAND  IN  THREE-YEAR  ROTATION. 


First  6 yrs. 


1897-02. 

Corn,  bushels  41. 1 

Wheat,  bushels  8.5 

Clover  hay,  tons  .84 


Second  6 yrs. 
1903-8. 
27.6 


CF3 

175 


The  low  yield  of  wheat  during  the  first  period  was  partly  due  to  Hes- 
sian fly;  the  corn  crop  shows  that  the  growing  of  clover  one  year  in  three 
on  this  land,  which  had  previously  been  largely  depleted  of  its  fertility  by 
exhaustive  cropping,  has  not  been  sufficient  to  maintain  the  rate  of  pro- 
duction. 

During  the  periods  over  which  thisltest  have  been  in  progress  the  county 
yields  have  been  as  follows : 


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AVERAGE  YIELDS  OF  CROPS  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY: 


First  6 yrs. 

Second  6 yrs. 

1897-02. 

1903-8. 

Corn,  bushels  

39-5 

36.° 

Wheat,  bushels,  

19-5 

Hay,  tons  

i-34 

1.40 

On  Plot  15  in  this  test  barnyard  manure  has  been  applied  at  the  rate  of 
eight  tons  per  acre,  the  manure  being  taken  from  an  open  barnyard,  after 
several  months'  exposure  to  the  weather,  and  plowed  under  for  com,  the 
wheat  and  clover  following  without  any  further  manuring  or  fertilizing. 
The  outcome  has  been  as  follows: 


YIELDS  FROM  OPEN-YARD  MANURE: 


First  6 yrs. 
1897-02. 

Corn,  bushels  . 55.0 

Wheat,  bushels  15.6 

Clover  hay,  tons  .98 


Second  6 yrs. 
1903-8. 

47*4 

22.5 

i-57 


At  the  valuations  previously  employed,  the  increase  due  to  the  manure 
has  been  worth  $16.00  per  acre,  or  $2.00  per  ton  of  manure,  during  the 
first  period,  and  $22.73  F^1*  acre>  or  $2-&4  per  ton  of  manure,  during  the 
second. 

Alongside  of  the  land  thus  treated  another  plot  has  received  the  same 
quantity  of  fresh  manure,  made  from  the  same  animals,  but  taken  directly 
from  the  stable  to  the  field,  without  exposure  to  the  weather.  The  yields 
from  this  treatment  have  been  as  below : 


YIELDS  FROM  FRESH  STABLE  MANURE. 


First  6 yrs. 
1897-02. 

Corn,  bushels  59.2 

Wheat,  bushels  17.6 

Clover  Hay,  tons 1.25 


Second  6 yrs. 
1903-8. 
57-i 

23*7 

2.02 


In  this  case  the  increase  during  the  first  period  has  been  worth  $21.24 
per  acre,  or  $2.65  per  ton  of  manure,  and  during  the  second  period  $30.35 
per  acre,  or  $3.80  per  ton  of  manure. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


On  another  plot  in  this  test  the  fresh  manure  has  had  acid  phosphate 
mixed  with  it,  at  the  rate  of  40  pounds  per  ton  of  manure,  a few  weeks  be- 
fore spreading  the  manure  on  the  land.  The  result  of  this  treatment  is 
shown  below : 


YIELDS  FROM  PHOSPHATED  FRESH  MANURE  ; 


Corn,  bushels  . . 
Wheat,  bushels  . 
Clover  hay,  tons 


First  6 yrs. 
1897-02. 

• • 63,5 

• • 23.4 

1.90 


Second  6 yrs. 

i9°3-8. 

65-3 

29.6 

2.44 


The  total  value  of  the  increase  from  this  treatment  has  amounted  to 
$33.36  for  the  first  period  and  $43.56  for  the  second,  or  $3.87  and  $5.12  per 
ton  of  manure,  after  deducting  $2.60  per  acre  for  the  cost  of  the  320  pounds 
of  acid  phosphate  used  on  the  manure. 

In  other  words,  the  combination  of  320  pounds  of  acid  phosphate,  cost- 
ing $2.60,  with  nitrate  of  soda  and  muriate  of  potash  costing  $20.90,  has 
produced  on  five  acres  of  land  during  the  last  five  years  an  average  total 
increase  worth  $50.00  per  acre,  or  $10.00  per  acre  annually,  while  the  com- 
bination of  the  sfame  quantity  of  acid  phosphate  with  eight  tons  of  fresh 
stable  manure  has  produced  on  three  acres  during  the  same  period  an  increase 
to  the  value  of  $43.50,  or  $14.52  per  acre  annually.  The  eight  tons  of 
manure,  therefore,  have  produced  an  effect  40  per  cent  greater  than  that 
caused  by  $20.90  expended  in  the  most  effective  carriers  of  fertilizer-nitrogen 
and  potash. 

It  may  be  objected  that  these  experiments  have  been  made  on  such 
small  areas  of  land  that  they  are  not  a safe  guide  to  general  farm  practice. 
Following  is  the  answrer  to  this  objection : 

Another  part  of  the  farm  belonging  to  the  station  has  been  used  for  the 
comparison  of  varieties  of  corn,  oats  and  wheat,  these  crops  being  grown  in 
succession  and  followed  by  one  year  in  clover,  thus  making  a four-year 
rotation.  The  work  w-as  begun  in  1893,  and  ten  acres  of  land  is  devoted  to 
each  crop  every  season,  the  entire  test  including  forty  acres. 

For  the  first  ten  years  it  \vas  the  practice  to  plant  the  corn  on  clover  sod, 
without  any  manure  or  fertilizer.  The  oats,  following  the  corn,  was  like- 
wise left  untreated,  while  the  wheat  received  a top  dressing  of  open-yard 


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manure,  applied  after  plowing  and  before  seeding,  at  the  rate  of  about  nine 
tons  per  acre.  The  result  of  this  treatment  was  a ten-year  average  yield  of 
48.7  bushels  of  corn,  followed  by  52.2  bushels  of  oats,  19.9  bushels  of  wheat, 
and  2.7  tons  of  hay. 

Beginning  with  1904,  the  system  was  changed,  and  the  clover  sod  in- 
tended for  com  was  dressed  during  the  fall  and  early  winter  with  phos- 
phated  manure,  produced  by  steers  or  dairy  cows  and  kept  under  cover  until 
the  field  was  ready  for  it,  when  it  was  hauled  out  and  spread  at  the  rate  of 
about  twelve  tons  per  acre.  After  the  manure  was  plowed  under  lime  was 
applied  to  the  surface  and  harrowed  in  at  the  rate  of  one  ton  per  acre.  The 
oats,  as  previously,  followed  the  corn  without  treatment,  but  the  wheat  re- 
ceived a complete  fertilizer  instead  of  manure,  the  fertilizer  being  made  up 
from  tankage,  steamed  bone  meal,  acid  phosphate  and  muriate  of  potash 
for  the  fall  application,  followed  by  nitrate  of  soda  in  April,  the  materials 
being  used  at  a total  rate  of  350  to  400  pounds  per  acre  and  mixed  in  such 
proportions  as  to  give  a percentage  composition  for  the  fall  application  of 
about  4 per  cent,  ammonia,  14  to  16  per  cent  phosphoric  acid  and  3 to  4 per 
cent  potash. 

The  outcome  of  this  treatment  Has  been  an  increase  in  the  corn  yield 
to  an  average  per  acre  of  73.8  bushels  for  the  five  years,  1904  to  1908,  fol- 
lowed by  averages  of  55.1  bushels  of  oats,  36.6  bushels  of  wheat  and  4.33 
tons  of  hay. 

Comparing  these  yields  with  the  unfertilized  yields  obtained  in  the 
five-year  rotation  first  described,  we  have  a gain  of  42.8  bushels  of  corn; 
20.6  bushels  of  oats;  22.9  bushels  of  wheat  and  3.32  tons  of  hay,  the  whole 
having  a value  of  $68.18.  Deducting  from  this  $2.00  for  the  floats  used  on 
the  manure,  $6.40  for  the  fertilizer  used  on  the  wheat  and  $2.60  for  half 
the  cost  of  liming,  since  only  half  the  land  in  the  five-year  rotation  had  been 
limed,  we  have  a balance  of  $57.18,  or  $4.76  for  each  ton  of  manure  used. 

The  soil  upon  which  these  experiments  have  been  made  is  certainly 
no  better  naturally  than  the  average  soils  of  Wayne  county.  It  is  true  that 
it  has  the  advantage  of  being  well  drained,  which  is  an  important  point,  but 
the  topography  of  the  county  as  a whole  is  such  as  to  make  drainage  easily 
practicable  wherever  it  is  needed.  Let  us,  therefore,  consider  the  possible 
effect  of  applying  to  Wayne  county  as  a whole  the  system  of  management 
which  has  produced  the  results  above  described. 

During  the  five  years,  1904  to  1908,  the  statistics  of  crop  production 
for  the  county  show  the  following  average  areas  and  yields: 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Crop.  Acres.  Yield  per  acre.  Total  yield. 

Corn  36,054  36.9  bu.  1,330,782  bu. 

Oats  30,590  36.5  bu.  1,117,919  bu. 

Wheat 44,391  19.4  bu.  860,753  bu. 

Hay 53,271  1.43  tons  76,061  tons 


During  the  same  period  livestock  equivalent  to  37,000  cattle  was  kept, 
and  the  annual  expenditures  for  fertilizers  amounted  to  $88,445.  The  total 
area  in  the  four  crops  amounted  to  164,000  acres.  Let  us  compute  the  possi- 
ble yield  on  this  area  had  41,000  acres  been  allotted  to  each  of  the  four  crops, 
and  had  the  yields  been  60  bushels  of  com,  45  of  oats,  30  of  wheat  and  3 tons 
of  hay,  or  about  80  per  cent  of  the  yields  obtained  at  the  station  during  the 
same  period: 


Crop.  Acres.  Yield  per  acre.  Total  yield. 

Corn 41,000  60  bu.  2,460,000  bu. 

Oats 41,000  45  bu.  1,845,000  bu. 

Wheat  41,000  30  bu.  1,230,500  bu. 

Hay  41,000  3 tons  123,000  tons 


In  round  numbers  this  would  have  given  1,100,000  bushels  more  corn, 
700,000  bushels  more  oats,  380,000  bushels  more  wheat  and  47,000  tons  more 
hay  than  was  actually  harvested,  the  whole  worth  a million  and  a third  of  dol- 
lars, estimating  corn  at  40  cents  a bushel,  oats  at  30  cents,  wheat  at  80  cents 
and  hay  at  $8.00  per  ton. 

Of  course  these  larger  yields  would  not  have  been  produced  without 
extra  cost,  the  first  item  of  which  would  have  been  better  drainage.  As  a 
whole,  Wayne  county  is  fortunate  in  its  natural  drainage:  the  rolling  topog- 
raphy of  most  of  the  county  gives  excellent  surface  drainage,  and  the  large 
areas  in  which  the  loosely  stratified  shales  lie  within  a few  feet  of  the  surface 
give  the  most  perfect  underdrainage,  so  that  there  is  comparatively  little 
artificial  drainage  required.  While  no  data  are  available  from  which  anything 
more  than  the  merest  guess  Can  be  made  as  to  the  amount  of  artificial  drain- 
age needed,  I believe  that  an  expenditure  of  $25  per  acre  on  half  the  area 
under  cultivation,  or  $2,000,000  for  the  county,  would  be  sufficient,  if  well 
directed,  to  put  the  whole  into  position  to  produce  the  crops  above  indicated. 

Next  to  drainage  comes  the  need  of  lime.  There  are  a few  fields  in 
the  county,  chiefly  on  newly-cleared  land,  on  which  this  need  is  not  yet 
urgent,  but  the  territory  over  which  lime  must  be  applied  before  full  har- 
vests can  be  obtained  is  steadily  increasing,  and  it  is  only  a question  of 


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time  when  the  systematic  application  of  lime  must  find  a place  in  the  agri- 
culture of  this  county. 

Next  to  liming  comes  the  production  of  more  manure  and  the  more 
careful  use  of  that  which  is  produced.  The  present  livestock  of  the  county 
produces  about  165,000  tons  of  manure  each  winter,  or  about  half  enough 
to  dress  41,000  acres  of  corn  at  the  rate  of  eight  tons  per  acre,  provided  it 
were  saved  and  used  without  waste.  But  the  livestock  of  the  county  should 
be  doubled,  even  though  it  might  sometimes  be  necessary  to  charge  a part 
of  the  cost  of  handling  the  livestock  to  the  soil  fertility  account.  In  the 
long  run  and  under  judicious  management  livestock  will  pay  its  way  and 
leave  the  manure  as  an  unincumbered  asset. 

The  money  expended  for  fertilizers  on  the  average  of  the  last  five  years 
($88,000  annually)  would  purchase  6,000  tons  of  acid  phosphate,  or  10,000 
tons  of  floats,  if  bought  in  car  loads.  This  would  be  sufficient  to  give  each 
ton  of  the  manure  from  75,000  cattle  a dressing  of  40  pounds  of  acid  phos- 
phate or  60  pounds  of  floats,  and  would  thus  restore  to  the  soil  all  the  phos- 
phorus withdrawn  by  present  cropping,  and  begin  the  restoration  of  that 
which  has  been  drawn  from  the  soil  and  shipped  out  of  the  county  under 
the  system  of  husbandry  which  has  hitherto  prevailed. 

For  a time  the  wheat  crop  would  respond  profitably  to  additional  ferti- 
lizing, but  under  this  system  the  quantity  of  fertilizers  required  to  be  used 
separately  from  the  manure  would  gradually  diminish. 

To  sum  up,  let  us  estimate  the  annual  expenditure  which  would  prob- 
ably be  required  to  produce  the  yield  above  indicated : 

The  drainage  of  the  land  is  a permanent  improvement,  and  its  cost 
should  therefore  be  distributed  over  a term  of  years.  Let  us  charge  10  per 
cent  of  the  drainage  cost  annually,  6 per  cent  to  interest  and  4 per  cent  to 
a sinking  fund  to  liquidate  the  principal. 

The  station's  experiments  indicate  that  lime  should  be  used  at  the  rate 
of  about  a ton  per  acre  at  the  first  application,  but  that  after  the  acidity  of 
the  soil  is  once  neutralized  less  lime  is  required.  The  annual  application  of 
half  a ton  of  lime  per  acre  to  the  corn  crop  would  probably  be  a liberal  esti- 
mate. 

The  present  expenditure  for  fertilizers  would  cover  the  cost  of  phos- 
phating  the  manure,  but  for  a time  it  will  pay  to  continue  fertilizing  the 
wheat  crop  at  a rate  even  more  liberal  than  that  now  practiced. 

The  feeding  of  livestock  will  in  some  cases  involve  more  labor  than 
would  be  required  to  haul  the  produce  to  market,  but  in  the  majority  of 
cases  probably  less.  There  will,  of  course,  be  much  more  produce  to  handle. 


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about  100,000  tons  of  grain  and  hay,  in  fact,  but  will  be  largely  offset  by 
the  additional  value  of  the  stover  and  straw.  Let  us,  however,  allow  one 
dollar  per  ton,  or  $100,000  per  annum,  for  this  extra  work.  Our  account 


will  then  stand  as  below : 

Drainage,  interest  and  sinking  fund  $200,000 

Liming,  one-half  ton  per  acre  100.000 

Additional  fertilizers  100,000 

Extra  labor  100,000 


Total  $600,000 


This  will  still  leave  about  three-quarters  of  a million  dollars  annually  in 
the  Wayne  county  farmers’  pockets  over  and  above  what  they  are  now 
getting. 

There  are  those  who  will  say  that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  make  the 
expenditure  necessary  to  bring  their  land  into  the  condition  required  to  make 
these  yields,  but  a large  part  of  this  expenditure  is  in  the  form  of  labor, 
and  it  would  be  better  to  devote  a part  of  the  labor  which  is  now  expended 
in  working  two  or  three  acres  to  get  the  produce  of  one  in  draining  and  fer- 
tilizing the  one  acre,  even  though  another  acre  lay  idle  for  a year  or  so  in 
consequence. 


WAYNE  COUNTV  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1849.  Its  first  president  was  Robert 
Reed,  of  Dalton,  Sugarcreek  township.  The  first  address  was  delivered 
by  William  Turner,  then  of  Wooster,  but  later  of  Cleveland.  The  first  fair 
was  held  in  the  grove  near  the  later  residence  of  D.  Q.  Liggett,  where  the 
exhibitions  were  continued  until  1854. 

January  24,  1859,  the  society  contracted  with  E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  for  eight 
acres  of  land  on  North  Market  street,  where  until  1869  its  exhibitions  were 
held.  For  numerous  reasons  these  grounds  were  sold  and  others  purchased 
of  Henry  Myers,  consisting  of  twenty-four  acres,  a short  distance  to  the 
west  of  Wooster.  Here  the  buildings  have  been  made  of  a permanent  char- 
acter. There  is  also  much  interest  in  speeding  of  fast  horses,  annually,  on  a 
fine  race  course.  The  annual  exhibits  of  farm,  garden  and  orchard  from  all 
over  Wavne  county  are  indeed  a credit  to  the  management  and  patrons 
themselves.  While  the  trotting  horse  craze  lias  somewhat  taken  a prominent 


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place  in  the  annual  fair,  yet  the  display  of  agricultural  products  and  of  fine 
livestock,  together  with  beautiful  exhibits  made  by  the  ladies  of  the  county, 
in  way  of  fancy  work,  art  and  all  that  beautifies  the  home,  is  annually  in 
evidence  in  large  quantities. 

The  present  (1909)  officers  of  the  association  that  owns  and  manages 
this  county  fair  are  as  follows:  John  C.  McClaran,  president;  J.  S.  McCoy, 
vice-president ; W.  A.  Wilson,  treasurer ; G.  J.  Eybright,  secretary. 

THE  PROGRESSIVE  FARMERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

Several  of  the  farmers  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Wooster,  who  felt 
that  their  interests  would  be  greatly  enhanced  by  organization,  gathered 
at  a meeting  called  for  February  21,  1888,  at  the  home  of  R.  D.  Firestone, 
south  of  Wooster,  to  discuss  the  subject  of  organizing.  The  result  was 
the  above-named  society,  which  has  had  an  unbroken  existence  to  the  pres- 
ent date.  A yearly  program  is  carefully  prepared  by  a committee  appointed  by 
the  president.  These  meetings  are  held  at  the  homes  of  the  membership. 
All  subjects  pertaining  to  the  farm,  the  household,  good  citizenship,  good 
morals,  etc.,  are  ably  discussed.  During  the  first  years  of  the  organization 
the  society  planned  an  annual  farmers’  institute.  But  when  the  Ohio  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station  was  located  here  in  Wayne  county,  this  organ- 
ization was  eager  and  zealous  in  working  for  its  establishment.  Among  other 
important  measures  advocated  early  was  the  establishment  of  the  rural  free 
delivery  system.  Today  they  are  earnestly  working  for  the  establishment 
of  the  parcels  post  system  and  postal  savings  banks.  The  social  feature  of 
the  association  is  counted  by  its  members  as  a great  factor. 

The  persons  who  have  served  as  the  association’s  officers  are  in  part 
as  follows:  Benjamin  Wilson,  P.  S.  Ihrig,  J.  S.  McCoy,  J.  F.  Stitt,  J.  W. 
Taggart.  Willis  Bishop,  D.  S.  Tintsman,  W.  A.  Bruce,  M.  M.  Fowler,  D.  R. 
Firestone,  W.  E.  Jarvis. 

The  worthy  secretaries  have  been:  Mrs.  B.  F.  Wilson,  Miss  Alma 

Smith,  Miss  Margaret  Stitt,  Miss  Rose  Wilson,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Bruce,  Mrs.  F. 
I.  Heim,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Lytle,  Mrs.  J.  S.  McCoy,  Miss  Lucv  Stitt,  Miss  Helen 
Davidson. 

PLAIN  TOWNSHIP  FARMERS'  CLUB. 

This  organization  is  one  of  two  very  successful  farmers’  societies  within 
Wayne  county.  It  is  styled  the  Plain  Township  Agricultural  Association 


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and  has  for  its  object  the  improvement  of  agriculture,  that  the  life  of  the 
husbandman  may  be  made  more  profitable  and  less  laborious,  hence  more 
pleasant  and  desirable. 

The  date  of  its  organization  was  September,  1890.  The  charter  mem- 
bers were  as  follows:  Harvey  S.  Baker,  William  M.  Gill,  Samuel  G.  Gill 

and  Curtis  W.  Rittenhouse.  The  following  have  been  its  presidents : S.  G. 
Gill,  John  C.  Sidle,  C.  W.  Rittenhouse,  W.  A.  Lehr,  G.  E.  Kean  and  John 
Sparr.  The  roll  of  members  constitutes  more  than  fifty  of  the  best  people 
of  Plain  township. 

This  society  has  held  three  independent  institutes,  that  were  distin- 
guished for  their  social,  musical  and  literary  excellence.  The  outside  speak- 
ers were  the  best  in  Ohio,  Thorne,  Hickman  and  Selby. 

This  club  affords  a means  of  training  for  both  old  and  young,  in  orig- 
inal thought,  self-command  and  public  address,  that  is  beyond  comparison. 
They  point  with  much  pride  to  one  of  its  members — J.  C.  Sidle — as  a rising 
young  figure  in  the  list  of  public  speakers. 


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CHAPTER  XII. 


MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

The  military  history  of  any  given  county  is  of  great  interest  to  all 
patriotic  readers  of  local  history.  To  the  county  this  is  what  the  national 
war  record  is  to  our  republic.  The  great  armies  of  a country  must  needs 
come  from  commands  made  up  from  the  soldiers  enlisting  in  the  various 
counties  of  each  loyal  state  in  our  Union. 

But  before  entering  into  the  details  of  the  soldiery  of  Wayne  county 
in  the  several  wars  carried  on  since  its  settlement  by  white  men — the  war  of 
1812-14  with  Great  Britain,  the  war  with  Mexico,  the  great  Civil  war  from 
1861  to  1865,  and  the  Spamsh-American  war  of  1898 — it  may  not  be  with- 
out profit  to  the  reader  to  become  posted  about  the  forts  and  block  houses 
erected  prior  to  those  wars  as  a protection  against  the  savage  Indian  tribes, 
mention  of  which  has  been  made  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  BLOCK  HOUSES. 

From  the  date  of  the  first  settlement  in  this  country  until  the  establish- 
ment of  peace  after  the  war  of  1812,  the  inhabitants  were  compelled  to 
erect  block  houses  and  stockades  for  their  immediate  protection.  This  was 
done  as  a precaution  against  invading  foes  from  the  unfriendly  Indians. 
This  was  made  all  the  more  a necessity  after  Hull’s  defeat  and  surrender, 
as  that  event  much  emboldened  them  in  their  bloody  raids  upon  the  handful 
of  white  settlers.  Hence  these  block  houses  were  found  in  various  sections 
of  Wayne  county. 

Where  Mrs.  B.  Pope’s  residence  stood  in  1878  there  was  once  one  of 
these  places  of  safety  erected,  and  it  is  said  to  have  been  the  largest  of 
any  in  the  county.  It  was  named  Fort  Stidger,  built  by  Gen.  George  Stidger, 
of  Canton,  in  1812,  and  it  was  a double  building,  covered  by  one  roof,  and 
had  a separating  hall  or  passage  between  the  two  sections.  Here  the  dif- 
ferent families  of  the  town  and  nearby  community  would  assemble  when 
danger  seemed  imminent,  and  remain  there  during  the  night. 


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Another  was  built  over  the  Killbuck,  about  three  miles  west  of  Wooster, 
on  land  later  owned  by  Joshua  Warner.  This  building  was  still  standing,  in 
a good  state  of  preservation,  in  1878.  Mr.  Warner,  however,  had  weather- 
boarded  its  timbers  and  plastered  its  interior  walls.  His  family  had  used 
it  for  a part  of  their  residence  for  sixty-five  years. 

Another  one  of  the  “forts”  stood  six  miles  east  of  Wooster,  near  what 
was  called  King's  Tavern,  and  still  farther  on  was  another,  near  the  old 
Andrew  Lucky  tavern,  south  of  Fredericksburg  but  a short  distance,  and  also 
on  the  farm  later  owned  by  Thomas  Dowty,  in  Franklin  township,  similar 
defensive  structures  were  provided  for  the  protection  of  the  settlements 
thereabouts.  A company  of  soldiers  was  at  one  time  quartered  at  the  old 
Morgan  fort.  There  were  still  others,  of  less  magnitude  and  importance, 
at  different  points  within  Wayne  county.  These  block  houses  were  univer- 
sally built  on  an  eminence,  by  which  position  the  surrounding  country  might 
the  more  easily  be  viewed,  thus  obviating  a surprise  by  the  too  sudden  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy. 

In  many  respects  these  forts  resembled  the  ordinary  cabin.  They  were 
built  of  logs,  laid  one  over  the  other  and  tightly  fitted,  with  little  holes 
notched  between  them  and  called  port-holes.  Through  these  openings  the 
inmates  could  readily  point  their  guns  and  fire,  at  the  same  time  being  pro- 
tected against  the  enemy’s  shots.  With  the  exception  of  one  door,  there 
were  no  other  modes  of  egress  or  ingress.  The  structure  was  built  of  solid 
timbers,  firmly  and  securely  fastened  inside,  and,  like  the  rest  of  the  building, 
sufficiently  firm  to  resist  any  volley  of  bullets.  They  were  usually  two  stories 
high ; that  portion  of  the  building  from  the  ground  to  the  height  of  about 
eight  feet  was  formed  of  shorter  logs  than  the  section  above  it,  which,  being 
constructed  of  longer  logs,  formed  a projection  over  the  lower  story,  which 
gave  the  occupants  the  chance  of  shooting  down  on  their  assailants,  or  other- 
wise punishing  them  with  axes  or  pikes,  should  they  attempt  to  climb  and 
enter  it,  or  apply  a torch. 

The  note  of  many  a false  alarm  was  sounded,  and  many  a panic-stricken 
family  rushed  for  protection  to  those  old  wooden  walls. 

REVOLUTIONARY  PENSIONERS  IN  184O. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  Revolutionary  war  pensioners  in  W ayne 
county,  Ohio,  in  1840:  Perry  township — Barnett  Hagerman,  aged  eighty 

years.  Plain  township — Augustus  Case,  aged  eighty-seven.  Jackson  town- 
ship— Ezra  Tryon,  aged  eighty.  Canaan  township — Rufus  Freeman,  aged 


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seventy-eight.  Wayne  township — John  Davidson,  aged  eighty-four.  Chip- 
pewa township — Christina  Franks,  aged  seventy-three;  Isaac  Underwood, 
aged  seventy-four.  Milton  township — Benjamin  Foster,  aged  eighty-six; 
Benjamin  Cotton,  aged  eighty-three.  Greene  township — Conrad  Metsker, 
aged  eighty-two.  East  Union  township — Jesse  Richardson,  aged  eighty- 
four;  Simon  Goodspeed,  aged  seventy-six.  Wooster  township — Robert  Cain, 
aged  seventy-seven. 


PENSIONERS  OF  THE  WAR  OF  l8l2. 

The  subjoined  is  a list  of  the  soldiers  of  the  war  of  1812  (war  with 
Great  Britain),  as  shown  to  be  residents  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  in  force 
in  1878,  according  to  the  state  records  at  Columbus: 

John  Achenbach,  Moreland;  John  B.  Espy,  Wooster;  William  Johnson, 
Wooster;  Simon  Kenney,  Canaan;  George  Messmore,  Apple  Creek;  Benja- 
min Potter,  Millbrook;  Daniel  Rieder,  Koch's;  Rachel  Bugler  (widow), 
Fredericksburg;  John  Crummel,  Apple  Creek;  Henry  Fike,  Smithville;  Syl- 
vanus  Jones,  Wooster;  John  Ludwig,  Reedsburg;  James  McFadden,  Cedar 
Valley;  Thomas  Pittenger,  Lattsburg;  Henry  Starner,  Wooster;  Catherine 
First  (widow),  Apple  Creek. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  IN  THE  MEXICAN  WAR. 

Trouble  had  been  had  between  the  two  republics — the  United  States 
and  Mexico — growing  out  of  certain  encroachments  upon  the  part  of  Mexi- 
cans, for  some  time,  and  finally,  on  May  12.  1846,  war  was  declared  against 
our  southern  neighbors.  The  bill  levying  war  called  for  fifty  thousand  sol- 
diers and  an  appropriation  of  ten  million  dollars.  War  was  really  officially 
declared  on  the  day  following,  by  President  James  K.  Polk.  On  September 
21-23  the  battle  of  Monterey  was  fought,  the  first  in  importance  of  any  in 
the  conflict.  The  country  manfully  responded  to  the  call  for  volunteers. 

It  is  with  a just  pride,  today,  that  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  men 
who  lived  in  Warren  county  can  point  to  the  fact  that  Wayne  county  did  her 
share  nobly  and  well.  Tuesday,  May  26,  1846,  the  Fourth  Brigade,  Ninth 
Division,  Ohio  Militia,  was  hastily  mustered  at  Wooster,  for  the  purpose 
of  encouraging  enlistments.  Over  thirty  on  that  day  signed  the  muster  rolls. 
Capt.  Peter  Burkett,  of  the  Bristol  Light  Artillery,  and  David  Moore,  of  the 
“Wooster  Guards,"  were  present  with  orders  to  enlist  a company.  The 


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officers  at  the  head  of  the  list  below  given  were  chosen  to  command  the 
company,  which  consisted  of  eighty-five  men,  and  on  Tuesday  morning,  June 
9,  1846,  they  started  for  Massillon. 

On  the  morning  of  their  departure  General  Coulter,  on  behalf  of  the 
Wooster  Cadets,  presented  to  them  a handsome  flag,  making  an  appropriate 
speech,  which  was  responded  to  by  Captain  Moore.  Before  leaving  they 
were  mustered  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square,  where  the  mem- 
bers of  the  company  were  presented  with  Testaments  by  the  ladies  of 
Wooster.  The  company  left  Massillon  the  night  of  June  nth,  on  board  two 
canal  boats,  en  route  for  Camp  Washington,  near  Cincinnati.  They  broke 
camp,  at  the  place  just  mentioned,  early  July  3d,  and  the  same  day  left  Cin- 
cinnati on  the  “New  Era”  and  “Tuscaloosa”  for  New  Orleans.  For  some 
time  they  were  encamped  near  the  old  General  Jackson  battle  ground. 

James  D.  Robison,  M.  D.,  of  Wooster,  was  the  first  surgeon  of  the  regi- 
ment, leaving  Cincinnati  July  3d  for  Mexico.  They  served  in  the  Third  Ohio 
Regiment  (there  only  being  three  regiments),  commanded  by  Col.  Samuel 
Curtis,  a graduate  of  West  Point  and  for  several  years  a lawyer  of  Wooster, 
and  with  George  W.  McCrook  as  lieutenant-colonel. 

The  treaty  of  peace  was  ratified  at  Queretaro  May  30,  1848. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  Mexican  soldiers  who  went  from  Wayne 


county,  Ohio: 

Moore,  D.  (Captain) 

Culbertson,  Eli  B. 

Burkett,  P.  (first  lieutenant) 

Chaffe,  Amos 

McMillen,  J.  (second  lieutenant) 

Case,  Nathaniel 

Botsford,  Eli  (sergeant-major) 

Crawford,  James 

Armstrong,  James 

Craven,  Robert 

Atkinscn,  William  C. 

Crouse,  Jacob  M. 

Brainard,  John  F. 

Coy,  Josiah  P. 

Bower,  Wilson 

Correston,  Alexander 

Bair,  Jacob 

Duck,  Daniel 

Boyd,  William 

Divinev,  William  R. 

Bowers,  Abraham 

Dye.  James  R. 

Beach,  Elijah 

Emerson,  R.  D. 

Blakely,  Albin 

Edmonds,  A.  C. 

Baits,  David  F. 

Fleckenger,  Jacob 

Cooper,  P.  M. 

Freeman,  Tames  A. 

Craig cr  John 

Fritts.  Uriah 

Carpenter.  Isaac 

Fishburn.  Howard 

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Flannagan,  John  O. 
Fritts,  Samuel 
Frizinger,  George 
Geyer,  Henry 
Galvin,  Barney 
Goliff,  Andrew 
Grove,  William 
Harris,  Terry 
Hawk,  Michael  H. 
Hess,  Jesse 
Honn,  John 
Hemperley,  M.  H. 
Jenkins,  George 
Joliff,  Abraham 
Lloyd,  John 
Lowry,  Robert  B. 
Lowry,  James  A. 
Merrick,  John 
Moses,  William 
McCullom,  Cyrus  J. 
Marsh,  Joseph 
Plumer,  J.  C. 


Powers,  Almon  H. 
Ryan,  Jacob 
Rambaugh,  J.  B. 
Richard,  George 
Rice,  Frederick 
Reighley,  Geo.,  Jr. 
Stanley,  Wilson  M. 
Stall,  Jacob 
Sheldon,  Jiles 
Strunk,  William 
Stoffer,  William  H. 
Stanley,  Homer 
Sample,  John 
Snyder,  Michael 
Stavig,  Abram 
Shoeters,  Oswald 
Taylor,  Thomas 
Tweeig,  J.  E. 
vVickey,  Daniel 
Wood,  Charles  B. 
Wachtel.  George 
Yergen,  John 


WAYNE  COUNTY  AND  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

Wayne  county,  in  common  with  all  Ohio  counties,  did  her  part  in  put- 
ting down  the  rebellion  of  the  people  of  the  Southern  states  from  1861  to 
1865.  Patriotism  was  instilled  into  the  people  of  this  county  by  reason  of 
the  early  settlers  having  been  of  the  good  old  Revolutionary  stock.  It  is  not 
the  province  of  this  work  to  go  into  the  causes  of  the  Civil  war,  but  to  give 
some  account  of  the  men  sent  forth  to  subdue  the  rebellion.  The  part  Wayne 
county  enacted  in  this  war  was  prompt  and  conspicuous,  she  having  fur- 
nished from  1861  to  1865  over  three  thousand  two  hundred  volunteers,  not 
including  a considerable  conscript  force.  The  volunteers  were  distributed 
among  the  various  regiments,  as  follows : One  company  of  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment; one  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment,  in  the  three  months',  and  five  in  the 
three  years’  service;  one  in  the  Fortv-first  Regiment;  five  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twentieth  Regiment;  three  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Second  Regi- 


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ment;  one  company  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment;  three  com- 
panies in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Regiment  of  National  Guards, 
and  a detachment  of  thirty  men  in  the  Eighty-fifth  Ohio  Regiment.  These 
were  all  infantry  organizations.  Wayne  county  also  furnished  one  company 
for  the  Ninth  Ohio  Cavalry,  small  detachments  for  several  artillery  com- 
panies, besides  many  fragmentary  enlistments  in  the  different  infantry  organ- 
izations. 

Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  April  12,  1861,  and  that  demonstration 
culminated  in  the  great  civil  strife  that  had  been  fomenting  for  many  years, 
really  over  the  question  of  slavery.  Wooster  shared  in  the  patriotic  excite- 
ment of  the  period  and  recruiting  commenced  at  once. 

The  first  public  meeting  of  the  citizens  in  Wooster  was  held  at  the  old 
court  house,  on  the  evening  of  April  16th,  when  a wildly-patriotic  crowd 
assembled.  Hon.  William  Given  was  chosen  chairman  and  James  McMillen 
acted  as  secretary.  Patriotic  speeches  were  made  by  Judge  Given,  Eugene 
Pardee,  William  M.  Orr  and  several  others.  Recruiting  had  been  going- on 
previously,  however,  and  fifty  men  had  enlisted  through  the  efforts  of  James 
McMillen,  Jacob  Shultz  and  R.  B.  Spink,  the  company — the  first  raised  in 
Wayne  county — being  filled  up  that  evening  at  the  mass  meeting  just  men- 
tioned. 

NAMES  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUNTEERS. 


There  is  always  much  interest  attached  to  the  names  of  the  men  who 
first,  in  the  true  and  sublime  spirit  of  loyalty,  respond  to  the  call  of  their 
country,  hence  the  list  of  this  pioneer  company  is  here  appended : 


Arnold,  J.  W. 
Armstrong,  George 
Anderson.  Francis  M. 
Armstrong,  John 
Arnold.  Levi 
Barrett,  John  F. 
Black,  James 
Bodine,  Joseph  D. 
Black,  Anthony  A. 
Bess,  David 
Brandt,  J.  C. 

Black,  D.  Y. 
Brinkerhoff,  D.  O. 


Brighton,  William 
Baumgardner,  William  H. 
Brown,  Hubbard 
Bucher,  W.  H. 

Carr,  J.  H. 

Cline.  William 
Carev,  George  W. 

Cassidy,  D.  S. 

Cole,  Thomas 
Chapman,  Alfred 
Cline.  George 
Cutter.  Henry 
Cook.  H.  H.  * 


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Dice,  Thomas 
Dyarmon,  Orlando 
Duck,  John  W. 

Dice,  J.  H. 

Dyherman,  Nathan 
Egbert,  Joseph 
Everly,  Evan 
Eberly,  William 
Eberman,  William  G. 
France,  Marion 
Foggleson,  Corodon 
Flack,  David 
Fitch,  John 
Francis,  George  C. 
Fishbum,  Howard 
Gordan,  Samuel 
Groff,  John 
Graybill,  L. 

Gray,  Cyrus 
Gray,  Alexander 
Headrich,  Henry 
Hite,  George 
Hefflinger,  Sylvester 
Hoag,  Ezra  M. 

Held,  Harmon 
Hoke,  John 
Hansom,  William  H. 
Jeffries,  Lemuel 
Jahla,  John 
Johnson,  John  E. 
Kennedy,  Robert 
Keehn,  Frank 
Kope,  Aaron 
Kramer.  Benjamin 
Kope,  James 
Lawrence,  William 
Lewis,  Clifford 


Lightcap,  W.  M. 
Lehman,  L.  S. 

Long,  Charles  W. 
Lake,  Joseph  J. 
Lyon,  John  F. 
McClure,  A.  S. 
McClure,  W.  H. 
McClarran,  J.  W. 
McMillen,  James 
Mutscheler,  George 
McGlennen,  William 
McElhenie,  Robert 
Miller,  Frank 
Mohn,  D. 

Musser,  George 
McClure,  C.  W. 
Moffatt,  James 
McClarren,  Thomas 
McLaren,  H.  O. 
McKelvy,  Edward 
Pratt,  Joseph  D. 
Pollinger,  David  S. 
Pritchard,  H.  C. 
Patterson,  I.  U. 
Patterson,  George 
Reamer,  S. 

Shultz,  Jacob 
Spink,  R.  B. 

Sanford,  J.  B. 

Sands,  W.  W. 

Scoby,  L.  H. 
Swearinger,  J.  S. 
Springer,  John 
Swickey,  Henry 
Stewart,  George 
Smedlev,  Edwin 
Sowers,  George 


(PS) 


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Segner,  Robert 
Smith,  Matt  H. 
Shreve,  Hiempsel 
Singer,  William 
Syser,  Harmon 
Ulrich,  William  H. 


Urban,  William 
Vanata,  Peter  O. 
Wain,  John 
Wilson,  Jacob 
Warner,  T.  C. 


They  immediately  organized  by  electing  James  McMillen,  captain;  Jacob 
Shultz,  first  lieutenant,  and  R.  B.  Spink,  second  lieutenant. 


THE  FOURTH  OHIO  REGIMENT. 


On  Monday,  April  21,  1861,  the  first  company  left  Wooster  for  Colum- 
bus. Excitement  ran  high.  Flags  floated  from  nearly  all  buildings,  and 
upwards  of  ten  thousand  people  lined  the  streets  from  the  court  house  to 
the  station,  and  at  the  depot  speeches  were  made  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of 
the  place  by  Judge  Given,  Doctor  Firestone,  William  M.  Orr,  Eugene  Pardee, 
Benjamin  Eason  and  others,  and  on  the  part  of  the  volunteers  by  Capt.  James 
McMillen,  A.  S.  McClure  and  Levi  Graybill.  The  company  started  for 
Columbus  amid  the  tears  and  acclamations  of  the  multitude. 

Arriving  at  Columbus,  the  company  was,  on  April  25th,  incorporated 
with  the  Fourth  Ohio  Regiment  of  infantry,  becoming  Company  E.  The 
field  officers  of  the  regiment  were:  Colonel,  Lorin  Andrews;  lieutenant- 

colonel,  James  Cantwell;  major,  James  H.  Goodman.  The  ranks  were  filled 
by  two  companies  from  Marion,  two  from  Delaware,  two  from  Mt.  Vernon, 
two  from  Kenton,  one  from  Canton  and  one  from  Wooster. 

April  29th  the  regiment  moved  to  Camp  Dennison,  and  on  May  4th  was 
mustered  into  the  three-months  service  by  Capt.  Gordon  Granger,  LT.  S.  A. 
A few  days  later  President  Lincoln’s  call  for  three-years  men  was  made 
public,  whereupon  the  majority  of  the  members  of  Company  E and  the  regi- 
ment re-enlisted  for  that  period,  and  were  mustered  in  for  three  years,  dating 
from  June  5,  1861. 

The  regiment  left  Camp  Dennison  June  20,  1861,  for  West  Virginia, 
where  it  participated  in  the  campaign  against  Rich  Mountain,  under  Gen. 
George  B.  McClellan.  It  was  then  ordered  to  New  Creek,  Maryland.  Au- 
gust 9th  it  marched  to  Camp  Pendleton,  on  the  summit  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains,  where  they  encamped  and  fortified. 

In  the  middle  of  September  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cantwell,  with  six  com- 
panies of  the  regiment,  among  which  was  Company  E,  made  an  attack  on  the 


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Confederates  at  Romney,  Virginia,  driving  them  from  the  town  in  great 
disorder  and  with  severe  loss.  They  were,  however,  reinforced  in  a few 
hours,  and  on  the  4th  the  Union  forces  were  compelled,  in  considerable  hurry, 
to  evacuate  the  place  and  retreat  to  Fort  Pendleton.  John  F.  Barrett,  of 
Wooster,  was  severely  wounded  in  this  engagement,  being  the  first  Wayne 
county  soldier  shot  in  the  Civil  war;  William  Cline,  of  Wooster,  was  also 
wounded  in  the  same  engagement. 

October  26th,  the  same  year,  the  Fourth  Regiment,  with  other  troops 
under  command  of  General  Kelley,  again  advanced  on  Romney,  took  the 
town  after  a short  engagement,  with  a loss  of  fourteen  killed  and  wounded, 
the  Confederates  suffering  a number  of  killed  and  all  their  baggage,  two 
pieces  of  artillery  and  a number  of  prisoners  captured. 

Romney  was  evacuated  on  the  10th  of  January,  and  the  regiment  trans- 
ferred to  Patterson’s  creek,  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Potomac,  and  thence 
in  February  to  Paw-Paw  tunnel  on  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  railroad,  there, 
under  General  Lander,  participating  in  the  capture  of  Bloomery  Gap,  with 
a large  number  of  Confederates  and  stores.  Lander  shortly  after  dying 
at  Paw-Paw,  Gen.  James  Shields  took  command  of  the  division  and  marched 
on  Martinsburg,  which  the  Confederates  evacuated,  after  destroying  a large 
amount  of  railroad  and  other  property.  March  nth  Shields’  command  moved 
on  Winchester,  and  on  the  23d  and  24th  engaged  Stonewall  Jackson  in  his 
retreat  up  the  Shenandoah  valley.  May  24th  the  regiment  marched,  via 
Luray,  Front  Royal,  Chester  Gap,  Warrenton,  Catlett’s  Station,  to  join  Mc- 
Dowell’s troops  at  Fredericksburg.  On  the  23d  the  regiment,  with  others 
of  Shields’  division,  was  ordered  back  to  the  valley,  via  Manassas  Junction. 
It  reached  Front  Royal  on  the  30th,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  place,  released 
a regiment  of  Union  soldiers  they  had  taken,  captured  a large  quantity  of 
ammunition  and  supplies  and  a number  of  prisoners.  On  June  3d  it  moved 
toward  Luray,  and  on  the  7th  a forced  march  was  made  by  the  brigade  to 
Port  Republic,  reaching  there  in  time  to  check  the  enemy  and  cover  the  re- 
treat of  a portion  of  Shields’  division,  under  General  Carroll. 

After  marching  and  counter-marching  in  the  valley,  the  regiment  was, 
on  the  4th,  ordered  to  Alexandria,  where  it  embarked  to  join  McClellan’s 
army,  then  supposed  to  be  operating  against  Richmond.  It  arrived  on  the 
last  day  of  the  Seven  Days’  fight,  and  was  immediately  under  fire,  losing  sev- 
eral men.  On  the  evacuation  of  the  Peninsula  by  the  national  forces,  August 
16,  1862,  the  regiment  returned  to  Alexandria.  Capt.  James  McMillen  was 
accidentally  drowned  at  Alexandria  during  the  embarkation  of  the  regiment 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


for  the  Peninsula.  Its  next  important  service  was  at  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, December  13,  1862,  where  the  regiment,  as  well  as  Company  E,  suf- 
fered heavily.  Lieut.  William  Brighton  of  this  company  was  killed  in  this 
engagement.  May  3d  the  regiment  participated  in  the  fearful  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  again  suffering  heavy  loss.  Its  next  great  battle  was  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  1st,  2d  and  3d  of  July,  1863,  where  its  losses  were  also 
very  heavy.  On  the  4th  it  was  one  of  the  three  regiments  that  drove  the 
enemy  from  Cemetery  Hill,  after  they  had  driven  a part  of  the  Eleventh 
Corps  from  the  field  and  gained  possession  of  our  two  batteries.  Generals 
Hancock,  Howard,  Gibbon  and  other  prominent  generals  witnessed  this 
charge  and  gave  it  the  highest  praise. 

Shortly  after  this  terrible  battle  the  Fourth  Regiment  was  ordered  to 
New  York  city  to  assist  in  quelling  a spirit  of  insubordination  which  had 
manifested  itself  there.  The  Fourth  was  soon  ordered  to  Alexandria  and  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  Stevensburg  on  the  1st  of  December,  1863.  It  then 
participated  in  General  Grant’s  campaigns  and  battles.  Towards  the  close 
of  the  war,  the  ranks  thinned  by  the  bullets  of  the  enemy  and  by  disease, 
the  company  was  mustered  out  of  service,  having  traveled  in  its  campaigns 
an  aggregate  of  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  at  all  times 
maintained  the  highest  reputation  for  discipline,  soldierly  behavior  and  good 
conduct  on  the  battlefield.  Hence  it  will  be  observed  that  the  pioneer  com- 
pany of  men  who  went  forth  as  green,  undrilled  volunteers  from  Wayne 
county,  proved  in  every  instance  worthy  the  name  and  fame  of  American 
soldiery. 

SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT  OHIO  INFANTRY. 

As  there  are  still  living  in  Wayne  county  many  descendants  of  the  men 
who  wore  the  loyal  blue  as  members  of  the  gallant  Sixteenth  Regiment,  a 
short  description  of  the  various  campaigns  of  this  command  will  be  given. 
The  second  company  from  Wooster  was  organized  the  latter  part  of  April, 
1861.  Recruiting  for  it  commenced  on  the  20th,  and  by  the  25th  the  com- 
pany was  full,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected : Captain,  George  W. 
Bailey;  first  lieutenant,  Aquila  Wiley:  second  lieutenant,  Cushman  Cun- 
ningham. It  joined  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  April  28th. 
There  it  drilled  and  remained  in  camp  at  Camp  Jackson  several  \veeks,  then 
went  to  West  Virginia,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Phillippi,  one  of  the 
first  engagements  of  the  war.  The  Wooster  company,  under  command  of 
Captain  Wiley  (Captain  Bailey  having  been  promoted  to  major),  was  sta- 


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tioned  at  Grafton,  West  Virginia,  and  at  Oakland,  Maryland,  during  the  resi- 
due of  three  months’  service.  On  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  enlistment  the 
company  was  mustered  out  and  returned  home. 

The  Sixteenth  Ohio  Regiment,  for  three  years'  service,  was  organized 
at  Camp  Tiffin,  near  Wooster,  October  2,  1861.  The  regimental  camp  was 
located  in  Quimby  Grove,  a short  distance  northwest  of  the  present  site  of 
Wooster  University.  Five  companies  for  this  regiment  were  recruited  in 
Wayne  county,  commanded  respectively  by  Eli  W.  Botsford,  Hamilton  Riche- 
son,  Samuel  Smith,  George  U.  Harn  and  A.  S.  McClure.  The  field  officers 
were:  Colonel,  John  F.  DeCourcey;  lieutenant-colonel,  George  W.  Bailey; 

major,  Philip  Keshner. 

The  regiment  moved  to  Camp  Dennison  November  27,  1861,  and  re- 
mained there  until  December  19th,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky. From  that  point  it  proceeded  to  join  General  Thomas'  forces,  then 
operating  against  Zollicoffer’s  command  in  southern  Kentucky.  After  toil- 
some marches  through  mud  and  rain  the  regiment  arrived  at  Somerset  just 
in  time  to  miss  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs.  The  regiment  remained  near  Som- 
erset throughout  January,  1862,  when  it  \vas  directed  to  Cumberland  Ford, 
reaching  there  February  12th.  Troops  were  assembling  at  the  ford,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  George  W.  Morgan,  to  dislodge  the  Confederate  forces 
occupying  Cumberland  Gap,  a few  miles  distant.  In  March  and  April  several 
reconnoisances  were  made  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gap,  during  which  sharp 
skirmishings  took  place  with  the  enemy.  The  Sixteenth  lost  several  men, 
killed  and  wounded,  during  these  engagements.  In  June  Morgan’s  forces, 
composed  of  Ohio.  Indiana,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  troops,  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  Cumberland  mountains  by  Powell’s  Gap,  thus  effecting  a lodge- 
ment in  rear  of  Cumberland  Gap  and  necessitating  its  evacuation  by  the  Con- 
federates, who  retreated  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and  the  Union  forces  occu- 
pied the  abandoned  stronghold  without  further  resistance. 

At  Tazewell,  Tennessee,  the  regiment  encountered  Kirby  Smith's  army, 
in  motion  to  invade  Kentucky.  A sharp  engagement  ensued  in  which  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment  was  overwhelmed  by  numbers  and  forced  to  retreat  to 
the  Gap.  with  a severe  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured.  At  Cumberland 
Gap  the  situation  was  now  indeed  serious.  They  were  surrounded  on  all  sides 
and  their  supplies  cut  off.  General  Morgan  determined  to  abandon  the  Gap 
and  retreat  to  the  Ohio  river.  After  a toilsome  march  of  sixteen  days 
through  a rough  mountain  region,  the  command  reached  the  Ohio  at  Greens- 
burg,  Kentucky,  October  3,  1862. 


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The  regiment  was  next  ordered  to  Charleston,  West  Virginia,  and  from 
thence  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  to  join  General  Sherman's  command,  then 
being  organized  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburg.  In  December  Sherman's  forces 
moved  down  the  Mississippi  in  transports,  arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo 
on  Christmas  day.  The  troops  proceeded  up  the  Yazoo  several  miles,  when 
they  were  disembarked  and  prepared  to  assault  Vicksburg  on  the  Chickasaw 
Bluff  side.  On  December  28th  the  enemy  was  driven  out  of  his  line  of  rifle- 
pits  in  front  of  the  bluffs,  and  on  the  29th  of  December  Morgan's  division  was 
ordered  to  assault  them.  The  position  of  the  Confederates  was  impregnable 
and  the  assault  was  very  disastrous.  The  Sixteenth  lost  very  heavily.  Capt. 
G.  U.  Harn  was  killed;  Captain  Van  Dorn  wounded  and  captured;  Captain 
Ross  wounded ; Captain  McClure  wounded  and  captured ; Lieut.  P.  M.  Smith 
wounded  and  captured;  Lieutenant  Heckert  wounded  and  captured;  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Kershner  wounded  and  captured ; Lieutenant  Voorhes  wounded 
and  captured ; Captain  Mills  and  Cunningham  and  Lieutenant  Buchanan  cap- 
tured. The  regiment  lost  in  this  engagement  three  hundred  and  eleven  offi- 
cers and  men  killed,  wounded  and  captured. 

The  next  service  of  this  regiment  was  at  Arkansas  Post,  in  which  as- 
sault it  lost  several  men.  It  then  returned  to  Young’s  Point,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  and  from  there  it  moved  to  Milliken's  Bend,  where  it  encamped 
until  the  6th  of  April,  1863.  The  regiment  then  participated  in  Grant's 
campaign  against  Vicksburg,  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  Thompson's 
Hill,  Black  River  Bridge,  and  the  assault  on  the  encroachments  of  Vicksburg 
in  May,  1863,  losing  seventy  men  in  each  of  these  engagements. 

After  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  July  4,  1863,  the  regiment  joined  the 
forces  of  General  Sherman  in  his  expedition  against  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
In  the  assault  at  this  place  Captain  Richeson  was  wounded  and  several  of  the 
Wayne  county  men  killed.  Returning  to  Vicksburg,  the  regiment  was  sent 
into  camp,  but  was  soon  ordered  to  New  Orleans  to  join  General  Washburn's 
expedition  to  Texas.  The  regiment  disembarked  at  DeCrows  Point,  and 
moved  from  thence  to  Indianola,  and  on  to  New7  Orleans  April  12,  1864. 
From  New7  Orleans  it  w as  ordered  to  Alexandria,  on  the  Red  river,  to  rein- 
force Banks'  command,  w7hich  was  then  retreating  from  before  the  forces  of 
Dick  Taylor.  On  arriving  at  Alexandria  the  Sixteenth  wras  immediately 
placed  at  the  front  and  participated  in  several  engagements.  Returning  to 
Alexandria,  it  was  detached  to  help  construct  a dam  in  Red  river  to  facilitate 
the  escape  of  the  iron-clad  fleet.  From  here  Banks  retreated  to  Morganza 
Bend,  on  the  Mississippi,  the  Sixteenth  forming  a part  of  the  rear  guard  in 


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: 

this  disorderly  retreat.  On  reaching  Morganza  Bend  the  regiment  went  into 
camp,  from  where  it  was  ordered  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  muster  out,  return- 
ing there,  and  was  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

The  Sixteenth  Regiment  was  one  of  the  best  disciplined  regiments  in 
the  Union  army.  Its  colonel,  John  F.  DeCourcy,  was  a professional  soldier, 
having  served  many  years  in  the  British  army.  The  command  was  noted 
for  its  fine,  manly,  military  bearing. 

FORTY-FIRST  REGIMENT  OHIO  INFANTRY. 

Company  C,  of  the  Forty-First  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  was 
recruited  in  Wayne  county  in  August  and  September,  1861.  Its  officers  were : 
Aquila  Wiley,  captain ; F.  E.  Pancoast,  first  lieutenant,  and  Rufus  B.  Hardy, 
second  lieutenant.  In  the  early  part  of  September  the  company  was  ordered 
to  Cleveland,  where  it  was  mustered  into  the  Forty-first  Regiment  on  the  19th 
of  September.  The  field  officers  of  this  regiment  were:  Colonel,  William  B. 
Hazen;  lieutenant-colonel,  John  J.  Wizeman;  major,  George  S.  Mygatt.  On 
November  6th  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Camp  Dennison,  and  from  thence 
to  Gallipolis,  and  from  that  point  to  Louisville,  where  it  became  a part  of  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  under  command  of  General  Buell.  During  the  winter  the 
regiment  was  encamped  at  Camp  Wickliffe.  In  April,  1862,  it  took  part  in 
the  great  battle  of  Shiloh  (Pittsburg  Landing).  It  lost  in  the  first  day’s 
fight,  one  hundred  and  forty-one  officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded.  Cap- 
tain Wiley  was  severely  wounded  in  this  famous  battle;  also  Lieutenant  Pan- 
coast. who  subsequently  died  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds. 

After  much  hard  campaigning  in  Alabama  and  Tennessee  during  the 
summer  of  1862,  the  Forty-first  Regiment  joined  the  retreat  of  Buell  to 
Louisville,  and  shortly  after  reaching  there  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro, where  it  lost  one  hundred  and  twelve  men  killed  and  wounded. 

In  January,  1863,  the  regiment  moved  to  Readyville,  about  twelve  miles 
from  Murfreesboro,  where  it  remained  until  the  24th  of  June.  During  the 
months  of  July  and  August  the  Forty-First  Regiment  was  kept  in  motion  and 
in  Septembei,  1863,  participated  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  in  which  en- 
gagement it  greatly  distinguished  itself.  The  next  important  battle  in  which 
it  participated  was  Mission  Ridge,  fought  November  23d  and  25th.  Here 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  men  of  the  Forty-first  fell.  Colonel  Wiley  lost  a leg 
while  gallantly  leading  the  charge.  General  Thomas,  on  the  field,  compli- 
mented this  regiment  highly  for  its  splendid  conduct.  After  this  battle  they 
marched  to  Knoxville,  and  there  re-enlisted  as  veterans:  and  when  the  men 
had  enjoyed  the  veteran  furlough,  the  regiment,  with  one  hundred  recruits. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


rejoined  its  division  in  eastern  Tennessee,  being  placed  in  a battalion  with  the 
First  Ohio  Regiment,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kimberly  commanding. 

The  regiment  then  participated  in  nearly  all  of  the  battles  of  Sherman  in 
his  campaign  against  Atlanta — Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Dallas,  Piney  Top  Moun- 
tain, Peach  Tree  Creek,  etc.  In  this  campaign  the  regiment  lost  one  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  men,  the  regiment  dwindling  down  to  a mere  skeleton  of  only 
ninety-nine  men. 

On  the  occupation  of  Atlanta  by  the  Union  forces  the  Forty-first  Regi- 
ment was  sent  in  pursuit  of  Hood,  and  participated  in  Thomas’  victory  over 
that  Confederate  general  in  front  of  Nashville.  In  June,  1865,  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Texas,  where  it  was  stationed  near  San  Antonio  until  Novem- 
ber, and  then  ordered  mustered  out.  It  reached  Columbus,  Ohio,  about  the 
middle  of  the  month,  and  was  finally  discharged  on  the  26th  of  November, 
1865,  after  four  years  and  one  month’s  service. 

Company  C,  of  this  regiment,  was  a splendid  company  of  men,  of  high 
reputation  in  all  respects,  and  perhaps  saw  more  hard  service  than  any  other 
company  raised  in  Wayne  county. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTIETH  REGIMENT. 

There  were  four  full  companies  and  a part  of  the  fifth  company  of  this 
splendid  regiment  raised  in  Wooster  and  Wayne  county.  Joseph  H.  Down- 
ing, George  P.  Emrich,  Benjamin  Eason  and  William  G.  Myers  were  elected 
captains  of  their  respective  companies.  The  field  officers  were : Colonel. 
Daniel  French;  lieutenant-colonel,  Marcus  M.  Spiegel;  major,  John  W.  Beek- 
man.  The  five  Wayne  county  companies  were  recruited  in  August.  1862, 
and  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Mansfield  August  29th.  October  17th  it  was  mus- 
tered into  service,  and  on  the  25th  of  the  month  moved  to  Covington,  Ken- 
tucky. from  which  point  it  departed,  November  24th.  for  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
reaching  there  December  7th.  Here  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  Colonel 
Sheldon’s  brigade,  of  Morgan's  division,  being  a part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  under  command  of  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  and  destined  to  operate 
against  Vicksburg. 

December  20th  the  regiment  moved  on  transports  down  the  Mississippi 
river,  thence  up  the  Yazoo,  where  it  disembarked  at  Jonnson's  Landing  and 
participated  in  the  assault  against  Vicksburg.  After  the  repulse  of  the  na- 
tional forces  from  Vicksburg,  the  regiment  embarked  on  transports  and  ac- 
companied the  expedition  against  Arkansas  Post,  which  resulted  successfully. 


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233. 


From  Arkansas  Post  the  regiment  returned  to  Young’s  Point,  and  went 
into  camp.  Here  it  was  decimated  by  disease,  measles,  typhus  and  malarial 
fever  working  havoc  in  its  ranks.  At  one  time  over  half  the  regiment  was 
reported  on  sick  list.  The  officers  became  discouraged  and  resigned  in  large 
numbers,  which  contributed  to  the  despondency  of  the  private  soldiers. 

In  April,  the  regiment  took  part  in  General  Grant's  campaign  against 
Vicksburg,  engaging  in  the  battles  of  Champion  Hill,  Thompson's  Hill,  the 
Black  River,  and  in  the  charges  on  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863.  It  behaved 
gallantly  in  all  of  these  actions.  After  the  final  fall  of  Vicksburg  the  regi- 
ment joined  Sherman's  army  in  his  famous  expedition  against  Jackson,  hold- 
ing the  right  of  the  column  in  its  advance.  In  the  operation  against  Jack- 
son,  Lieutenant  Totten  was  mortally  wounded,  and  Colonel  Spiegel  and  Lieu- 
tenant Spear  were  severely  wounded. 

The  regiment  returned  to  Vicksburg  July  20,  1863,  and  on  the  8th  of 
August  embarked  for  New  Orleans  to  join  Banks’  expedition  in  western 
Louisiana.  It  took  part  in  the  campaign  in  the  valley  of  the  Teche,  and  was 
then  sent  to  Plaquemine,  a small  town  on  the  Mississippi  river,  where  it  re- 
mained until  March,  1864,  being  then  ordered  to  Baton  Rouge. 

May  1 st  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  join  Banks,  then  operating  in  the 
direction  of  Shreveport.  The  regiment  embarked  on  the  transport  “City 
Belle,”  for  Alexandria,  and  when  passing  up  Red  river  it  was  ambuscaded  at 
Snaggy  Point  by  five  thousand  rebel  soldiers  concealed  behind  the  levee.  A 
murderous  artillery  and  infantry  fire  was  opened  on  the  crowded  boat,  and 
the  deck  was  soon  slippery  with  blood.  After  a short  but  ineffectual  struggle, 
against  overwhelming  odds,  the  regiment  was  compelled  to  display  the  white 
flag.  During  the  conflict  the  “City  Belle”  drifted  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  where  quite  a number  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment 
escaped.  Colonel  Spiegel,  Surgeon  Stanton,  Assistant  Surgeon  Gill,  Captains 
J.  R.  Rummell.  Miller,  Fraunfelder  and  Jones,  Lieutenants  Applegate.  Baer 
and  Roach  and  two  hundred  men  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  besides  the 
bodies  of  the  killed.  Colonel  Spiegel  was  mortally  wounded  and  died  the 
next  day.  He  was  one  of  the  noblest  and  the  “bravest  of  the  brave.”  The 
prisoners  were  at  once  marched  off  to  Camp  Ford,  near  Tyler,  Texas,  where 
they  were  confined  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

After  this  disaster  the  remnant  of  the  regiment  retreated  with  Banks’ 
forces  to  Morganza,  Louisiana,  where  it  was  consolidated  with  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fourteenth  Ohio  Regiment.  This  ended  the  career  of  the  gallant 
regiment  as  a regimental  organization.  It  was  a good  behaved  regiment,  but 
was  overwhelmed  with  a series  of  disasters. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

This  regiment  was  organized  under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for 
three  hundred  thousand  more  men  for  three-year  service.  Three  companies 
were  enlisted  in  Wayne  county,  respectively  by  Captains  John  W.  Stout, 
Jonas  D.  Elliott  and  James  E.  Robinson.  The  field  officers  of  the  regiment 
were:  Colonel,  William  Given;  lieutenant-colonel,  Abraham  Baker;  major, 
George  H.  Toping;  William  H.  McMonigal  was  adjutant.  Recruiting  com- 
menced in  July,  1862,  and  in  August  the  Wayne  county  companies  moved  to 
Camp  Mansfield.  September  4th  the  regiment  left  for  Kentucky,  crossing 
the  Ohio  river  at  Cincinnati  on  the  morning  of  the  5th.  It  was  mustered  into 
service  the  next  day  at  Covington.  September  22d  it  was  transported  in 
boats  to  Louisville,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  but  not  en- 
gaged. From  there  it  was  sent  to  Crab  Orchard,  and  from  thence  to  Bowling 
Green,  Kentucky,  arriving  on  the  30th  of  October.  December  19th  the  regi- 
ment moved  to  Russellville,  and  from  there  to  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  reaching 
that  point  on  Christmas  night,  where  it  remained  nine  months. 

October  30,  1863,  the  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Nashville. 
It  was  transferred  to  Tullahoma,  Tennessee,  where  it  was  occupied  guarding 
a railroad  from  Normandy  to  Dochera.  June  6th  the  regiment  marched 
across  the  Cumberland  mountains  to  Alabama,  the  left  wing  of  the  regiment, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Elliott,  being  stationed  at  Dodson- 
ville.  The  regiment  was  now  engaged  in  defending  the  line  of  the  Tennessee 
river  from  Stevenson  to  the  foot  of  Seven  Mile  Island,  a distance  of  fifty 
miles.  As  security  against  attack,  twelve  block  houses  were  erected  along 
the  line.  In  defense  of  the  line  the  regiment  performed  invaluable  service 
and  had  frequent  encounters  with  the  enemy.  Having  been  relieved  from  the 
duty,  the  regiment  was  engaged  next  in  patrolling  the  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama railroad  from  Decatur. 

Colonel  Given,  commandant  of  the  post,  September  23d  was  directed  to 
send  a detachment  of  four  hundred  men  to  reinforce  Fort  Athens.  The  de- 
tachment was  composed  of  soldiers  from  the  Eighteenth  Michigan  and  the 
One  Hundred  and  Second  Ohio,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Elliott,  of  the  latter  regiment.  The  command  encountered  the  Confederate 
General  Forest  near  Athens,  where  it  was  surrounded  and  overwhelmed  by 
superior  forces  and  forced  to  surrender.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Elliott  received 
a mortal  wound  in  this  action.  The  officers  were  taken  to  Selma  and  the 
men  to  Cahaba,  Alabama.  The  men  were  finally  paroled  and  placed  on 


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board  the  “Sultana,”  at  Vicksburg.  During  the  passage  up  the  river  the  boat 
was  blown  up,  April  28,  1865,  and,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  eighty-one 
of  the  regiment  lost  their  lives  by  the  disaster. 

The  regiment  was  in  Decatur  at  the  time  of  the  siege  by  Hood,  and  was 
highly  complimented  for  its  behavior.  June  30,  1865,  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  It  then  proceeded  to  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  and  was  discharged  July  8,  1865.  This  regiment  was  made  up  of 
excellent  men,  and  displayed  great  bravery  and  skill  whenever  it  was  called 
upon  to  engage  the  enemy. 

THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

Capt.  Gustave  Buecking’s  company  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  was  raised  chiefly  in  Wooster,  from  among 
the  patriotic  Germans  of  the  city.  Recruiting  for  it  commenced  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  July,  1862,  and  the  company  was  soon  filled  to  its  maximum.  In 
August  it  was  ordered  to  Cleveland,  where  it  was  incorporated  with  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment,  whose  field  officers  were:  Colonel,  Sera- 
phim Meyer;  lieutenant-colonel,  Charles  Mueller;  major,  George  Arnold. 
Soon  after  its  organization,  this  regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Its  first  important  battle  was  at  Chancellorsville.  The  regi- 
ment belonged  to  Howard's  Eleventh  Corps,  which  was  so  terribly  handled 
by  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  lost  two  hundred  and  twenty  men  killed  and 
wounded.  Its  next  general  engagement  was  at  famous  Gettysburg,  where 
the  regiment  was  almost  annihilated,  losing  over  four  hundred  men  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners,  out  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  that  entered  the  battle. 

August  1,  1863,  the  regiment  sailed  to  Folly  Island,  South  Carolina,  and 
performed  picket  duty  there  until  January,  1864.  After  the  resignation  of 
Col.  Seraphim  Meyer  the  discipline  of  the  regiment  steadily  improved.  From 
Folly  Island  the  regiment  was  taken  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  where  it  had 
several  skirmishes  with  the  Rebels.  It  returned  to  South  Carolina  on  the 
23d  of  March,  1865,  and  met  a detachment  of  the  enemy,  defeating  him,  cap- 
turing three  pieces  of  artillery,  six  horses  and  fifteen  prisoners. 

The  regiment  did  provost  duty  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  during  the 
balance  of  its  service  until  July  10,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  and  sent 
home  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  it  was  discharged.  This  command  was  made 
up  largely  of  Germans.  It  was  a fine  body  of  men,  its  members  displaying 
their  earnest  patriotism  and  heroic  valor  on  many  occasions. 


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236 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


NINTH  OHIO  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. 

Wayne  county  furnished  nearly  a hundred  men  for  cavalry  service  under 
Capt.  William  Henderson.  These  were  enlisted  in  December,  1863,  and 
January,  1864.  They  served  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  “March  to  the 
Sea,”  being  under  General  Kilpatrick.  The  Wayne  county  company  was  with 
that  illustrious  general  when  his  camp  was  raided  by  Humphrey's  cavalry. 
They  were  at  the  battle  of  Averysboro  and  Bentonville,  North  Carolina.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  they  were  mustered  out  and  returned  home. 

MISCELLANEOUS  DETACHMENTS  FROM  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

A detachment  of  cavalry  was  recruited  in  Wayne  county  in  October, 
1861,  by  Lieut.  Benjamin  Lake,  for  McLaughlin's  squadron,  joining  the 
squadron  at  Mansfield  the  latter  part  of  the  month.  . In  November  it  left  for 
eastern  Kentucky,  where  it  engaged  in  campaigning  for  nearly  two  years, 
taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Middle  Creek.  Pikeville  and  Round  Gap.  In 
August,  1863,  the  squadron  left  eastern  Kentucky  and  joined  the  Twenty- 
third  Army  Corps,  under  General  Hartsuff,  marching  to  Knoxville,  where  it 
remained  until  January,  1864,  then  re-enlisting  as  veterans.  It  filled  up  its 
ranks  and  then  joined  General  Stoneman’s  command  in  the  raid  on  Macon. 
In  this  raid  it  suffered  heavy  losses.  It  next  operated  on  Sherman’s  flank  in 
the  movement  against  Atlanta,  and  afterwards  was  placed  under  Kilpatrick’s 
command,  going  with  Sherman  on  his  “March  to  the  Sea” ; thence  from 
Savannah  with  the  national  forces  through  South  and  North  Carolina.  It 
was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  November  17,  1865. 

Another  detachment  from  this  county  was  made  up  of  about  thirty  men 
enlisted  under  Lieut.  Joseph  C.  Plummer,  for  the  three-months  service,  in 
the  Eighty-Fifth  Ohio  Regiment,  which  guarded  the  prisoners  at  Camp  Chase, 
near  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Three  companies  of  the  Ohio  National  Guards,  under  Captains  Henry  C. 
Shirk,  William  K.  Boone  and  Abraham  Gift,  were  raised  in  Wrayne  county, 
for  one  hundred  days’  service,  and  joined  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth 
Regiment  of  National  Guards,  of  which  J.  H.  Carr  was  lieutenant-colonel. 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Cleveland,  May  19.  1864,  and  was  imme- 
diately ordered  to  Washington,  where  it  participated  in  the  defeat  of  Early’s 
army,  and  did  garrison  duty  in  Fort  Ethan  Allen.  So  proficient  did  the  regi- 
ment become  in  tactics,  that  General  DuRussy  declared  it  was  equal  to  any 


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three-year  regiment  in  his  command.  During  its  four  months'  sendee  the 
regiment  suffered  severely  from  sickness,  nearly  two  hundred  men  dying  or 
becoming  permanently  disabled  by  disease.  It  was  mustered  out  September 
4,  1864. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 

Wayne  county  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  record  in  the  great  civil 
conflict  from  1861  to  1866.  Her  soldiers  participated  in  every  great  battle, 
and  her  dead  lie  buried  in  every  Southern  state — once  slave  states,  but  which 
now,  through  the  blood  and  sacrifice  of  the  loyal  men  of  the  country,  have 
become  free. 

THE  FIRST  SOLDIER  WOUNDED  FROM  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

As  time  passes  along,  there  is  among  the  generation  just  succeeding  to 
that  great  struggle  more  and  more  interest  in  the  casualties  of  the  great  Civil 
war.  It  is  with  this  in  view  that  there  is  here  given  the  following  biography 
of  John  F.  Barrett,  still  living  in  Wooster,  and  who  was  the  first  victim  to 
receive  Confederate  lead  in  his  body  from  among  the  brave  men  who  went 
forth  from  this  county;  he  is  still  a daily  sufferer,  though  more  than  forty 
years  have  passed  since  the  wound  was  received.  He  has  the  unalloyed  re- 
spect and  sympathy  of  all  within  Wayne  county  who  carry  a drop  of  loyal 
blood  in  their  veins.  The  following  was  penned  concerning  this  soldier  in 
1878: 

“John  F.  Barrett  was  born  March  6,  1836,  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio 
He  volunteered  in  the  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  April  16,  1861 — four 
days  after  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon — in  Company  E,  Capt.  James  Mc- 
Millen’s  company,  and  was  among  the  first  men  to  put  his  name  down  in 
Wavne  county  (Jacob  Shultz  being  the  first).  He  went  with  the  regiment 
to  Camp  Dennison,  followed  it  to  West  Virginia,  and,  along  with  the  boys, 
smelled  the  breath  of  battle  at  Rich  Mountain. 

“The  way  in  which  Mr.  Barrett  was  wounded  was  as  follows:  The 

Eighth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  had  been  attacked  at  New  Creek,  whereupon 
they  sent  to  Fort  Pendleton  for  reinforcements.  The  Fourth  Regiment  pro- 
ceeded to  their  relief,  marching  thirty-five  miles  to  New  Creek,  assaulting  Rom- 
ney at  1 :30  P.  M.,  fighting  the  enemy  that  night,  and  capturing  the  town  the 
next  morning.  Company  E of  the  regiment  having  been  sent  to  the  east  end 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  the  town  to  protect  a gun  about  to  be  charged  upon  by  the  enemy,  between 
the  hours  of  one  and  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  Mr.  Barrett  was  wounded,  receiving 
a desperate  bullet  shot  from  a sharpshooter.  For  two  years  he  had  to  walk 
on  crutches.  Surgical  science  has  exerted  itself  in  vain  to  extricate  the  bul- 
let, and  Mr.  Barrett  is  doomed  to  carry  the  enemy's  lead  in  his  body  to  his 
grave. 

“Mr.  Barrett  was  married  September  18,  1863,  to  Laura  Nimons.  of 
Wooster,  by  Rev.  Jesse  Durbin,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which 
he  has  been  a member  since  1856.  We  make  mention  of  the  wounding  of 
Mr.  Barrett,  not  because  he  was  braver  than  his  fellow-soldiers,  or  more 
patriotic  than  his  comrades  in  arms,  but  because  he  was  the  first  soldier  from 
Wayne  county  shot  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  a gallant  soldier 
and  it  is  a record  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  He  is  an  honorable  busi- 
ness man  and  a worthy,  upright  citizen." 

It  may  be  added  that  today,  September  23,  1909,  he  still  walks  with  two 
crutches,  has  been  in  the  hospital  many  weeks,  and  has  no  hope  of  recovery — 
the  ball  cannot  be  removed. 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR. 

Wayne  county,  true  to  the  spirit  of  her  patriotism,  furnished  her  full 
quota  of  men  to  put  down  the  war  with  Spain,  growing  out  of  the  oppression 
that  country  had  for  centuries  exerted  over  the  island  of  Cuba,  but  which  was 
brought  to  an  issue  with  the  United  States  government  when,  in  the  spring 
of  1898,  the  United  States  gunboat  “Maine"  was  sunk  by  the  explosion  of  tor- 
pedoes in  Havana  harbor  by  the  Spaniards,  as  the  trial  finally  proved.  War 
was  at  once  levied  by  this  government,  President  William  McKinley  ordering 
an  army  raised,  which  was  accomplished  within  a short  time. 

About  the  close  of  the  struggle,  which  was  of  short  duration,  a roster  of 
the  Ohio  volunteers  for  this  war  was  published,  and  while  it  was  full  of  de- 
fects, it  is  the  only  information  at  hand,  giving  a list  of  the  officers  and  men 
who  went  from  this  county,  and  is  here  extracted  from.  There  may  be  a few 
omissions,  but  in  the  main  it  will  be  found  correct,  as  it  was  authorized  by 
the  adjutant  general  of  Ohio.  There  were  ten  regiments  sent  from  Ohio  to 
this  war  in  the  infantry  service  and  one  of  cavalry;  also  a regiment  of  light 
artillery.  The  regiment  represented  from  Wayne  county  and  Wooster, 
chiefly,  was  the  Eighth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  the  greater  portion  of 
the  Wooster  men  participated  in  the  war  as  members  of  Company  D. 


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OFFICERS. 


The  officers  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  were:  Curtis  V.  Hard,  colonel; 
Charles  W.  F.  Dick,  lieutenant-colonel;  Edward  Vollrath,  Frederick  C.  Bryan 
and  Charles  C.  Weybrecht,  majors;  Alexander  W.  Maynes,  adjutant;  Emmer 

C.  Farquhar,  surgeon;  George  H.  Wuchter  and  Allen  V.  Smith,  assistant  sur- 
geons; Herman  L.  Kuhns,  quartermaster;  Charles  F.  Schaber,  George  M. 
Wright  and  Andrew  Weybrecht,  battalion  adjutants;  Isaac  N.  Kieffer,  who 
died  June  23,  1898,  James  O.  Campbell,  vice  Chaplain  Kieffer,  chaplains. 

The  officers  of  Company  D were:  Captain,  Frank  C.  Gerlach;  first  lieu- 
tenant, William  E.  Barnard;  second  lieutenant,  Gustave  W.  Unger.  The 
non-commissioned  officers  were  as  follows:  W.  A.  Conrad,  artificer;  David 
H.  Drushal,  musician;  Charles  A.  Heater,  musician;  Lloyd  A.  Naftzger,  wag- 
oner; Harrv  P.  Eaby,  sergeant;  George  S.  Limb,  sergeant;  Louis  E.  Gasche, 
sergeant ; Franklin  B.  Horn,  sergeant ; Horace  W.  Miller,  sergeant ; Webster 

D.  Horn,  corporal;  Charles  R.  Scott,  corporal;  George  M.  Swartz,  corporal; 
Harry  D.  Woolman,  corporal. 

The  privates  credited  from  Wooster  in  the  adjutant's  report  were  as  fol- 
lows, and  only  represent  the  original  muster  roll,  and  none  of  the  later  re- 
cruits are  named : 


Barnes,  John  R. 
Barnhart,  Charles  W. 
Baughman,  William  H. 
Blake,  George. 

Boyd,  William  H. 
Braustetter,  Harry  P. 
Brown,  George  W. 
Brown,  Thomas  P. 

Burg,  George. 

Cameron,  Nathaniel  C. 
Christine,  Louis  W. 
Clark,  Jerome  E. 

Clay,  Alvin  B. 

Conrad,  Edward  D. 
Critchfield,  Lyman,  Jr. 
Cumberland,  Charles  E. 
Cumberland,  LaVerne  C. 
Curry,  Will  R. 


Dice,  Arch  H. 

Frazier,  Charles  W. 
Funk,  Sterling  R. 
Glenn,  Joseph  S. 
Gravath,  Ouintin  W. 
Greist,  James  E. 
Grossenbach,  Cary  W. 
Hughes,  William  H. 
Johnson,  Merton  R. 
Jolliff,  Harvey  F. 
Kinkier,  Harry. 
Langell,  Clement. 
Laufzenheiser,  Irvin. 
Laufzenheiser,  Perrine. 
Leopold.  Frederick  J. 
Lerch,  William  G. 
Mahaney,  Edward. 
Maize,  Percy  M. 


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McKinney,  Charles  H. 
McKinney,  Frederick  S. 
Miller,  Harry  C. 
Oltmanns,  Antoin. 
Reider,  Edmond  S. 
Schurch,  Fred  A. 

Schuck,  William. 


Stevens,  Thomas  R. 
Stotsbery,  William  A. 
Unger,  Charles  E. 

Webb,  Charles  B. 
Winebrenner,  Calvin  A. 
Yoder,  Ephraim. 


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CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

While  the  pioneers  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  came  to  the  wild  woods  to 
carve  out  homes  for  themselves  and  their  families,  and  were  men  of  the  world 
in  a sense,  who  followed  the  chase  and  loved  amusement,  there  was  also  in 
them  a sentiment  of  true  respect  for  all  sacred  things  and  not  a few  were 
devout  Christians  when  they  settled  this  county.  This  element  at  a very 
early  day  sought  to  establish  the  teachings  of  the  Man  of  Galilee,  and  were 
much  interested  in  securing  missionaries,  being  liberal  in  their  support  of  the 
founding  arid  maintaining  of  the  church  of  their  choice,  though  scant  was 
their  means  at  first. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  earliest  church  formed  in  Wayne  county  was  of  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination, and  at  Wooster.  It  is  known  as  Bethany  church  and  has  a history 
as  old  as  the  city  itself.  Although  the  society  was  not  formed  until  1812. 
some  of  its  charter  members  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  place.  From 
the  sermon  delivered  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  B.  T.  Patterson,  in  1876.  we 
draw  the  following  facts  concerning  the  history  of  Bethany  church  of 
Wooster : 

In  1812  a block  house,  for  the  protection  of  the  people  against  the  In- 
dians, who  had  allied  themselves  with  the  British  in  the  war  then  just  begun, 
was  built  on  the  premises  of  Col.  John  Sloan*.  In  this  block  house  and  in  the 
same  year,  the  Baptist  church  was  formed  and  has  kept  its  organization  alive 
and  active  ever  since — a period  of  ninety-seven  years. 

The  first  Baptists  who  settled  in  Wooster  included  David  and  Lydia 
Kimpton  and  Philip  B.  Griffith,  who  effected  their  settlement  here  in  1810. 
The  following  year  came  Ezekial  Jones  and  family,  and  others  of  the  Baptist 
faith  settled  in  this  township  about  the  same  time.  To  this  faithful  band  of 
believers  Elder  Kimpton  preached  here  in  the  wilderness,  but  he  did  not  suc- 
ceed in  organizing  a church.  It  was  July  25,  1812.  when  a meeting  was  held 

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“to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  organizing  a church  in  this  new 
country/’  The  following  named  persons  were  present:  David  and  Lydia 
Kimpton,  Ezekial  and  Hannah  Jones,  Oliver  Jones,  William  Robison,  John 
Robison,  Ann  Robison,  Catherine  Kirkendall,  Thomas  G.  Jones  and  Philip  B. 
Griffith.  The  record  adds  that  “several  of  the  brethren  prayed.”  It  was  voted 
that  the  organization  take  place  on  the  first  Lord’s  day  in  August,  and  that  El- 
der T.  G.  Jones  should  write  the  constitution  and  present  it  at  the  next  meet- 
ing, on  Friday  before  the  first  Lord's  day  in  August.  July  31,  1812,  this  consti- 
tution was  adopted  and  also  provided  that  a business  meeting  be  held  on  a Sat- 
urday in  each  month,  alternately  in  Wooster  and  at  Brother  Kimpton’s  settle- 
ment. Mr.  Kimpton  was  appointed  moderator  of  the  church. 

On  August  2d,  being  the  Lord’s  day,  the  brethren  convened  in  the  block 
house,  and  whilst  “a  body  of  men,  armed  with  guns,  stood  guard  about  the 
building,  to  give  warning  and  protect  them  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the 
Indians,”  the  church  constitution  and  the  covenant,  known  as  the  “Philadel- 
phia Confession  of  Faith,”  was  formally  and  solemnly  ratified,  and  the 
church  constituted. 

Up  to  April  17,  1813,  the  records  are  kept  up  in  due  form,  and  then  a 
break  in  the  minutes  occurs,  which  is  thus  accounted  for: 

“There  seems  to  be  a vacuum  in  the  minutes,  which  was  occasioned  by 
the  war  of  1812  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  as  many  were 
afraid  of  the  Indians  and  their  allies,  by  reason  of  which  some  fled  and  the 
church  became  luke-warm,  by  reason  of  the  war,  as  that  was  almost  the  uni- 
versal topic,  and  the  event  of  it  was  of  much  importance  to  this  country.” 

Meetings  were  at  first  held  in  private  houses,  but  in  1814  a frame  build- 
ing was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  lot  on  which  the  Reformed  church  was  after- 
wards erected.  It  was  situated  within  convenient  distance  of  the  block  house, 
which  overlooked  it.  The  worshipers  sometimes  carried  their  guns  with  them 
to  the  meeting  house,  though  it  does  not  appear  that  the  settlement  was  ever 
disturbed  by  the  Indians. 

This  house  being  the  only  church  in  the  settlement,  it  was  generally 
used  bv  visiting  ministers  of  other  denominations,  and  at  times  also  as  a 
school  house.  One  entry  in  the  records  of  this  church  states  that  previous  to 
1819  there  was  “cash  paid  for  meeting  house  $125.00.”  This  did  not  include 
the  frame  work,  weatherboarding,  roofing  nor  chimney,  but  mentions  the 
flooring,  and  among  other  items,  hair  and  hickory  brooms.  This  building 
was  later  sold  and  removed  to  the  east  side  of  Buckeye  street,  turned  end  for 
end.  the  doors  and  windows  altered,  and  converted  into  the  Wooster  City 
Tannery,  where  it  still  stood  and  was  thus  labeled  as  late  as  1878. 


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Brother  Kimpton  was  moderator,  or  overseer,  but  never  a pastor.  The 
first  pastor  was  Elder  Thomas  G.  Jones.  The  church,  however,  had  in 
its  membership  several  preachers,  who,  in  connection  with  the  pastor,  not 
only  preached  to  the  church,  but  also  engaged  in  missionary  work,  making 
tours  to  the  surrounding  settlements. 

This  church  was  very  careful  in  the  reception  of  its  members,  holding 
firmly  to  the  New  Testament  principle  that  the  churches  of  Jesus  Christ  are 
to  be  composed  only  of  converted  persons.  July  1,  1815,  is  found  the  fol- 
lowing in  the  minutes:  “Motion  by  Brother  Thomas  G.  Jones,  that  the  mem- 
bers absent  from  church  meeting  should  not  enjoy  the  privileges  of  the  next 
communion,  except  they  render  satisfactory  reasons  for  such  absence,  to  the 
church  or  deacons.” 

The  annual  growth  in  membership  during  the  earlier  years  of  this  church 
is  not  known,  as  the  books  of  record  are  silent  on  the  questions  of  member- 
ship and  baptisms.  The  first  list  of  members,  as  found  appended  to  the  min- 
utes, and  dated  November  4,  1815,  shows  that  there  were  one  hundred  and 
fifteen,  who  had  been  added  by  baptism  and  letter,  to  the  original  eleven  or 
possibly  twelve  which  made  up  the  charter  membership.  After  the  first  three 
years  the  growth  of  the  society  was  slow  but  solid.  In  1816  this  church  had 
a call  and  responded  in  sending  their  minister  and  other  brethren  to  consti- 
tute the  Baptists  at  Mohican  into  a church,  and  to  ordain  their  minister, 
Alpheus  French.  This  was  the  first  Mohican  church.  The  land  on  which 
the  first  church  was  built  was  donated  by  William  Robison.  October  4, 
1817,  the  church  resolved  to  have  a weekly  prayer  meeting. 

Another  account  says:  “In  1819  all  the  Baptist  churches  in  Pennsyl- 

vania west  of  the  Allegheny  river,  and  all  the  churches  in  Ohio,  east  of 
Wooster  and  as  far  north  as  the  lake,  were  included  in  the  Beaver  associa- 
tion.” This  association  was  organized  in  1809,  by  twenty-five  delegates, 
representing  ten  churches.  Five  of  these  delegates  were  ministers.  In  1819 
the  Mohican  association  was  formed  from  the  Beaver  association.  The 
Wooster  church  assisted  in  forming  that  body,  and  remained  a member  of 
it  until  1840.  In  1818  the  Beaver  association  held  its  meeting  in  the  Wooster 
church. 

In  1827,  a schism  was  produced  in  the  body  by  the  introduction  of  the 
sentiments  of  Alexander  Campbell,  at  which  time  some  eighteen  members 
seceded  and  went  over  to  the  “Disciples.”  It  was  a number  of  years  before 
the  church  at  Wooster  recovered  from  this  shock. 

March  5,  1831,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a new  meeting  house  and  the 
minutes  show  that  the  congregation  had  great  trouble  in  raising  sufficient 


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funds  with  which  to  complete  the  new  church,  it  not  being  completed  until 
1839.  The  house  was  floored  and  plastered  through  the  efforts  of  the  ladies 
of  the  church.  Sister  Cynthia  Van  Ostern  promised  to  pay  forty  dollars 
(a  large  sum  those  days)  and  while  she  knew  not  where  the  money  was  to 
come  from,  she  pledged  it,  and  by  industry  and  economy,  she  was  enabled 
to  raise  the  money  and  redeem  her  pledge.  In  that  building  there  was  a 
gallery  extending  around  the  sides  and  end  of  the  building,  but  later  this  was 
removed  and  in  1865  the  house  was  all  remodeled. 

Wooster  association  was  formed  in  1837  an(l  was  composed  of  Massil- 
lon, East  Union,  Warren,  Wooster,  Salt  Creek,  Sugar  Creek,  Sandyville,  or 
Magnolia,  Mohican,  Canal  Dover,  Green  township  and  Clark  township 
churches,  eleven  in  all,  with  each  an  ordained  minister.  There  were  four 
hundred  and  fifty-three  communicants. 

Elder  Jones  served  the  Wooster  church  for  twenty-seven  years  and  in 
1839-40  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  Morton. 

In  December,  1845,  the  subject  of  instrumental  music  was  brought  up, 
but  was  indefinitely  postponed.  In  October,  1846,  a resolution  “to  continue 
the  choir”  was  passed.  In  January,  1847,  a special  meeting  in  regard  to  in- 
strumental music  was  held,  and  the  following  resolution  adopted : “Resolved, 
that  instrumental  music  be  prohibited  from  coming  into  this  church  hence- 
forth.” In  December  of  that  year  a motion  was  passed,  that  “members  at 
evening  service  be  allowed  to  conduct  the  singing  as  suited  to  themselves.” 

In  1851  the  membership  was  two  hundred  and  forty-eight. 

In  March,  1853,  a committee  was  appointed  to  build  a vestry  and  bap- 
tistry. 

In  March,  1855.  a number  of  persons  were  dismissed  by  letter  to  form 
a church  at  Millbrook. 

In  August,  1875,  ^e  Wooster  association  met  at  the  Wooster  church. 

In  1876  the  lecture  room  was  completed,  the  same  having  been  erected 
through  a legacy  bestowed  by  Mary  B.  Larwill.  The  baptistry  was  also  re- 
modeled, deepened  and  a heater  connected  with  it,  the  funds  for  this  coming 
from  Mrs.  Joseph  H.  Larwill. 

The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight.  A comfort- 
able parsonage  of  eight  rooms  was  built  in  1896.  Nearly  two  thousand  dol- 
lars was  expended  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  D.  Allen  in  repairing  and 
decorating  the  church  and  parsonage.  The  church  is  now  in  a flourishing 
condition  and  looks  forward  to  the  celebration  of  its  centennial  in  1912.  The 
following  have  served  as  pastors  since  the  organization  : 


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1810,  David  Kimpton  (overseer);  1812,  Thomas  G.  Jones;  1819, 
Thomas  Hand;  1832,  Frederick  Freeman;  1839,  Charles  Morton;  1845,  S. 
B.  Page;  1850,  E.  T.  Brown;  1856,  T.  J.  Penny;  1861,  John  Bolton;  1862, 
P.  M.  Weddell;  1868,  no  pastor;  1869,  G.  M.  Preston;  1871,  no  pastor; 
1873,  Alex.  McFarlane;  1874,  Hugh  A.  Marshall;  1875,  J.  B.  T.  Patterson; 
1879,  Alexander  McFarlane;  1881,  S.  M.  Cramblett;  1883,  W.  F.  Slocum; 
1888,  Albert  H.  Jessup;  1893,  E.  A.  Read;  1897,  C.  V.  Northrop;  1898,  E. 
Chesney,  Ph.  D. ; 1902,  J.  M.  Lockhart;  1905,  H.  D.  Allen,  Th.  D. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF  MILLBROOK. 

The  Baptist  church  of  Millbrook  was  formed  by  the  aid  of  members  of 
this  denomination  who  lived  at  Wooster.  At  first,  when  they  organized,  they 
built  what  was  styled  the  Dunbar  church.  In  1854  they  erected  a church  of 
their  own,  the  same  being  over  the  line  in  Clinton  township.  The  early  Bap- 
tists here  were  Elijah  Pocock,  Mrs.  Irvine  Keys,  Mrs.  Williams,  John  Reider 
and  wife  and  Elizabeth  Knox.  This  church  has  wrought  great  good  in  Plain 
township  since  the  long-ago  pioneer  times  in  Wayne  county.  The  member- 
ship is  small  now  and  it  is  believed  the  property  will  be  sold  and  a church 
formed  at  Orrville.  Union  services  are  continued  at  this  point  yet,  however. 

SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF  WOOSTER COLORED. 

This  church  was  organized  in  January,  1892,  with  thirteen  members, 
by  Rev.  James  Cheetman,  Dr.  Chestney  and  Judge  Swartz.  The  organiza- 
tion was  effected  at  the  house  of  R.  L.  Morrison.  The  services  at  first  were 
held  in  Engine  House  No.  5,  which  was  leased  by  the  society.  A church 
building  was  at  once  put  under  construction  and  dedicated  in  the  autumn  of 
the  year  1892,  by  Revs.  Ford  and  Cheetman.  It  is  a frame  structure,  lo- 
cated on  East  Vine  street,  and  is  about  forty  by  eighty  feet.  Its  cost  was 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars.  The  present  membership  is  about  thirty- 
two.  The  pastors  who  have  been  called  to  preside  here  are : Revs.  Cheet- 
man, D.  S.  Omer,  Joseph  Speers  and  the  present  pastor,  H.  B.  Brown. 

The  church  at  Moscow,  though  small,  still  exists  as  a society  and  is  now 
supplied  from  abroad. 

THE  REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  WOOSTER. 

A number  of  Reformed  families,  German  and  Pennsylvanian,  had  early 
settled  in  and  about  Wooster.  The  Rev.  Henry  Sonnedecker,  residing  in 


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Washington,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  summer  of  1819  made  a missionary  tour 
through  the  counties  of  Wayne,  Jefferson,  Tuscarawas  and  Richland,  in  Ohio, 
and,  according  to  appointment,  preached  in  a brick  school  house  at  Wooster 
on  the  first  day  of  August.  This  was  the  first  sermon  ever  heard  in  this 
locality  from  a minister  of  the  Reformed  church.  This  first  service  awak- 
ened a desire  and  holy  enthusiasm.  The  visiting  clergyman  was  urged  to  effect 
an  organization  and  consented  to  serve  it.  Though  not  immediately  ac- 
cording to  his  wishes,  his  sympathetic  heart  was  touched.  He  made  a second 
visit  November  21st  of  the  same  year,  when  he  again  preached,  and  effected 
an  organization  in  conjunction  with  the  Lutherans,  and  accepted  a call  to  be- 
come their  pastor.  November  21,  1819.  is  therefore  the  date  of  the  birth  of 
this  church.  January  14,  1820,  Rev.  Sonnedecker  removed  his  family  to 
Wooster,  and  on  the  23rd  of  the  month  preached  his  introductory  sermon  in 
the  old  school  house.  For  seven  years  he  had  the  distinction  of  ministering 
alike  to  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  people,  when  the  Lutherans  called  to 
their  pulpit  Rev.  G.  H.  Weygandt. 

The  first  communion  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Wooster  was  held 
July  16,  1820,  when  twenty-five  persons  communed,  of  whom  ten  had  been 
received  by  confirmation  the  previous  day. 

Services  continued  to  be  held  in  the  old  school  house,  or  in  private 
houses,  until  the  fall  of  1820,  when  a one-story  frame  house  was  built  con- 
jointly by  the  Reformed  and  Lutherans.  This  house  bore  the  significant 
name  of  “Die  Friedens  Kirche.”  Rev.  Sonnedecker  here  continued  his 
services  for  eleven  years,  with  great  acceptance,  closing  his  pastorate  April 
3,  1831.  During  this  time  he  baptized  two  hundred  and  forty-six  children  and 
received  into  the  church  fellowship  fifty  members.  The  records  tell  us,  “He 
was  beloved  by  his  congregation,  and  the  day  on  which  he  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon  was  a solemn  and  memorable  one.” 

The  strippling  church,  after  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Sonnedecker,  was 
left  without  a pastor  for  nearly  two  years.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Charles 
Zwisler,  who  remained  seven  years,  beginning  early  in  1833  and  closing  the 
latter  part  of  1839.  It  was  during  his  pastorate  that  steps  were  taken  to- 
ward the  erection  of  a new  church.  The  lot  (the  same  as  the  German  Luth- 
eran church  now  stands  on)  was  purchased  for  one  hundred  and  fifty -five 
dollars  and  ten  cents  and  contained  two  and  a half  acres.  September  28. 
1833.  the  graveyard  was  laid  out.  December  17,  1833,  the  union  organiza- 
tion was  incorporated.  The  brick  building,  forty-six  bv  fifty  feet  with  a 
gallery  on  three  sides,  was  begun  during  the  summer  of  1836,  the  comer- 


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stone  being  laid  in  September.  The  walls  of  the  building  were  left  unroofed 
during  the  winter  of  1836-7.  Thus  exposed,  a considerable  portion  of  the 
west  wall  was  blown  down  by  a severe  storm.  The  church  was  finally  com- 
pleted in  June,  1838,  at  a total  cost  of  four  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  dollars.  The  church  was  dedicated  during  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Ohio  synod,  on  Saturday,  June  16,  1838,  Rev.  Abraham  Keller  preaching 
on  that  occasion. 

Rev.  A.  L.  Begman  succeeded  Rev.  Zwisler  as  pastor,  continuing  about 
three  years,  closing  his  labors  in  June,  1843.  The  Union  Sunday  school  was 
organized  in  February,  1843,  and  Isaac  H.  Reiter  was  elected  superintendent. 
The  school  opened  properly  April  2,  1843,  with  a hundred  scholars.  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  P.  Manshenschmidt,  who  remained  but  a year,  leav- 
ing September  29,  1844. 

The  fifth  pastor  was  Rev.  Kaemmerer  (afterward  D.  D.),  who  began 
his  pastorate  under  rather  adverse  circumstances,  but  soon  secured  the  con- 
fidence of  the  entire  congregation.  May  16,  1853,  the  Lutherans  and  Re- 
formed amicably  separated  and  on  that  date  the  Reformed  were  organized 
into  a separate  congregation.  Up  to  this  time  the  church  had  been  served 
only  in  German.  To  supply  the  growing  need  of  English,  in  August,  1853, 
Rev.  Hiram  Shawl  was  called  to  officiate  in  English,  whilst  Rev.  Kaemmerer 
still  continued  to  preach  in  German.  Rev.  Shawl  remained  but  one  year,  but 
Rev.  Kaemmerer  continued  nineteen  years,  closing  his  pastorate  in  April, 
1864. 

Rev.  Joshua  H.  Derr  came  next,  continuing  until  1869.  Rev.  Kaem- 
merer, who  had  returned  from  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  having  regained  his 
health,  found  the  church  scattered  with  a positive  disposition  toward  parti- 
tion and  sale  of  the  church  property,  which  sale  was  finally  effected  at  pub- 
lic auction  in  the  early  part  of  1869.  The  Reformed  people  realized  from 
said  sale  only  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  dollars.  After 
three  years,  Father  Kaemmerer  could  not  longer  wait,  but  commenced  to 
gather  up  his  old  people  and,  with  courage  and  abiding  faith,  called  upon 
and  personally  invited  his  old  hearers  to  attend  services  and  hear  him  preach 
again.  Services  were  held  in  the  court  house.  After  three  powerful  ser- 
mons he  succeeded  in  reorganizing  the  church  and  a lot  was  bought  and  in 
a few  days  two  thousand  four  hundred  dollars  was  raised  to  pay  for  the 
same,  its  location  being  on  the  corner  of  Buckeye  and  North  streets,  where 
the  present  church  stands. 

After  leaving  the  court  house,  for  a time  the  congregation  worshiped 


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in  France’s  Hall.  This  lasted  until  a billiard  hall  and  gambling  club  secured 
quarters  in  the  third  story  of  the  building.  This  drove  the  congregation  into 
Zimmerman’s  block,  in  a room  on  the  third  floor,  but  in  the  very  nature  of 
the  case  this  could  only  remain  as  temporary  quarters.  May  21,  1871,  after 
service,  it  was,  with  a sole  exception,  determined  by  vote  to  begin  the  erection 
of  a building.  It  was  decided  to  build  in  the  Gothic  style  a building  forty- 
four  by  seventy  feet,  one  story  high.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  August  12, 
1871,  Rev.  J.  F.  H.  Deichman  preaching  the  sermon  in  German  and  Rev.  J. 
Voght,  of  Delaware,  Ohio,  in  English.  Services  were  begun  in  the  Presby- 
terian church,  the  remainder  of  the  services  being  held  on  the  open  church 
lot.  The  children  were  marched  in  a body  to  the  church  and  lot  in  order  that 
they  might  all  see  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone.  The  work  of  building  was 
pushed  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1871,  so  that  all  was  in  readiness  for 
dedication  by  the  end  of  the  year.  At  the  dedication,  December  31,  1871, 
Father  P.  Herbruck  preached  in  German  and  A.  F.  Zartman,  a student, 
preached  in  English.  The  church  was  then  in  debt  six  thousand  dollars  and 
on  one  day  three  thousand  dollars  was  secured.  The  statement  made  at  date 
of  dedication  was  as  follows:  Entire  cost  of  building,  $12,221  ; lot,  $2,400; 
total  cost  of  property,  $14,621 ; balance  yet  unpaid,  $1,926.  The  membership 
was  then  but  one  hundred  and  thirty.  Mr.  Zartman  was  called  to  become 
pastor,  and  he  preached  in  English,  while  Father  Kaemmerer  preached  in 
German.  Mr.  Zartman  was  ordained  May  5.  1872.  He  remained  about 
two  years  and  died  soon  afterwards  of  consumption. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Henry  Hilbish,  beginning  September  1,  1874. 
and  he  served  until  1876.  Next  came  Rev.  Milton  H.  Groh.  It  was  at  this 
juncture  that  difficulty  arose  over  the  introduction  of  English  in  the  church. 
Times  had  changed  and  something  had  to  be  done.  The  result  was  that, 
after  much  trouble,  the  German  element,  properly  speaking,  gave  up  their 
rights  and  also  their  property  rights  and  the  English-speaking  people  carried 
on  the  church  finances  and  work  alone.  The  German  element,  now  without 
a worshiping  home,  under  the  leadership  of  Father  Kaemmerer  as  pastor, 
secured  the  old  vacated  Lutheran  church,  which  stood  on  the  corner  of  North 
Market  street,  and  there  worshiped  in  their  own  manner  in  the  German 
tongue  until  the  autumn  of  1888.  when,  by  reason  of  the  declining  years  of  the 
devout  pastor,  the  church  was  allowed  to  go  down. 

In  1878  the  English  Reformed  church  called  Rev.  T.  J.  Bacher  to  become 
pastor.  He  was  instrumental  in  lifting  a large  debt  before  he  left  in  1881. 
The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  S.  Stoner,  who  died  in  1882.  Rev.  R.  C. 


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Zartman  began  his  pastorate  in  April,  1883,  coming  direct  from  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Toledo,  Ohio.  Improvements,  including  a slate  roof  on 
the  church,  were  made  and  before  he  left  the  large  church  debt  had  all  been 
wiped  out.  He  resigned  in  1888  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  M.  Beck  in 
1889. 

In  August,  1896,  the  church  had  to  have  a thorough  remodeling.  Again 
in  1904  material  changes  were  made,  and  the  two-story  Sunday  school  room 
was  added,  making  a total  expense  at  that  date  of  about  eight  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars.  A parsonage  was  built  in  1892,  costing  about  one  thousand 
six  hundred  dollars. 

The  membership  in  September,  1909,  was  two  hundred  and  seventy. 
The  pastors  since  1878  (the  others  having  already  been  given)  are  as  fol- 
lows: Rev.  T.  J.  Bacher,  Rev.  John  S.  Stoner,  Rev.  R.  C.  Zartman,  Rev. 

E.  M.  Beck,  Rev.  S.  E.  Neikirk,  Rev.  F.  Cromer. 

REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  REEDSBURG. 

The  Reformed  church  of  Reedsburg  was  founded  by  Adam  Stump,  a 
pioneer  minister  of  the  west,  who  labored  here  in  1840  and  organized  the 
congregation.  Rev.  J.  Schlosser  was  the  second  pastor,  and  he  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Jesse  Hines  and  he  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Excel,  under  whose  ministrations  the 
church  edifice  was  constructed.  In  1878  the  church  was  credited  with  being 
in  a prosperous  condition.  At  present,  1909,  the  church  has  a membership 
of  many  faithful  Christians.  Rev.  D.  Martz  is  the  present  pastor.  He  also 
has  charge  of  the  churches  at  or  near  Blachleyville  and  one  in  Chester  town- 
ship. 

REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  MARSHALLVILLE. 

The  Reformed  church  at  Marshallville  was  organized  in  1835  an(l  a joint 
church  building  erected  with  the  Lutheran  denomination  in  1836.  This  was 
in  the  country,  but  in  1874  the  Reformed  people  built  a church  of  their  own 
in  the  village  at  a cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars.  Rev.  F.  Strassner  was  the 
first  pastor,  and  others  were  faithful  pastors  at  an  early  time,  including  Rev. 
Sonnedecker,  Monosmith  and  Swissler.  The  present  membership  is  of  good 
number.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  C.  F.  Brouse. 

REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  ORRVILLE. 

This  church  was  organized  and  incorporated  January  20,  1869.  Serv- 
ices from  the  first  have  been  conducted  in  English  and  each  other  Sabbath  in 


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German.  The  present  membership  is  large  and  the  congregation  occupy  a 
church  buifding  erected  in  1908,  the  first  one  having  been  erected  in  1869. 
The  last  one  built  is  a handsome  brick  costing  twenty-six  thousand  dollars. 

The  charter  members  were  J.  Wert,  J.  Frey,  M.  Gruger,  P.  Krick,  A. 
Wirth,  J.  Speicher,  J.  Humi,  G.  Yaekley,  Benj.  Evman,  Z.  K.  Long,  F.  Piens 
and  C.  Albright. 


REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  CANAAN  TOWNSHIP. 

This  church  at  an  early  day  was  associated  with  the  Lutheran  denomina- 
tion, but  in  1870,  after  their  separation,  they  erected  their  own  edifice,  which 
was  completed  in  1872. 

REFORMED  CHURCH  IN  MILTON  TOWNSHIP. 

The  Reformed  church  was  founded  in  Milton  township  in  1851  and  was 
situated  in  the  south  part  of  the  township.  Rev.  Vermley  was  among  the 
pioneer  pastors. 

REFORMED  CHURCH  IN  EAST  UNION  TOWNSHIP. 

Wooster  and  neighboring  churches  of  this  faith  were  included  in  one 
charge  until  1864,  with  Rev.  J.  H.  Derr  as  pastor.  In  that  year  he  began 
services  in  Appleereek  in  Gashat’s  Hall,  but  in  1867  laid  the  cornerstone  for  a 
church  and  it  was  dedicated  in  1870.  It  was  of  the  Gothic  type  of  church 
architecture,  and  at  the  time  it  was  considered  one  of  the  best  churches  in 
Wayne  county.  The  first  regular  pastor  was  Rev.  Philip  Becker.  In  1878 
the  church  had  a membership  of  ninety  members.  At  present  it  has  the 
largest  membership  of  any  of  this  denomination  in  Wayne  county.  Rev. 
Flohr  is  pastor. 

ZION's  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  WOOSTER. 

Zion's  Evangelical  English  Lutheran  church,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  was 
organized  September  13,  1840,  bv  Rev.  Solomon  Ritz.  although  English 
Lutheran  services  were  held  occasionally  for  some  years  prior  to  this  time 
by  Rev.  E.  Greenwald.  of  New  Philadelphia.  Rev.  George  Leiter,  of  Mansfield, 
Rev.  Francis  Ruth,  of  Gabon.  This  church  was  organized  with  the  follow- 


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ing  sixteen  members:  George  Reiner,  John  A.  Lawrence,  Henry  D.  Miller, 
Israel  Windel,  Abraham  Fox,  Conrad  Giler.  Benjamin  Lehman.  Mary  Ann 
Fox,  Sarah  Lawrence.  Catharine  Miller,  Frederick  Hoke,  Fanny  Lehman, 
Mary  Johnson  and  Isaac  Notestine. 

The  succession  of  ministers  was  as  follows : Rev.  Solomon  Ritz  from 

1840  to  1843;  Rev.  George  Leiter  from  1843  to  ^44 : Rev.  J.  Sloan  from 
1845  to  1^85 1 ; Rev.  W.  A.  G.  Emerson  from  1851  to  1852:  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B. 
Baltzly  from  1853  to  1868:  Rev.  Ira  C.  Billman  from  1868  to  1871 ; Rev.  Dr. 
Wiles  from  1871  to  1884;  Rev.  Dr.  G.  M.  Heindel  from  1884  to  1891 ; Rev. 
Dr.  W.  W.  Crilev  from  1891  to  1898;  Rev.  G.  C.  Smith  from  1899  to  1905; 
Rev.  Frank  Heilman  from  1905  to  date. 

The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  six  hundred.  The  edifice  in 
which  this  congregation  worships  was  erected  about  1884.  and  the  property 
is  now  valued  at  forty-five  thousand  dollars.  The  former  building  stood  on 
Market  street  near  North  street.  This  church  enters  heartily  into  all  union 
Christian  services,  fellowshiping  all  orthodox  denominations. 

EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHRIST  CHURCH. 

The  first  of  this  church’s  history  began  when  Rev.  D.  Henkel,  a mission- 
ary, preached  the  doctrines  of  the  denomination  in  Wooster  as  early  as 
1815.  Rev.  John  Stauck  succeeded  in  1816  and  for  the  first  time  administered 
the  Lord’s  Supper,  when  Mrs.  McIntyre,  Mrs.  Anspach  and  Mrs.  Ihrig  were 
received  into  the  church  bv  rite  of  confirmation.  In  1820  the  Reformed  de- 
nomination united  with  this  body  and  erected  a joint  house  of  worship,  a 
small  frame  structure,  which  stood  north  of  school  building  No.  4.  Union 
churches  in  early  times  were  very  common,  not  because  they  agreed  in  religions 
faith,  but  because  of  nationality,  there  being  many  Germans  here  who  desired 
to  speak  in  their  mother  tongue,  and  then  in  union  services  the  expenses  were 
much  lighter  than  to  support  two  or  more  building  enterprises.  This  state 
of  worship  continued  for  seven  years,  when,  in  1827,  Rev.  G.  H.  Wevgandt 
came  from  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  pastor,  and  a sec- 
ond joint  church  was  built.  Wevgandt  remained  pastor  until  1840,  preach- 
ing only  in  German.  Subsequently  the  purely  German  element  felt  slighted 
at  the  introduction  of  English  speaking,  and  withdrew  and  started  a church 
on  Buckeye  street.  This,  however,  only  lasted  two  years,  when  they  re- 
turned and  brought  with  them  a pipe  organ  with  four  stops.  In  May.  1833. 
a distinctive  Lutheran  constitution  was  adopted.  It  was  in  1867  when  the 


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Reformed  and  Lutherans  finally  separated.  The  society  adopted  a second 
constitution  in  1885,  when  the  word  Lutheran  was  dropped  and  simply  the 
word  Evangelical  was  made  use  of  in  the  name  of  the  denomination.  The 
same  church  as  was  jointly  used  by  the  Reformed  and  Lutherans  up  to  1867 
is  still  in  use,  with  a few  modifications  and  the  adding  of  a one  thousand 
five  hundred  dollar  organ  in  June,  1907.  The  upper  story  of  the  building 
is  used  as  a Sunday  school  room.  This  old  pioneer  church  building  stands 
on  the  corner  of  Henry  and  Grant  streets,  and  is  still  in  excellent  repair;  it 
is  a substantial  brick  building,  two  stories  high.  The  present  church  mem- 
bership is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  pastors  that  have  served  since  1887  are  Revs.  J.  F.  Fetzer,  J.  D. 
Dieterle,  1888;  A.  Mallick,  1890;  C.  Schaeffer,  1893;  G.  L.  Heck,  1897;  F. 
H.  Krafft,  1899;  F.  H.  Graeper,  1903;  H.  J.  Brodt,  coming  in  1907,  is  the 
present  pastor. 

LUTHERANS  IN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

The  Lutherans  in  Plain  township  first  held  services  in  1836,  at  the  resi- 
dences of  Jacob  Smyser,  Sr.,  and  M.  Stam;  also  at  an  old  log  school  house 
east  of  the  village.  Mr.  Smyser  was  the  first  Lutheran  to  settle  in  Plain 
township. 


SALEM  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  WAYNE  TOWNSHIP. 

As  early  as  1827  Rev.  G.  H.  Weygandt  preached  in  this  vicinity,  and 
with  him  as  pastor  the  Lutherans,  with  a few  German  Reformed  settlers, 
laid  the  cornerstone  of  a church  in  1828,  on  joint  ground  procured  for  church 
and  graveyard  purposes,  from  land  owned  by  John  Lehman.  This  union 
building  was  dedicated  in  1830.  The  Lutherans  erected  a new  building  in 
1871. 

CANAAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCHES. 

The  Canaan  or  Kopp’s  meeting  house  was  built  in  1830  by  the  German 
Reformed  and  Lutheran  denomination,  the  Lutheran  minister  being  Rev.  A. 
Kuhn.  Among  the  earliest  members  were  the  Wevgandts,  H.  H.  Hoffman 
and  the  Schuhs.  In  1870  these  congregations  dissolved. 

THE  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  Canaan  township  was  built  in 
1870  and  eight  years  later  had  a membership  of  seventy-one. 


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At  the  present  time  there  are  no  Evangelical  churches  in  Wayne  county 
outside  of  the  one  at  Wooster. 

LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

In  1834  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  churches  united  in  building  this 
church,  in  Plain  township.  A permanent  organization  was  effected  Novem- 
ber 5,  1843,  and  ten  years  later  a new  building  was  erected  by  the  Lutherans. 
In  1878  the  membership  had  reached  sixty-two. 

st.  Paul's  reformed  Lutheran  church. 

This  congregation  originally  attended  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 
In  the  summer  of  1842  a new  church  was  erected,  or  rather  commenced,  but 
not  finished  until  1846.  In  March,  1845,  Rev.  Robert  Koehler  became  their 
minister  and  served  one  year.  The  congregation  separated  into  two — the 
German  and  French  elements,  the  congregations  retaining  their  common  prop- 
erty, creed  and  name.  This  church  is  located  in  Paint  Creek  township.  Mt. 
Eaton  being  its  seat. 

ENGLISH  LUTHERAN  MISSION  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  at  Orrville,  January  6,  1877,  with  ten  mem- 
bers, and  was  incorporated  January  31,  1876,  with  the  following  trustees: 
Jesse  Good,  A.  W.  Bomberger,  Otho  Miller,  G.  G.  Wear  and  A.  McGriffin. 
March  28th  A.  C.  Miller,  M.  D.,  of  Cleveland,  and  J.  H.  Stoll,  M.  D.,  and 
wife,  in  April,  deeded  grounds  to  the  trustees,  thus  securing  to  the  church  the 
entire  block  lying  on  the  southeast  comer  of  Vine  street,  for  a consideration 
of  one  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars.  In  July,  1876,  they  began  the  erection 
of  a church,  the  cornerstone  of  which  was  laid  in  September.  By  October 
the  same  year  the  building  was  ready  for  occupancy.  At  present  the  con- 
gregation worships  in  the  same  church  edifice,  a good  brick  structure,  and  the 
membership  of  the  church  is  not  large,  but  in  a prosperous  spiritual  condition. 

WEST  LEBANON  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH. 

The  first  church  here  was  erected  in  1831,  prior  to  which  there  was  no 
organization  there  of  this  denomination.  This  building  was  built  bv  the 
Reformed  and  Lutheran  societies. 


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Jacob's  Lutheran  church,  franklin  township. 

The  church  of  this  denomination  in  Franklin  township  was  built  in 
1844,  on  lands  donated  by  Jacob  Herman,  and  was  named  Jacob’s  church,  by 
Jacob  Snyder.  Rev.  Kline  was  the  first  pastor.  Prior  to  this  the  Lutheran 
families  of  the  vicinity  had  to  go  to  Wooster  to  worship. 

TRINITY  ENGLISH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

The  church  of  this  congregation  in  Franklin  township  was  erected  in 
1861,  on  lands  donated  by  David  Lawrence.  Individual  members  furnished 
the  material,  cut  the  timber  and  hauled  the  logs.  This  church  organization 
was  the  outgrowth  of  a dispute  that  arose  between  the  members  of  the  old 
Jacob's  church,  as  to  whether  there  should  be  German  or  English  preaching. 
The  church  was  organized  with  eighteen  members. 

EVANGELICAL  CHURCHES. 

The  original  members  of  the  Evangelical  church  of  Plain  township  were: 
F.  Felger,  John  Radebaugh,  M.  Rittenhouse,  Philip  Kettering  and  John  Welt- 
mer.  They  erected  a house  of  worship  in  1856  and  another  was  provided  in 
1876.  It  is  now  known  as  the  Grand  View  church. 

EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  church  of  this  denomination  was  built  in  1848,  and  was  dedi- 
cated by  Bishop  Seibert.  It  had  a membership  of  forty.  The  new  church 
"ras  erected  in  1874. 

CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 

What  was  styled  the  Church  of  Christ  was  organized  in  Wooster  July 
26,  1835.  The  organizers  were  William  F.  Pool,  Peter  Willis,  Frederick 
Kauke  and  wife,  John  Miller  and  wife,  Jacob  Watchel  and  wife,  Samuel 
Zimmerman  and  Mary  his  wife,  George  K.  Zimmerman,  Griffith  L.  Jones, 
Elizabeth  Scott,  Eleanor  Jones,  Mary  McCurdy  and  a few  others.  This 
organization  left  no  record,  but  it  is  known  that  they  kept  alive  their  meetings 
and  ‘‘broke  the  loaf.’  In  twelve  years  it  had  grown  to  a society  of  one 
hundred  members.  For  several  years  the  church  had  no  meeting  house. 
Part  of  the  time  it  occupied  the  old  court  house,  in  which  place  it  had  been 


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originally  organized.  Sometimes  it  assembled  in  the  school  building  in  the 
south  part  of  town.  At  other  dates  it  met  at  some  of  the  members'  houses. 
For  a time  it  met  in  a cooper  shop,  but  finally  in  1847  a church  building  was 
completed  by  them  on  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  South  streets.  The  first 
regular  pastor  was  J.  H.  Jones,  who  began  his  labors  in  1845  and  continued 
until  1857;  after  him  came  the  following:  Errett,  Jones,  White,  Walker, 

Bauserman.  Moffett,  Lowe  and  Carlton.  Among  the  noted  evangelists  who 
frequented  the  place  and  worked  zealously  was  Alexander  Campbell.  Up  to 
1878  there  had  been  connected  at  one  time  or  another  seven  hundred  different 
persons,  but  many  removed,  died,  changed  to  other  churches  and  were  ex- 
cluded, thus  lowering  its  membership  greatly.  The  present  church  was 
erected  in  1889.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  James  K.  Shellenberger,  came 
September  7.  1905. 

Other  Christian  churches  of  this  county  are  at  Blachleyville,  Orrville 
and  Fredericksburg. 

SHREVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

The  Disciple  or  Christian  church  at  Shreve  has  always  been  a strong, 
healthy  society  and  has  from  an  early  date  been  the  means  of  doing  much 
active  church  work.  This  church  was  first  established  a mile  and  a half 
to  the  north  of  the  present  village,  on  the  farm  owned  by  James  Moore.  Rev. 
John  Chester,  Rev.  Lewis  Comar,  Rev.  Jewell  and  Rev.  Mitchell  were  among 
the  pioneer  preachers.  In  1856  the  society  moved  to  Shreve  and  erected  a 
small  frame  building  in  which  to  worship.  This  served  until  1902,  when 
the  present  magnificent  brick  edifice  was  constructed  at  a cost  of  ten  thousand 
dollars.  It  overlooks  the  village  from  the  hill  north  of  the  business  portion. 

Since  moving  to  Shreve,  the  pastors  have  been  in  the  following  order : 

Revs.  Harrison  Jones,  Isaiah  Jones  (his  brother).  J.  W.  Lowe.  Fred 
Hoffman,  Uriah  Hoffman,  M.  L.  Moody,  D.  C.  Henselman.  O.  Q.  Oviatt,  W. 
H.  Woodard.  S.  F.  Simpson,  L.  W.  Spade,  D.  W.  McConnell,  M.  L.  Decker. 

The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  four  hundred,  while  that  of 
the  Sabbath  School  is  four  hundred  and  sixty-two,  the  same  having  been 
presided  over  for  over  forty  years  by  one  man.  R.  D.  Wells. 

THE  DISCIPLE  CHURCH  OF  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

This  church  was  formed  at  Blachleyville  and  a church  building  erected 
in  1866.  Hugh  Funk  and  family.  Peter  Baker  and  his  father  s family,  Cas- 
per Swart  and  others  were  among  the  earliest  of  this  denomination  in  this 
part  of  Wayne  county.  Rev.  Harrison  Jones  was  the  first  preacher. 


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FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  WOOSTER. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  very  earliest  date  of  Presbyterian  organiza- 
tion in  Wooster,  and  of  course  in  Wayne  county,  is  a very  uncertain  con- 
jecture, as  the  earliest  records,  if  indeed  there  were  such,  have  long  since 
passed  beyond  the  mind  of  the  present  day  Presbyterians  of  the  county.  It 
may  be  remarked,  however,  that  in  nearly  all  of  the  first  settlements  of  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  there  was  an  element  of 
Scotch-Irish  Presbyterianism,  and  wherever  it  located  it  found  a place  to 
worship  God.  While  not  largely  represented  in  Wayne  county,  it  still  had  an 
opportunity  to  sow  the  good  seed  which  in  later  decades  grew  and  flourished. 
They  had  in  them  the  ring  of  the  true  metal  and  blue  was  their  color. 

The  earliest  record  of  this  church  was  found  many  years  ago  in  a book 
dingy  and  yellow  with  age,  quaint  in  style  and  wonderfully  humorous  in  its 
many  suggestions.  It  bears  the  date  of  October  30,  1821,  and  bears  this  in- 
scription : “Presented  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wooster  by  Rea- 
sin  Beall.”  This  book  indicates  that  there  had  been  a constitution  prior  to 
that  date.  It  also  mentions  the  fact  that  on  that  date  they  had  met  to  devise 
means  to  relieve  their  minister  from  wordly  cares  and  avocations,  and  second, 
to  provide  a place  for  holding  public  worship.  There  are  other  circumstances 
that  would  tend  to  place  the  organization  of  the  church  as  early  as  1815.  In 
a little  house  on  West  Liberty  street,  some  ten  or  a dozen  Presbyterians  as- 
sembled before  1815,  and  doubtless  in  that  house,  about  1815,  the  birth  of  the 
church,  now  so  strong  and  well  known,  had  its  origin. 

Ben  Douglas,  in  his  history  of  Wayne  county  in  1878,  declared  that 
Alexander  McBride  told  John  McClellan  that  this  church  was  organized  with 
fifteen  members  in  1815,  by  Rev.  William  Mathews,  by  the  order  of  the 
presbytery  of  Richmond,  at  which  time  Mr.  McBride  and  Walter  Buchanan 
were  chosen  ruling  elders.  For  the  first  five  or  six  years  the  record  is  silent ; 
what  prosperous  or  adverse  winds  blew  over  this  congregation,  none  can  now 
tell. 

The  records  of  the  Mansfield  presbytery  show  that  Rev.  Thomas  Barr 
accepted,  April  4,  1820.  the  call  of  this  congregation  for  one-half  of  his 
time,  and  that  on  May  24.  1820,  he  was  installed  pastor  over  the  united 
charge  of  Wooster  and  Applecreek.  It  was  Reverend  Barr  who  was  chair- 
man of  the  meeting  held  in  the  Baptist  church.  October  30.  1821,  when  the 
constitution,  as  now  known  of  record,  was  adopted.  John  Christmas,  of 
Wooster,  donated  the  society  a lot  for  building  purposes  about  that  date. 


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This  lot  was  situated  on  West  Liberty  street,  the  same  being  duly  accepted 
at  a meeting  at  the  house  of  Reasin  Beall,  November  2,  1821,  and  the  same 
was  ordered  recorded  in  the  records  of  Wayne  county.  It  now  appears  in 
book  B,  page  407-8-9.  The  comfnittee  on  building  went  forth  armed  with 
a subscription  paper  which  allowed  the  same  to  be  made  “in  money,  grain  or 
such  produce  as  is  usually  taken  in  stores,  in  two  equal  installment,  viz : 
The  first  to  be  paid  March  1st  and  the  balance  in  December  following/’  The 
process  was  a slow  one  indeed,  but  finally  the  first  contract  was  let  for  fifty 
thousand  bricks,  for  which  thirty-seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  were  to  be  paid 
in  cash,  and  seventy-five  dollars  in  equal  proportions  of  wheat,  at  sixty-two 
cents  a bushel,  delivered  at  Mr.  Stibbs’  and  Mr.  Plank’s  mills.  This  was  one- 
half  the  contract  price  for  the  brick  and  the  remainder  was  to  be  paid  in  June 
on  terms  equal  to  that  of  the  first  installment. 

To  give  the  reader  of  today  a glimpse  of  the  manner  of  building  and 
also  of  doing  business  in  those  days,  it  will  here  be  pertinent  to  give  some  of 
the  incidents  and  items : “Four  outside  doors  to  be  made  of  good,  sound  and 
well-seasoned  pine  or  white  walnut  boards  similar  to  the  front  door  in  Reasin 
Beall’s  dwelling  house.”  The  thirteen  windows,  washboards,  posts  and  gal- 
lery floors,  lathing  and  plastering  stairs  to  the  gallery,  and  its  front,  the  pul- 
pit, the  seats  and  the  railings,  were  each  and  all  as  quaintly  and  as  minutely 
specified.  No  record  is  left  of  the  date  of  the  first  meeting  in  this  new  house 
of  worship,  but  it  is  believed  that  it  was  in  November,  1825,  possibly  the 
24th  of  that  month.  The  seats  were  sold  to  the  highest  bidder  on  the  20th 
of  that  month,  to  raise  funds  with  which  to  complete  the  church.  Three 
months’  time  was  given  to  bidders  for  a part  of  the  price,  the  remainder  in 
nine  months,  one-half  in  money  and  the  other  part  in  wheat,  rye  and  corn 
dt  the  market  price.  The  following  curious  receipt  shows  that  they  worshiped 
in  this  building  in  1826: 

“I  have  received  from  Reasin  Beall  and  others,  twelve  dollars  in  full,  for 
making  fires,  lighting  candles  and  sweeping  the  meeting  house  for  the  year 
1827,  commencing  November  30,  1826,  and  ending  December  31,  1827. 

“(Signed)  Jacob  Mason.” 

In  such  an  age  as  this  one  can  scarcely  realize  the  way  in  which  churches 
were  built  and  how  scarce  money  was.  This  accounts  for  the  bartering  in 
all  kinds  of  truck  and  merchandise,  even  to  whisky,  which  then  went  as  cur- 
rent for  debts  as  did  corn,  wheat  and  stock.  The  subscription  list.  sa;d  still 
to  be  retained  by  the  congregation  as  a rare  and  curious  relic  of  “antic:  t d\  s 
in  Wooster,”  will  here  follow: 

( 17) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


“$508.75,  $34  in  work,  $20  in  bricks  (2000),  $16.00  in  wheat.  200 
bushels  of  wheat,  $105  in  sawed  stuff,  $42  in  flooring,  $47  in  hauling,  258 
bushels  of  corn,  $10  in  digging  stumps  and  foundation,  175  lights  of  sash, 
$10  in  poplar  boards,  114  bushels  of  rye,  ten  joist  at  ten  cents  per  foot.  $12 
in  leather,  $75  in  cloth,  five  yards  in  linen,  five  yards  in  tow  linen,  twenty 
pounds  of  flax,  $9.37  cents  in  coarse  shoes,  $20  in  silver-work,  $10  in  tea- 
spoons, five  dollars  in  tailoring,  $6.00  in  blacksniithing,  $2.00-  in  cabinet 
work,  $13  50  in  hats,  $8.00  in  saddlery,  $30  in  nails,  one  spinning  wheel,  and 
forty-two  gallons  of  whisky.” 

The  clerk  neglected  to  give  names  of  the  church  members  who  gave 
these  contributions,  even  to  those  who  donated  whisky.  The  “whole  subscrip- 
tion amounted  to  $1,568.58.  The  amount  obtained  from  sale  of  seats  was 
$1,136.15.  Delinquent  subscriptions,  $184.40. 

In  September,  1829,  Reverend  Barr,  having  had  a long,  hard  pull  at 
church  building,  resigned  as  pastor. 

After  several  unsuccessful  attempts,  the  union  existing  between  Woos- 
ter and  Applecreek  charges  was  abrogated  September  13,  1831,  after  which 
time  Wooster  had  her  own  pastor  all  the  time.  In  January,  1840.  steps  were 
taken  toward  the  providing  of  a more  commodious  church.  But  deep  water 
had  yet  to  be  crossed  by  the  congregation,  and  delays  were  thwarting  the  plans 
for  building — they  had  foes  within  and  foes  without.  Rev.  Joseph  Chambers 
was  called  to  the  pastorate  in  1850,  but  only  remained  until  August,  dying 
in  the  following  month.  Again  the  matter  of  building  was  broached  and  sub- 
scriptions taken  freely,  the  same  to  apply  on  a church  to  be  erected  on  West 
Liberty  street,  the  old  site.  But  through  the  work  mostly  of  the  ladies  of 
the  church  the  project  was  changed  and  the  new  plan  was  to  build  on  the  site 
of  the  present  church.  A building  committee  composed  of  five  men — J.  P. 
Coulter,  Janies  Jacobs.  Ephraim  Quinby,  Isaac  Johnson  and  Rev.  J.  X.  Shep- 
herd— was  set  to  work  again  with  renewed  vigor.  The  cost  of  this  structure 
was  between  five  and  six  thousand  dollars.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  the 
new  church  January  2.  1854,  when  E.  Quinby.  Jr.,  was  elected  trustee,  and 
he  later  served  as  treasurer  a number  of  years.  Steps  were  taken  to  provide 
the  church  with  a suitable  parsonage  at  a meeting  held  January  11,  1859. 
The  lot  on  which  the  building  was  erected  was  purchased  of  Mr.  Quinby  for 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

I11  1870  the  Westminster  church  was  organized,  in  connection  with  the 
Wooster  University,  which  was  a child  of  the  original  Presbyterian  church 
of  Wooster. 


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In  1874  the  church  was  remodeled,  wings  added  thereto  and  in  all  there 
was  an  outlay  of  about  fourteen  thousand  dollars. 

The  record  of  membership  is  as  follows:  Organized  in  1815  with  fifteen 
members ; when  Reverend  Barr  was  made  pastor  the  membership  had  reached 
thirty-three;  when  he  left  it  had  one  hundred  and  seven;  from  1846  to  1853 
the  aggregate  membership  was  three  hundred  and  seventy.  In  1878  the  mem- 
bership had  reached,  after  counting  out  all  removals,  deaths  and  other 
changes,  a net  of  four  hundred  and  sixteen.  According  to  the  records  of  the 
church  in  1909  the  church  was  made  up  of  five  hundred  and  twenty  members. 
The  present  house  of  worship  is  the  same  as  in  1854,  aside  from  the  improve- 
ments made  from  time  to  time.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  David  Ayrton 
Heron. 

The  pastors  have  included  the  following,  though  not  possibly  all,  in  the 
order  here  named:  Rev.  Matthews,  1815  on  for  a number  of  years;  Thomas 
Barr,  many  years;  William  Cox,  one  year;  William  Wiley,  one  year;  George 
W.  Warner,  from  1832  to  1836;  William  McCandish,  1839  to  1849;  Joseph 
H.  Chambers,  1850  to  August  of  same  year,  when  he  died;  J.  N.  Shepherd, 
1850  to  1851 ; James  H.  Baird,  to  1854:  J.  B.  Stewart,  to  1857;  R.  Colmery, 
to  i860;  S.  W.  Miller,  called  1868  to  1874;  T.  A.  McCurdy,  D.  D. ; Oscar  A. 
Hills,  D.  D. ; Hamilton  W.  Lowery,  D.  D. ; Scott  F.  Hershey,  LL.D.,  Ph.  D. ; 
David  Ayrton  Heron,  came  from  Indianapolis  in  July,  1908. 

WESTMINSTER  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

This  church  is  in  Wooster  and  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Wooster  Univer- 
sity and  the  child  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  the  city.  Its  present 
membership  is  three  hundred  and  fifty-five.  The  Westminster  congregation 
worshiped  in  the  chapel  of  the  university  from  its  organization  in  1874  until 
December,  1901,  when  the  University  building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  In 
the  spring  of  1902  the  present  Memorial  chapel  of  the  university  was  dedi- 
cated, built  at  a cost  of  forty  thousand  dollars,  the  money  having  been  secured 
through  the  liberality  of  a number  of  friends.  In  style  of  architecture  it 
follows  strictly  the  English  gothic  of  the  thirteenth  century.  The  building 
is  a light  buff  Ohio  sandstone  and  will  accommodate  about  eleven  hundred  peo- 
ple. The  five-thousand-dollar  organ  was  constructed  bv  the  Austin  Company 
of  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

The  list  of  pastors  who  have  served  this  congregation  is  as  follows: 
Revs.  T.  K.  Davis,  D.  D. : A.  A.  E.  Taylor.  D.  D. ; S.  F.  Scovel,  D.  D. ; Ed- 


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ward  W.  Work;  S.  Hale  Young;  J.  J.  Lucas,  D.  D. ; O.  A.  Hills,  D.  D. ; 
Chalmers  Martin,  D.  D. ; John  Leonard  Tait. 

MARSHALLVILLE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  January  19.  1843,  by  Rev.  A.  Hanna,  with 
a membership  of  fifty-seven.  Rev.  John  Andrews  was  the  first  pastor,  in 

1843- 

SUGARCREEK  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1816,  but  had  held  services  as  early  as 
1814.  The  charter  membership  was  twenty-three.  Rev.  James  Adams,  who 
formed  the  society,  remained  from  1814  to  1823.  The  first  meeting  house 
was  of  logs,  and  it  was  situated  two  miles  west  of  Dalton  ; the  second  was 
on  the  site  where  the  third  church  was  erected  in  1853-54. 

ORVILLE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

Prior  to  the  formation  of  the  church  at  this  point  occasional  services 
were  held.  Rev.  Archibald  Hanna  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  interests 
of  this  sect  in  1852,  in  an  old  school  house.  No  further  record  of  any  services 
is  had  until  those  of  July  9,  1854,  by  Rev.  John  E.  Carson,  held  in  the  Union 
church.  Here  they  henceforth  worshiped  until  the  basement  of  their  own 
church  was  fit  for  occupancy.  During  the  ministry  of  Reverend  Semple,  the 
church  was  organized  July  25,  1865.  The  original  membership  consisted  of 
the  following:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gailey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reaser,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kirk  Johnston,  James  A.  Taggart,  Margaret  F.  Crites,  Rebecca  Wilson, 
Lydia  Wilson,  Mary  L.  Wilson,  Mary  J.  Ewing,  Delilah  McFarland,  Sarah  A. 
Orr,  Rebecca  M.  Storrs,  Catherine  Schriber  and  Sarah  J.  Taggart. 

Rev.  Semple’s  labors  ceased  September  16.  1866,  and  he  was  followed 
by  Rev.  M.  L.  Anderson.  Up  to  1878  there  had  been  connected  with  this 
church  two  hundred  and  fifty-seven  persons.  The  number  in  1909  was  shown 
to  be  two  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The  same  brick  church  erected  in  1871 
is  still  doing  good  service.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Joseph  V.  Findley. 

PRESBYTERIANS  IN  CANAAN  TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  church  organized  in  Canaan  township  was  by  the  Presbyterian 
people  at  Jackson,  May  25,  1827,  with  sixteen  members.  Nathan  Hall  and 
Thomas  Hays  were  chosen  ruling  elders.  Tn  1838  the  congregation  called 


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its  first  regular  pastor,  Rev.  Thomas  Barr,  who  served  them  nearly  forty 
years.  Their  second  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1837,  the  third  in 
1854,  and  at  present  the  congregation  is  flourishing  with  a church  membership 
of  sixty-two. 

WAYNE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

This  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  August  22,  1833,  with  thirteen 
members,  by  Rev.  William  Cox.  The  original  members  were  as  follows: 
James  and  Sarah  McCoy,  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Eakin,  Moses  and  Sarah 
Foltz,  Margaret  Beer,  Abigail  Johnston,  Nancy  Orr,  John  Rose,  Mary  Rose, 
Mary  Lawrence  and  Maria  McClarran.  Its  membership  is  now  about  fifty. 

PRESBYTERIANISM  IN  GREENE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  Presbyterian  was  the  fourth  church  to  be  formed  in  Greene  town- 
ship, the  date  being  in  1830. 

APPLECREEK  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

This  is  one  of  the  pioneer  churches  in  Wayne  county.  It  dates  its  or- 
ganization from  1815  or  1816  and  it  was  brought  about  by  Reverends  Hughes 
and  James  Adams.  The  membership  was  at  first  thirty  persons,  four  of 
whom  were  James  Bingham,  Daniel  Kirkpatrick,  Jonathan  Peppered  and 
Moses  Dunham.  These  were  ruling  elders.  The  first  church  was  built  in 
1817,  the  congregation  being  occasionally  supplied  until  1819,  when  Rev. 
Joseph  Harper  became  the  stated  supply.  In  1820  Rev.  Thomas  Barr  set- 
tled as  pastor  at  Wooster  and  Applecreek.  In  1825  a larger  house  was  built 
and  in  1830  Rev.  William  Cox  became  pastor.  In  1837  he  was  followed  by 
Rev.  Richard  Graham  and  he  in  turn  by  Rev.  Joseph  Wylie.  During  his 
pastorate  a third  church  building  was  erected  and  there  was  a great  revival 
in  the  church.  In  1850  came  Rev.  J.  E.  Carson.  In  i860  Rev.  Andrew  Vir- 
tue came  and  remained  almost  nine  years.  In  1868  came  Rev.  W.  Engleson, 
who  in  1875  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  C.  Ferris.  Then  came  Rev.  J.  C. 
Truesdale  in  1878  and  remained  seven  years.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  L. 
T.  Laverty  in  1885.  during  whose  pastorate  the  present  church  was  erected. 
In  1891  came  Rev.  A.  W.  Verner,  who  served  until  August  2,  1896,  then 
came  Rev.  G.  S.  Hachett,  who  served  until  1902.  Rev.  J.  W.  Boyer  then 
became  pastor  and  preached  until  October,  1906,  when  Rev.  D.  H.  Johnson 


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came  in  May,  1907,  remaining  until  May,  1909.  The  church  was  repaired 
during  this  period.  The  present  pastor  is  Reverend  McGrath.  The  mem- 
bership is  two  hundred  and  thirty-one. 

PAINTYTLLE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  church  of  Paintville — now  Mt.  Eaton — was  organized  June  20, 
1818,  with  thirteen  members.  The  Rev.  James  Adams  officiated  at  the  or- 
ganization. Up  to  1878  this  church  had  on  its  rolls  four  hundred  and  nine 
persons.  The  names  of  the  first  members  were  James  and  Margaret  Kilgore, 
Jane  McKinney,  William  Kilgore,  Isabelle  Kilgore,  William  Hunter,  Mary 
Hunter,  Rowland  Armstrong,  Jane  Armstrong,  John  Anderson,  Agnes 
Anderson,  James  Galbraith  and  Sarah  Galbraith. 

The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  eighteen.  The  present  pastor 
is  supplied. 

OTHER  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCHES  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Creston  is  supplied  with  a pastor  at  present  from  other  places;  it  has  a 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-two. 

Fredericksburg  has  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  members. 

Shreve  has  a church  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  members;  Rev. 
Leonard  Twinem  is  the  present  pastor. 

Dalton  Presbyterian  church  has  a membership  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-nine,  with  Rev.  Joseph  V.  Findley,  as  present  pastor. 

Millersburg  has  an  organization  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  mem- 
bers. with  Rev.  Charles  J.  McCracken  as  pastor. 

West  Salem  and  Congress  churches  have  a membership  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight,  with  Rev.  Claude  R.  Culbertson  as  present  pastor. 

Doylestown  is  supplied  by  other  churches;  it  has  a membership  of  forty- 
eight. 

Hopewell  is  supplied  by  other  places : it  has  a membership  of  two  hundred 
and  five. 

Rittman  Presbyterian  church  has  a membership  of  seventv-five;  the  pres- 
ent pastor  is  Rev.  H.  E.  Nicklen. 

UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

In  Wayne  county  there  are  now  three  separate  congregations  of  this  de- 
nomination— at  Wooster.  Fredericksburg  and  Dalton. 


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Of  the  Wooster  church  it  may  be  stated  that  the  Associate  congregation 
of  Wooster  was  organized  in  August,  1817,  and  Rev.  John  Walker,  D.  D., 
and  Rev.  William  Wilson  presided  at  the  meeting,  which  was  held  in  a large 
tent  erected  at  the  south  end  of  Buckeye  street  in  Wooster. 

The  Associate  Reformed  congregation  of  Wooster  was  organized  in 
1843,  lts  pastor  being  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Peacock.  Its  worship  was  commonly 
held  in  the  court  house. 

These  two  organizations  were  united  into  one  congregation  in  1858, 
under  the  present  name  of  “The  United  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Woos- 
ter,” having  then  a total  membership  of  one  hundred  and  twenty.  The 
pastors  of  the  Associate  congregation  and  the  United  congregations  were : 
Rev.  Samuel  Irwin,  from  1819  to  1835;  Rev.  Joseph  McKee  from  1837  to 
1849;  Rev.  Hugh  Sturgeon  from  1852  to  1856;  Rev.  J.  W.  McFarland  from 
1857  to  1864;  Rev.  R.  H.  Pollock,  D.  D.,  from  1865  to  1875;  Rev.  Daniel 
A.  Wallace,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  from  January  1,  1878,  to  October  20,  1883;  Rev. 
R.  A.  Gilfillan,  from  May  1,  1885,  to  April  18,  1886;  Rev.  John  A.  Wilson, 
D.  D.,  from  November  1,  1886,  to  October  29,  1893;  Rev.  J-  D.  Irons,  D.  D., 
from  October  1,  1894,  to  November  1,  1895  J Rev.  J-  O*  Campbell,  D.  D.,  from 
May  1 7,  1896,  to  October  15,  1901 ; Rev.  W.  A.  Littell,  from  March  2,  1902, 
to  December  1,  1908.  The  congregation  is  now  without  a pastor. 

Dr.  David  A.  Wallace  was  called  to  a professorship  in  the  Xenia  Theo- 
logical Seminary  of  the  church,  but  died  at  the  close  of  his  pastorate  in 
Wooster.  Dr.  John  A.  Wilson  was  elected  to  a professorship  in  the  United 
Presbyterian  Seminary  at  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania;  Dr.  J.  D.  Irons  was 
elected  to  a professorship  in  Xenia  Theological  Seminary  and  Dr.  J.  O.  Camp- 
bell was  elected  to  a professorship  in  Westminster  College,  at  New  Arling- 
ton, Pennsylvania. 

The  first  house  of  worship  in  Wooster  for  this  denomination  was  erected 
by  the  Associate  congregation  in  1819  and  stood  on  South  Buckeye  street  in 
the  south  part  of  the  city.  It  was  a frame  building.  The  second  building 
was  on  the  same  site,  erected  in  1837.  The  present  church  building,  located 
on  North  Bever  street,  is  a brick  structure  erected  in  1868,  at  a cost  of 
fourteen  thousand  dollars. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  David  A.  Wallace  a large  and  commodious 
Sabbath  school  room  was  added  to  the  present  church  building,  and  during 
the  pastorate  of  Dr.  John  A.  Wilson  a handsome  parsonage  was  purchased  by 
the  congregation,  on  East  Bowman  street. 

The  elders  of  this  congregation  are  at  present,  James  T.  Stitt,  Dr.  H.  A. 


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Hart,  W.  T.  Peckinpaugh  and  Mahlon  Rouch.  The  trustees  are  as  follows : 
J.  S.  Wallace,  William  King,  Harry  Hurst,  W.  J.  Giffen,  Dr.  L.  A.  Yocum, 
Robert  H.  Smith  and  T.  E.  Ewing.  The  present  membership  of  this  congre- 
gation is  one  hundred  and  ninety-three. 

FREDERICKSBURG  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  Fredericksburg  United  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  by  Rev. 
William  Wilson,  in  1818.  Prior  to  1858  this  congregation  was  called  the 
Seceders,  or  Associate  Presbyterians.  Some  of  the  first  of  the  church  were : 
John  Sorrel  and  George  Miller,  who  had  settled  in  the  neighborhood  in  1812 
and  1813;  William  Truesdale  in  1817.  and  Samuel  Miller,  David  Cox  and 
George  Boon.  The  first  place  they  called  meeting  house  was  built  of  logs  and 
stood  near  the  old  Associate  burying  ground  on  the  hill.  In  1821  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Irvine,  D.  D.,  was  ordained  pastor  of  this  and  three  other  congregations. 
In  1838  a brick  building  was  built  in  the  southwest  part  of  town.  At  pres- 
ent they  worship  in  one  built  later.  The  membership  is  now  fifty-seven,  and 
the  pastor  is  Rev.  W.  J.  Grimes. 

DALTON  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Dalton  was  organized  by  the 
Associate  Presbytery  of  Chartiers  in  1820  at  the  home  of  John  McDowell. 
Rev.  Samuel  Irvine  was  the  first  stated  supply  and  Rev.  Joseph  McKee  was 
the  first  pastor,  his  pastorate  lasting  from  1836  to  1842.  Services  were  first 
conducted  in  private  houses  and  in  a tent  erected  on  the  farm  of  James  Doug- 
las. In  1828  a log  church  was  built,  which  was  used  until  1839,  when  a 
frame  building  was  erected  in  Dalton.  The  present  brick  church  was  erected 
in  1871.  The  following  is  the  succession  of  pastors:  Rev.  J.  R.  Doig,  1842- 
1848:  Rev.  D.  W.  Collins,  D.  D.,  1850-1852;  Rev.  J.  Y.  Ashenhurst,  1854- 
1856;  Rev.  A.  McCartney,  1858-1860;  Rev.  W.  M.  Gibson,  1863-1867;  Rev. 
J.  G.  Madge,  1870-1896:  Rev.  Will  H.  Hubbell,  the  present  pastor,  was  in- 
stalled as  pastor  in  June,  1897.  The  congregation  has  greatly  prospered 
under  his  leadership.  There  were  one  hundred  members  when  he  took  charge 
and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  new  members  have  been  added  since.  The 
Sabbath  school  has  grown  from  an  enrollment  of  fifty-nine  to  one  hundred 
and  sixty.  Not  only  has  the  congregation  made  many  improvements  on  the 
church  building  during  the  present  pastorate,  but  a fine  modem  parsonage 


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has  been  built  for  the  pastor.  The  session  at  the  present  time  is  composed 
of  Thomas  E.  McDowell,  Allan  Arnold,  D.  C.  Rudy  and  C.  R.  Snavely. 
The  board  of  trustees  consists  of  Albert  E.  Dague,  Lewis  S.  Berg  and  Oliver 
VV.  Hanenstien. 

CHURCH  OF  GOD. 

The  founder  of  this  denomination  was  Rev.  John  Winebrenner,  a Ger- 
man Reformed  minister,  who  about  1830  preached  in  Harrisburg.  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  too  excitable  to  longer  be  retained  and  tolerated  in  the  Re- 
formed church,  and  separated  from  it  in  1825  and  formed  the  Church  of 
God.  This  church  was  organized  in  Pennsylvania  and  soon  planted  itself 
westward  and  is  now  well  known  in  many  sections  of  the  country.  At  Woos- 
ter, Ohio,  it  was  organized  in  May,  1848,  by  Elder  A.  Medgrew,  with  a mem- 
bership of  but  sixteen  persons.  The  officers  were  : Charles  Hoff,  elder : J.  P. 
Winebrenner,  deacon.  June  27,  1850,  the  lot  and  bethel  were  purchased 
from  J.  P.  Winebrenner.  Rev.  G.  U.  Ham  commenced  his  labors  as  pastor 
in  April.  1851.  January  24,  1866,  they  rented  their  house  to  the  United 
Presbyterian  society  until  they  could  erect  one  of  their  own.  Their  first 
church  property  was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  sixty-nine  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  by  Mr.  Winebrenner  from  Lindol  Sprague  and  John  Hanna,  adminis- 
trators of  the  James  Clendennen  estate.  It  was  the  old  building  to  the  east  of 
the  present  bethel.  It  was  repaired  and  fitted  up  for  a church  and  sold  at 
five  hundred  and  thirty  dollars.  The  new  church  building  was  commenced 
in  1854,  and  completed  in  1855,  by  David  Atkins,  at  an  expense  of  four 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty  dollars.  It  is  forty-five  by  sixty-five  feet, 
with  vestibule  and  basement  above  ground.  It  was  dedicated  August  5,  1855, 
by  Elders  J.  Winebrenner  and  A.  Swartz.  On  the  morning  of  August  7, 
1854.  a serious  accident  befell  the  workmen  at  this  building.  The  girders  and 
rafters  for  a half  of  the  structure  fell  to  the  ground,  carrying  with  the  frame 
work  and  timbers  the  many  working  men.  Citizens  soon  went  to  the  scene 
of  disaster,  accompanied  by  physicians.  The  list  of  killed  and  injured  is : 
Mr.  Henderson,  of  Milbrook,  killed:  John  Cope,  of  Massillon,  wounded; 
Henry  Miller,  hurt;  Joseph  Kimher,  hurt:  David  Atkins,  collar  bone  broken; 
Henry  Harris,  badly  bruised;  Charles  Pond,  fractured  bones;  John  Hamicar, 
Charles  Hickman,  John  Vanmeter,  D.  Baker,  A.  Hummer  and  a Mr.  Smith, 
injured. 

At  this  date  the  church  is  still  in  use.  The  membership  of  the  congre- 
gation is  one  hundred  and  sixty  and  the  present  pastor  is  Rev.  W.  E.  Turner. 


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This  denomination  now  has  churches  at  Aukerman,  Moreland,  Smith- 
ville  and  Overton,  in  Wayne  county. 

FRANKLIN  TOWNSHIP  CHURCH  OF  GOD. 

This  church  was  built  in  1843,  at  Moreland.  Adam  Weiker,  Isaac  Tate 
and  Samuel  Metzler  being  the  chief  movers  in  the  enterprise.  The  first 
preacher  of  this  charge  was  Archibald  Megrew  and  following  him  was  Jona- 
than West.  In  1878  the  membership  had  grown  to  thirty. 

ST.  JAMES  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  Wooster  parish  of  the  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  December, 
1840,  by  Hon.  Levi  Cox,  J.  W.  Schuckers,  Henry  Lehman,  James  Johnson, 
J.  C.  James,  David  Sloane,  George  James,  John  A.  Holland,  R.  H.  Cather- 
wood  and  a few  other  associates,  of  Wooster  and  vicinity.  They  adopted  the 
constitution  and  canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the  United 
States  of  America.  This  parish  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  Legislature 
of  Ohio  in  February,  1841.  In  April,  1841,  Rev.  Ervin  Miller  was  called  to 
the  rectorship.  Services  were  held  in  the  court  house  until  December,  1841, 
when  the  first  services  were  held  in  the  new  church  edifice,  on  West  South 
street,  erected  by  the  parish,  on  a lot  donated  by  James  L.  Bowman.  Serv- 
ices were  held  there  until  May,  i860,  when  the  building  wras  regarded  as  un- 
safe and  was  abandoned  and  sold,  after  which  services  were  held  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  English  Lutheran  church  and  later  in  Arcadome  Hall  until  No- 
vember, i860,  when  a new  edifice  was  ready  for  occupancy.  This  was  built 
on  the  corner  of  Market  and  North  streets.  The  first  church  edifice  was 
consecrated  in  May,  1842,  by  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  and  the  new  Gothic  church 
in  1867  bv  assistant  Bishop  Bedell.  In  1869-70  the  parish  erected  a frame 
building  as  a rectory. 

At  present  this  parish  has  a good  membership  and  is  worshiping  in  the 
church  erected  in  1867. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  First  Methodist  church  of  Wooster  was  the  outgrowth  of  the 
labors  and  prayers  of  this  devout  people,  some  of  whom  sought  to  plant 
the  seed  of  Methodism  here  as  early  as  1817-18.  It  is  unfortunate  for  the 
present  day  historian  that  the  records  are  lost  and  the  exact  date  of  its 
organzation  cannot  be  definitely  fixed.  Up  to  1832  the  history  of  this  church 


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is  lacking.  At  a quarterly  conference,  held  in  Wooster,  December  15,  1832, 
for  Wooster  circuit  and  district,  William  P.  Christie  appeared  as  presiding 
elder.  Class  leaders  for  that  day  are  known  to  have  been  A.  Stewart,  A. 
Warner,  J.  Sampson,  D.  Chacey,  C.  Yordy,  George  Snider,  H.  Kizer,  D. 
Black,  M.  Warner  and  William  Spear. 

The  Sunday  school  was  organized  about  1832,  and  in  1835  the  Wooster 
class  numbered  one  hundred  and  twelve  scholars.  In  April,  1836,  William 
Spear,  Christian  Eyster  and  David  Fairfield  were  appointed  a committee  to 
estimate  the  cost  of  building  a church.  In  1837  a proposition  was  made  to 
divide  the  circuit,  embracing  all  the  appointments  north  of  Wooster  and  the 
state  road,  leading  to  Mansfield,  which  was  agreed  to.  In  1837  Adam  Poe 
was  presiding  elder,  and  in  1838  J.  H.  Power. 

June  27,  1840,  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  church  made  the  following 
report : 

“First,  the  meeting  house  has  been  pulled  down  and  lies  even  with  the 
ground.  Second,  they  have  determined  to  build  a new  house  of  the  follow- 
ing dimensions : seventy-five  by  fifty  feet,  a portico  eight  by  thirty,  with 

columns  in  front,  etc.  They  have  contracted  for  building  the  same  for  two 
thousand  seven  hundred  dollars  and  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  three 
dollars  have  been  subscribed;  the  building  is  now  in  a state  of  forwardness 
and  they  expect  to  have  the  basement  fully  ready  for  use  by  the  first  of 
September  next  and  the  house  finished  sometime  during  the  summer. 

“Signed,  J.  J.  Armstrong,  Jacob  Immel,  William  Spear,  D.  P.  Hart- 
man, M.  E.  Hamp,  D.  Black,  C.  Yordy,  Thomas  Williams,  Trustees.” 

October  17,  1840,  E.  Yocum  appears  as  presiding  elder.  October  14, 
1843,  at  a quarterly  meeting  the  question  arose  whether  it  was  best  to  divide 
the  circuit  and  make  Wooster  a station,  which,  upon  a vote,  was  carried  in 
the  affirmative,  whereupon  it  was  moved  and  seconded  that  Bodine  and 
Smithville  appointments  be  attached  to  Wooster,  which  was  carried.  The 
circuit  was  now  divided  as  before  decided  by  the  conference,  and  Wooster 
was  constituted  a station. 

September  21,  1844,  E.  Raymond  appears  as  presiding  elder,  D.  Black, 
William  Stitt,  D.  M.  Crall  as  stewards. 

May  6,  1849,  the  trustees  reported  the  church  entirely  out  of  debt,  but 
suggested  some  repairs  and  improvements  to  the  building.  William  Henry 
donated  the  parsonage  grounds. 

March  28,  1858,  J.  Hinton  offered  the  following  resolution: 

“Whereas,  The  putting  on  of  gold  is  a plain  violation  of  Scripture  pre- 
cept. as  well  as  the  rules  of  our  church,  therefore,  be  it 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  conterence 
prohibit  the  use  of  it  in  their  own  families,  and  discountenance  the  use  of 
it  by  the  members  of  the  church.” 

After  discussion,  Rev.  J.  Durbin  presented  the  following  as  a substitute, 
which  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Hinton,  and  passed  by  the  conference: 

“Resolved,  That  we  hereby  request  our  pastor  to  preach  discourses  at 
his  own  pleasure  and  convenience,  on  the  subject  of  dress ; and  that  we  will 
sustain  him  in  the  execution  of  the  general  rules  of  our  discipline,  without 
exception.” 

The  subjoined  is  a complete  list  of  the  various  pastors  who  have  served 
on  the  charge  on  which  Wooster  is  situated: 


Edward  Taylor  .... 

1820-21 

James  Gilbreth  

1821-22 

Peter  Stevens  

1822-23 

John  Graham  

1823-24 

Isaac  Ellsbury  

1823-24 

Tames  Murray  

S.  Meriman 

1824-25 

Abner  Goff  

J.  C.  Taylor 

1826-28 

C.  Carpenter  

1826-27 

Adam  Poe  

1828-29 

H.  Colclozer  

1828-29 

J.  M.  McMahan  

1829-30 

James  Wilson  

1829-30 

James  Dixson  

1830-31 

H.  Sheldon  

1831-32 

J.  Hazzard  

1831-32 

E.  M.  Dalbey  

1831-32 

L.  Bevans  

1832-33 

S.  Ruark  

1833-34 

P.  P.  Ayers 

1833-34 

W.  Runnels  

1834-36 

C.  R.  Lovel 

1835-36 

E.  Thompson  

1835-36 

E.  Yocum  

1836-37 

Thomas  Dunn 

1836-38 

George  Smith  

1837-38 

H.  R.  Parish 1837-38 

E.  C.  Gavitt  1 838-39 

W.  L.  Harris  1 838-39 

David  Gray 1839-41 

Cyrus  Sawyer 1839-40 

C.  B.  Brandenburg 1840-41 

Thomas  Barkdull  1841-42 

J.  N.  Kellum 1841-43 

William  D.  Drisho  1842-43 

G.  W.  Howe 1843-44 

R.  H.  Chubb  1843-44 

E.  R.  Jewett 1844-45 

Cyrus  Sawyer  1845-47 

H.  E.  Pitcher 1847-48 

L.  B.  Gurley 1850-52 

L.  S.  Yourtee  1852-53 

Jesse  Durbin  1853-54 

H.  S.  Brodley 1854-55 

T.  S.  Kalb  1855-56 

W.  H.  Seeley  1856-58 

H.  G.  DuBois 1858-60 

L.  Warner  1860-61 

M.  C.  K.  Hard  1861-62 

C.  L.  Foot  1862-64 

A.  R.  Palmer  1864-66 

J.  Mallock  1866-68 

George  Mather  . 1868-70 


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G.  W.  Pepper 

1870-72  R.  T.  Stevenson 

. . . . 1886-89 

A.  Nelson  

— 1890-95 

O.  Badgley  

1874-76  J.  Frank  Smith 

— 1895-00 

G.  A.  Hughes  

1876-79  John  H.  Deeds 

. . . . 1900-04 

I.  H.  McConnell 

1879-81  Edgar  V.  DuBois 

. . . . 1904-00 

N.  S.  Albright 

1881-84  Charles  L.  Johnson  . . . 

. . . . 1906-00 

George  Mather 

. . . . 1909 — 

The  more  recent  year  presiding  elders  (district  superintendents)  are: 
Rev.  G.  A.  Hughes,  1879-83;  Rev.  E.  Persons,  1887-93;  Rev.  P.  B.  Stroup, 
1887-99;  Rev.  George  Mather,  1893-99;  Rev.  A.  D.  Knapp,  1899;  Rev. 
Keys,  present  incumbent.' 

On  a Sunday  morning  in  February,  about  1885,  the  old  Methodist 
church  building  burned.  Insurance  was  carried  to  the  extent  of  four  thou- 
sand dollars,  which  was  promptly  paid  and  this  enabled  the  society  to  go 
ahead  with  new  building  plans.  Right  at  that  juncture,  the  Trinity  church 
of  the  same  denomination,  which  owned  and  used  a small  brick  church  where 
now  stands  the  First  Episcopal  building,  concluded  to  unite,  or  rather  re- 
unite, for  they  had  left  the  parent  church  some  years  before,  and  so  the 
property  of  the  two  congregations  was  united  and  the  Trinity  building  was 
taken  down  and  the  present  First  Methodist  church  building  was  erected  at 
a cost  of  about  thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  In  the  year  1906  a very  fine 
pipe  organ  was  added  to  the  church.  Its  cost  was  about  four  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  Andrew  Carnegie  donated  one-third  of  the  amount, 
one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  seven  hundred.  Considering 
the  fact  that  Wooster  is  largely  a Presbyterian  place  (owing  to  the  uni- 
versity influence  and  interests),  the  Methodist  church  is  indeed  a strong, 
influential  denomination  and  is  doing  most  effective  work. 

TRINITY  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  WOOSTER. 

This  is  one  of  the  more  modern  churches  of  this  denomination.  It 
dates  its  organization  from  November  23,  1872,  and  then  started  out  with 
a membership  of  thirty-five.  The  St.  James  Episcopal  church  was  rented 
for  the  use  of  the  newly  formed  society.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
John  Toner,  of  Canton,  Ohio.  The  first  official  board  was  as  follows: 
stewards.  Daniel  Black,  Henry  C.  Harris,  C.  M.  Amsden,  J.  C.  Knoble,  F. 
L.  Parsons.  John  Van  Meter,  W.  S.  Leyburn : trustees.  D.  Q.  Liggett,  B. 


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Barrett,  John  H.  Silvers,  J.  H.  Carr,  W.  M.  Pinkerton,  J.  B.  Power,  T.  Y. 
McCray,  M.  K.  Hard.  C.  V.  Hard. 

In  1874  it  was  determined  to  erect  a house  of  worship  and  about  the 
middle  of  June  the  work  was  begun  on  a lot  on  the  corner  of  North  Market 
and  Larwill  streets,  where  a new,  handsome  structure  rapidly  rose.  In  size 
it  was  fifty-eight  by  ninety-two  feet  and  seated  four  hundred,  while  the  Sun- 
day school  room  accommodated  fully  two  hundred  more.  This  building  was 
dedicated  January  24,  1875.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  D.  S. 
Gregory,  D.  D.,  of  Wooster  University,  and  the  regular  dedicatory  sermon 
was  by  Bishop  W.  N.  Ninde,  D.  D.,  then  of  the  Northwestern  University. 
Chicago.  In  1878  the  membership  of  this  church  was  even  two  hundred. 
Early  in  the  eighties  this  church,  after  the  burning  of  the  old  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  building,  united  with  that  church  and  since  then  only  one  Methodist 
church  has  existed  in  Wooster.  The  brick  church  above  named  was  torn 
down  and  the  present  fine  edifice  was  erected  as  common  property  of  the 
united  congregation — the  First  church  putting  in  the  insurance  money  it 
had  received  and  other  monies  and  the  Trinity  people  putting  in  the  lot  and 
material  of  their  church. 

FREDERICKSBURG  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Fredericksburg  was  built  in  1830 
and  stood  south  of  town.  The  first  minister  in  charge  was  Rev.  H.  O. 
Sheldon.  The  second  edifice  erected  was  built  in  i860.  Some  of  the  earlier 
members  of  this  charge  were : John  Miller  and  family,  David  Griffith  and 

family,  Samuel  Brown  and  family,  Robert  Armstrong,  Sr.,  J.  R.  Armstrong, 
Jacob  Kiser  (the  singing  shoemaker),  Stinson  McWilliams,  Nancy  Sefton 
and  family,  C.  P.  Tennant  and  family,  R.  S.  McEvven  and  family. 

The  church,  at  present,  has  a membership  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight. 
Besides  this  there  was  an  early-day  organized  Presbyterian  church  in 
Sugarcreek  township. 


CANAAN  TOWNSHIP  METHODISM. 

A Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  erected  in  Windsor  in  1850-51, 
which  they  continued  to  occupy  until  1874,  when  they  again  built  a neat 
edifice.  Among  the  early  members  here  may  be  remembered  the  Strat- 
tons. Notestines.  Wiles.  Van  Doorens,  Haskins.  Stephenson.  Haws  and 
others. 


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"BEND  CHURCH.” 

This  was  the  name  of  a church  built  in  Canaan  township  in  1831-32, 
through  Dr.  Barnes,  a minister  of  that  denomination  who  had  preached  at 
that  point  as  early  as  1815.  The  earliest  to  attend  and  support  this  society 
were  the  Weeds,  Bowmans,  Strattons,  Kearns,  Thrapps,  Zuvers  and  Hills. 
The  church  became  extinct  just  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  yet  the  ‘‘Bend  Metho- 
dists” left  their  impression  on  the  community. 

METHODISM  IN  FRANKLIN  TOWNSHIP. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built  in  Moreland  about 
1830,  and  was  a one-story  frame  building  thirty  by  thirty  feet,  located  on 
Robert  Buckley's  land  and  was  donated  by  him  for  church  uses.  For  the 
first  fifteen  years  before  the  church  was  built  services  were  held  at  private 
houses,  generally  at  that  of  William  P.  Force.  The  second  church  was 
built  in  the  summer  of  1863.  At  present,  1909,  the  church  has  a member- 
ship of  one  hundred  and  sixty. 

CRESTON  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

Methodism  in  this  immediate  section  began  its  work  at  Jackson  at  a 
very  early  date — about  1850.  In  1863  the  old  frame  church  at  Jackson 
was  moved  to  Creston  and  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  church.  The 
old  building  served  until  1884,  when  the  present  brick  church  was  erected 
at  a cost  of  eight  thousand  dollars.  It  is  sixty-one  by  sixty  feet,  to  which 
has  been  added  during  the  last  year  parlor  and  Sunday  school  room  thirty 
by  thirty  feet  that  cost  two  thousand  dollars. 

The  present  membership,  in  good  standing,  is  two  hundred  and  eighty. 
W.  A.  Wells  has  served  this  church  as  its  recording  steward  and  generally 
had  charge  of  the  collections  and  finances  of  the  church  for  the  past  thirty 
years.  Through  his  management,  the  treasury  always  has  a credit  when 
conference  meets. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors  in  the  order  here  named  since 
1850:  Revs.  M.  T.  Ward.  A.  R.  Palmer,  Munsinger,  Reeder,  Jones,  Moffett, 
Owen,  Peters,  Col.  S.  R.  Clark,  Wells.  T.  S.  Warner.  Hushouse,  Huntsberger, 
Warner,  Saholzer,  Snyder,  Wager,  Whitnorth.  Peterson,  S.  E.  Sears,  and 
present  pastor  (1909),  C.  D.  Castle. 


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METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  AT  ORRVILLE. 

A Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  formed  in  the  district  in  which 
Orrville  was  situated  as  early  as  1853  by  Joseph  Hayes,  and  services  were 
held  in  a school  house  in  the  western  part  of  the  little  village.  Among  its 
first  members  were  David  Huston,  leader;  Mrs.  Joanna  Hayes,  Daniel  Hoover 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Van  Buskirk,  Father  Wilford,  a local  preacher,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Skelton.  They  completed  their  church  edifice  in  1868-69  and  it  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Alfred  Wheeler.  Pastors  who  served  this  church  in  the 
order  here  given  are  (since  1869)  : Revs.  Clinton  Craven,  N.  J.  Close,  A.  E. 
Thomas,  Philip  Kelser,  J.  L.  Sanford,  J.  T.  McCartney,  W.  Reese,  J.  F. 
Brant.  Freshwater,  Ashbaugh,  F.  S.  Wolfe,  Boothe,  Dunbar,  Slutz,  Barnett, 
Hyde,  Meyer  and  Fleming. 

The  present  membership  is  two  hundred  and  fifty.  The  cornerstone  of 
the  church  has  this  dating,  “1866-1905,”  meaning  the  date  of  old  and.  new 
edifices.  The  new  building  is  perhaps  the  finest  in  Wayne  county.  Its  stone 
walls  and  elegant  finishings  make  it  all  round  modern.  Its  cost  was  eighteen 
thousand  dollars.  It  stands  on  Church  street,  and  was  dedicated  by  Dr. 
Mitchell  of  Cleveland,  now  of  Chicago. 

OTHER  METHODIST  CHURCHES. 

Other  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  within  Wayne  county  in  1909  have 
a membership,  as  shown  by  the  1908  conference  minutes,  as  follows:  Apple- 
creek,  210;  Burbank,  144;  Congress,  170:  Dalton,  275;  Doylestown,  170; 
Marshallville,  95;  Moreland,  160;  Shreve,  209;  Smithfield  and  Canaan,  134; 
West  Salem,  183. 

THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCHES. 

It  appears  that  Catholicism  first  had  its  start  in  Wayne  county  in  the 
early  forties  and  St.  Mary’s  church  was  erected  in  1847  at  Wooster.  The 
cornerstone  was  laid  during  that  year  in  the  month  of  September  by  Arch- 
bishop Purcell.  The  first  resident  priest  was  Father  Champion,  succeeded 
by  Fathers  Brennan,  Haley,  O’Neal,  Arnold,  Gallaher  and  Ankly.  When 
the  church  was  erected  there  were  but  fifteen  resident  members,  but  by  1878 
it  had  increased  to  over  a hundred  members. 

The  old  burying  ground,  to  the  east  of  the  church,  was  used  until  Jan- 
uary, 1871,  when  the  first  lot  Was  sold  in  the  new  cemetery  to  Joseph  Holland. 
In  1869  Father  Ankly  purchased  these  grounds  from  David  Robison,  Jr., 


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paying  therefor  two  hundred  dollars  per  acre  for  ten  acres.  The  beautiful 
brick  parsonage  was  built  in  1906  at  a cost  of  seven  thousand,  two  hundred 
dollars.  The  same  church  is  in  use  that  was  erected  in  1847  anc^  seems  as 
good  as  the  day  it  was  built,  due  to  honest  workmanship. 

This  congregation  now  numbers  eighty  families.  Father  Fridolin  Ankly 
has  been  in  charge  of  this  congregation  since  the  autumn  of  1865 — forty- 
four  years.  He  is  a native  of  Switzerland,  came  to  America  when  eighteen 
years  of  age,  was  partly  educated  in  Europe  and  finished  here.  He  served 
in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  before  coming  here;  also  in  Cleveland.  Protestants  and 
Catholics  alike  vie  with  one  another  to  do  this  man  of  God  honor.  He  is 
one  of  Ohio’s  most  venerable  priests  and  makes  friends  wherever  he  goes. 
This  church  is  now  styled  the  Immaculate  Preferred  Conception. 

The  original  organ  for  this  church  came  from  Westfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  cost  one  thousand  dollars.  In  1866  the  bell  was  bought  in  St.  Louis  at 
one  thousand  and  four  hundred  dollars  and  weighed  (gross)  three  thousand 
five  hundred  pounds. 


ST.  MICHAEL'’ S CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

This  Catholic  church  was  erected  in  Baughman  township  in  1849  by 
Ambrose  Halter,  and  the  first  priest  was  P.  Morat.  The  church  here  is  now 
known  as  St.  Joseph’s,  and  numbers  seventeen  families. 

MILTON  TOWNSHIP  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

A Catholic  church  was  erected  in  Milton  township  in  1858,  the  corner- 
stone having  been  laid  July  26,  1858.  This  embraced  the  so-called  “French 
Settlement,”  and  lately  the  church  has  laid  a cornerstone  for  a new  building 
to  be  located  at  the  town  of  Rittman,  where  there  are  twenty  families  of  this 
faith. 

At  Orrville  the  church  has  purchased  two  lots  on  the  corner  of  High 
and  Elm  street  where  they  contemplate  building  a church  soon. 

STS.  PETER  ANI)  PAUL’S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

This  church  is  located  at  Doylestown  and  was  organized  a mile  to  the 
south  of  the  present  town  in  1827.  Their  first  building  was  a log  structure 
twenty-eight  by  forty  feet,  which  served  until  1849,  when  a church  was  erected 

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on  the  site  of  the  present  magnificent  church  in  the  village.  This  was  thirty- 
six  by  sixty  feet  in  size  and  cost  four  thousand  dollars.  This  served  until 
1877  when  the  present  brick  church  was  erected  at  a cost  of  thirteen  thousand 
dollars,  now  worth  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  It  is  fifty-six  by  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  feet  in  size  and  its  ceilings  are  forty  feet  high.  Recently  the 
church  has  built  a fine  two-story  brick  school  building  near  the  church.  The 
present  membership  of  this  congregation  is  about  eighty  families. 

FRENCH  SETTLEMENT  CHURCH. 

The  work  among  the  Catholics  began  here  in  1855  and  in  July,  1858, 
a church  was  dedicated — a frame  building  which  is  still  standing.  A frame 
church  was  built  in  1909  costing  four  thousand  dollars.  The  Catholic  work 
in  this  section  is  being  rapidly  transferred  to  Rittman,  the  railroad  point, 
and  is  all  served  by  the  priest  at  Doylestown  at  this  date. 

AT  STERLING. 

The  work  here  was  established  in  1883  and  that  year  there  was  bought 
a frame  house  twenty-eight  by  thirty-five  feet  that  had  been  a school  house. 
This  work  will  also  be  removed  to  Rittman  eventually. 

DIED  AMONG  STRANGERS. 

On  September  20,  1832,  Father  Ed  D.  Fenwick,  a bishop,  died  at 
Wooster,  among  strangers,  there  being  no  Catholic  hand  to  administer  the 
last  sacrament  to  him.  No  Catholics  lived  in  the  place  at  that  time. 

SONNEBERG  SWISS  MENNONITE  CONGREGATION. 

In  Sugarcreek  township  is  located  one  branch  of  the  Mennonite  church — 
the  one  above  named.  The  total  membership  of  this  congregation  is  now 
four  hundred  and  seventeen.  Its  ministers  are  Jacob  Nussbaum  (bishop), 
C.  N.  Amstutz,  J.  S.  Moser  (ministers),  J.  J.  Moser  (deacon).  A Sunday 
school  is  in  connection  with  the  church  work. 

Sonneberg  is  neither  a town  nor  postoffice — simply  a German  Menno- 
nite settlement  which  received  its  name  from  the  first  settlers  who  emigrated 
direct  from  Switzerland  where  they  had  lived  on  a mountain  called  in  Ger- 


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man,  ‘Sonneberg.”  Hundreds  of  years  ago  the  rulers  of  Switzerland  had  a 
prejudice  against  the  faith  of  the  Mennonites  and  hence  bitterly  opposed 
and  persecuted  them,  and  they  were  compelled  to  flee  to  the  mountains,  where 
they  were  not  allowed  to  live  in  towns  or  to  own  land,  and  were  forced  to 
farm  wild  mountain  lands  and  pay  high  rent  for  the  same.  In  1817  Benedict 
Schraag  started  for  America  and  located  in  Green  township,  near  Orrville, 
Ohio.  He  wrote  to  his  friends  telling  them  what  opportunities  there  were 
in  America  for  the  Mennonite  people.  They  persuaded  Isaac  Sommer, 
David  Kirchhofer,  Peter  and  Ulrich  Lehman  to  come  to  America.  They 
started  from  Berne  in  April,  1819,  boarded  the  ship  “La  Havre,”  from  France, 
and  after  a forty-seven-days  voyage  landed  in  New  York,  from  which  place 
they  went  on  foot  to  Ohio,  via  Lancaster,  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  on 
through  Canton,  Ohio,  to  within  four  miles  of  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  near 
the  southwest  corner  of  land  now  owned  by  the  Ohio  Experimental  Station, 
where  they  lived  in  a school  house  for  over  a month.  After  traveling  around 
for  some  time  they  bought  a piece  of  timber  land  from  the  government, 
James  Monroe  then  being  President  of  the  United  States.  The  purchase  was 
made  in  the  center  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Sonneberg  settlement.  They 
at  once  began  to  fell  the  giant  forest  trees  and  clear  up  land  on  which  to  raise 
grain  and  vegetables  upon  which  to  subsist.  There  was  no  money  and  all 
the  settlers  about  them  spoke  a strange  language ; they  had  to  exchange  prod- 
uce for  other  articles,  as  there  was  no  market  for  what  they  raised.  One  of 
their  number  rode  to  Canton,  twenty  miles  away,  with  a sack  of  wheat,  the 
grist  for  four  families.  They  were  ever  glad,  however,  that  they  came  to  free 
America.  In  1821  seven  families  more  came  across  the  ocean  to  join  them. 
Among  this  number  were  John  Lehman.  Abraham  Zuerich,  Jacob  Bixler 
and  others.  In  1824  came  Christian  Beer,  Peter  and  John  Welty,  John  and 
Abraham  Tschantz,  David  Baumdarder,  Ulrich  Sommer  and  Peter  Schneck. 
Others  came  in  1825  and  located  in  Greene  township,  near  the  Old  People’s 
Home. 

The  first  minister  in  the  Sonneberg  congregation  was  John  Lehman, 
who  arrived  from  Switzerland  in  1821.  The  first  to  be  ordained  of  this  con- 
gregation was  Ulrich  Sommers  and  Peter  Schneck.  This  was  in  1827  and 
two  years  later  Peter  Schneck  was  ordained  a bishop. 

The  first  baptismal  service  was  held  in  1828.  The  first  marriage  per- 
formed was  on  December  31,  1822,  that  of  Ulrich  Lehman  and  Barbara 
Gerber.  The  first  death  to  occur  in  the  settlement  was  that  of  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Ulrich  Gerber,  in  September,  1823. 


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Church  services  were  held  in  private  dwellings  until  1834,  when  the 
first  church  was  built;  it  was  rebuilt  in  1861,  and  again  in  1907,  when  the 
building  was  dedicated  on  September  29th.  Its  cost  was  six  thousand  dollars. 
Since  1828  more  than  seven  hundred  persons  have  been  received  into  the 
church  by  baptism ; over  three  hundred  couples  united  in  marriage  and  more 
than  four  hundred  deaths  have  occurred.  In  this  congregation  there  are  now 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  families,  or  over  four  hundred  single  memberships. 

AMISH  MENNONITE  CHURCH. 

This  branch  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  church  was  organized  in  1816  in 
Green  township,  Wayne  county,  with  six  or  eight  families,  or  about  twenty 
members.  They  conducted  their  services  in  private  houses  until  1862,  when 
they  erected  their  first  house  of  worship,  one  mile  east  of  Smithville,  a frame 
structure,  at  the  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars.  This  house  served  well  its 
purpose  until  1905,  when  a new  building  was  erected  at  the  same  place  ai  a 
cost  of  about  seven  thousand  dollars.  In  1880  the  congregation  erected  a 
church  edifice  in  Milton  township  at  a cost  of  about  two  thousand  dollars,  and 
since  conducts  regular  services  at  both  places.  Its  present  membership  is 
about  six  hundred. 

The  first  ministers  were  Daniel  Zook  (Zug  for  German)  and  Christian 
Brandt,  who  organized  the  church.  The  bishops,  since  its  organization,  have 
been  Christian  Shantz,  Jacob  Yoder,  John  K.  Yoder;  the  last  named  served 
forty-five  years,  and  since  1896  its  bishop  has  been  Benjamin  Gerig.  The  as- 
sistant ministers  are  Jacob  S.  Gerig,  C.  Z.  Yoder  and  D.  Z.  Yoder.  The 
church  is  active  in  home  and  foreign  missionary  work ; several  of  its  members 
have  been  to  far-away  India  where  the  church  helps  to  support  a number  of 
mission  stations.  Some  are  at  work  in  the  home  missions  that  are  scattered 
from  east  to  \vest  in  some  of  the  larger  cities..  The  church  also  helps  to 
support  other  church  institutions,  such  as  the  publishing  house,  old  people’s 
home,  orphans'  home,  schools,  etc.,  and  is  interested  in  the  evangelistic  work 
throughout  the  world. 

Much  might  be  added  concerning  the  good  work  being  accomplished 
by  this  devout  people  who  are  among  the  most  thrifty  and  law-abiding  citizens 
within  Wayne  county,  but  in  a work  of  the  character  of  this  the  above  will 
suffice. 


MENNONITE  CHURCH  OF  SUGARCREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

This  branch  of  the  Mennonite  church  is  a strain  of  the  original  Mennon- 
ite church  of  America  and  is  under  the  Mennonitish  conference  of  Ohio 
that  meets  annually  in  different  parts  of  this  state.  They  endeavor  to  teach 


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the  whole  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  and  make  it  practical  in  their  daily  lives. 
As  a people,  they  are  industrious  and  are,  for  the  most  part,  farmers.  They 
are  hospitable,  kind  and  generous,  and  opposed  to  war,  secret  societies,  swear- 
ing of  oaths  and  conforming  to  the  world.  This  branch  of  the  Mennonite 
church  has  a membership  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

It  had  its  beginning  in  1834  when  it  was  organized  in  this  county.  John 
Bohrer  and  Jacob  Buchwalter  came  from  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  settled  southeast  of  Orrville  and  organized  what  is  known  as  the  Martin 
church.  This  band  was  soon  followed  by  others  of  like  faith,  including  the 
Martins,  Lengers,  Brennemans  and  others,  after  which  the  church  grew 
rapidly.  A few  years  later  a second  church  was  built  across  the  line  in  Stark 
county  to  accommodate  the  people.  A few  years  after  that  a third  church 
was  built,  called  Salem  church;  this  was  south  of  Smithville,  and  in  1909  a 
fourth  church  was  organized  at  Orrville.  These  several  buildings  were 
erected  at  an  average  cost  of  about  three  thousand  dollars. 

These  four  churches  are  under  one  charge,  with  Bishop  Michael  Horst, 
of  Orrville,  as  their  old  retired  bishop.  I.  J.  Buchwalter,  of  Dalton,  grandson 
of  the  above  named  Jacob  Buchwalter,  as  their  active  bishop,  has  general 
oversight  of  the  church’s  work  and  he  is  assisted  in  his  duties  by  the  following 
ministers:  A.  H.  Brenneman,  Marshallville : David  Hostetler,  Weilersville; 

David  Martin.  Dalton,  and  Aaron  Eberlev.  of  Dalton.  The  deacons  are 
John  Hackman,  Orrville;  S.  K.  Plank,  Orrville;  William  Shoup,  Orrville; 
Abe  Burkholder,  Orrville. 

This  church  helps  in  the  noble  support  of  the  Mennonites'  Old  Peo- 
ple's Home,  near  Rittman,  as  well  as  assists  in  the  organization  of  other 
church  societies  in  adjoining  counties.  Sunday  schools  and  young  people's 
meetings  are  kept  up  with  much  interest  at  its  different  places  of  holding 
meetings ; they  also  do  a good  foreign  missionary  work. 

SALEM  MENNONITE  CHURCH. 

The  Salem  Mennonite  church  was  organized  in  1887  with  sixteen  mem- 
bers, and  is  located  in  Sugarcreek  township,  southwest  of  Dalton.  A neat 
and  comfortable  church  was  built  in  1887  at  a cost  of  eighteen  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  improvements  to  the  amount  of  one  thousand  dollars  were  put  on 
the  building  in  1895.  I n connection  with  the  church  there  is  a well-organized 
Sunday  school  of  two  hundred  and  twelve  members,  of  which  J.  H.  Tschantz 
has  been  superintendent  for  the  last  fifteen  consecutive  years.  There  is  also 


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a Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  sixty  members  and  a Ladies’  Aid  Society 
of  thirty-five  members.  The  present  pastor  is  A.  A.  Sommer,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  John  Badertscher  and  A.  J.  Welty,  deacons  or  elders;  Sam 
Geiger,  J.  H.  Tschantz  and  Philemon  Sprunger,  trustees.  The  church  now 
has  a membership  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The  church,  as  a whole, 
is  organized  into  a missionary  society  and  the  first  Sunday  of  each  month  is 
set  aside  as  a missionary  Sunday,  when  a special  program  is  carried  out  and 
an  offering  taken  for  missionary  purposes. 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

The  only  organization  of  the  Congregational  people  within  this  county 
is  the  church  at  Fredericksburg,  whose  pastor  is  Rev.  W.  T.  Williams. 

OTHER  EARLY  CHURCHES. 

Among  the  churches  and  religious  societies  in  Wayne  county,  not  classi- 
fied and  written  of  in  their  regular  denominational  order  the  following  should 
not  be  forgotten : 

Oak  Chapel,  Methodist — The  old  log  edifice  was  erected  in  1827,  and 
was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Russell  Bigelow.  A new  church  was  provided  in  1861, 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Adam  Poe.  In  1877  ^ was  repaired,  a cupola  added  and 
a bell  introduced.  The  society  was  flourishing  in  the  eighties,  and  it  may  be 
added  that  this  building  stood  near  the  site  of  the  old-time  camp  meeting 
grounds  of  1818  held  in  Plain  township. 

Geyer’s  chapel  was  completed  in  1876,  the  project  of  building  having 
been  agitated  since  1862.  Bishop  Markwood  dedicated  it  January  27,  1863. 
The  first  class  was  organized  there  in  1863,  with  a membership  of  seven. 
From  that  small  beginning  grew  up  a prosperous  church. 

The  first  church  built  in  Clinton  township  was  that  erected  by  the  Dis- 
ciples about  a mile  and  a half  northeast  of  Shreve,  on  the  James  Moore 
farm. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  near  Newkirk’s  Spring  was  the  first  of 
that  denomination  in  this  township  and  it  was  built  in  1843.  David  H..  son 
of  Henry  and  Jane  Newkirk,  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  graveyard 
by  this  church. 

The  churches  in  Greene  township  were  spoken  of  by  Douglas  in  his  1878 
history  of  Wayne  county  as  follows : 


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279 


“There  are  nine  different  churches  represented  in  this  township;  Metho- 
dists, organized  in  1814;  the  Amish,  in  1816;  the  German  Baptists,  in  1826; 
the  Presbyterians,  in  1830;  the  Winebrenarians,  in  1839;  the  Brethren  of 
Christ,  in  1843;  Evangelical  Lutherans,  in  1844;  the  United  Brethren,  in 
1845,  and  the  River  Brethren/' 

If  there  are  other  churches  whose  history  is  omitted  in  this  work,  it  is 
because  the  officers  have  failed  to  respond  to  the  call  of  our  historian  for  nec- 
essary data  from  which  to  form  such  historical  sketch. 


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CHAPTER  XIV. 


FRATERNAL  SOCIETIES. 

In  a symbol  there  is  concealment  and  yet  revelation; 

Thought  will  not  work  except  in  silence; 

Virtue  will  not  grow  unless  its  roots  are  hidden. 

FREEMASONRY. 

Almost  with  the  planting  of  the  first  colony  of  pioneers  in  Wayne 
county  Masonry  took  root,  and  has,  with  the  passing  of  the  decades,  flour- 
ished well. 

Ebenezer  Lodge  No.  33,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  was  organized,  as 
seen  by  the  date  of  the  charter.  January  4,  1816,  that  instrument,  however, 
being  dated  December  13,  1819.  The  charter  members  were  as  follows: 
Thomas  G.  Jones,  Thomas  McMillen,  William  K.  Stewart,  Abner  Eddy, 
William  Larwill,  Thomas  Thorp,  Constant-  Lake,  Plumb  Sutliff.  Joseph  H. 
Larwill. 

The  number  of  members  in  this  lodge  in  1909  was  one  hundred  and 
seventy-two,  and  the  officers  for  that  year  were  as  follows : Lester  E.  Wolfe, 
worshipful  master;  John  W.  Ames,  senior  warden;  H.  Wayne  Hart,  junior 
warden;  John  Stevens,  Jr.,  treasurer;  James  B.  Minier.  secretary;  James  C. 
Poole,  senior  deacon;  Harry  C.  Sweeny,  junior  deacon;  William  F.  Pate, 
senior  steward;  Oscar  D.  Kaufman,  junior  steward;  James  B.  Minier,  chap- 
lain; George  S.  Limb,  tyler. 

Wooster  Chapter  No.  27,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  dates  its  charter  from 
October  23,  1843.  The  charter  members  were:  William  Larwill,  Horace 

Howard,  William  Warren,  Jacob  Van  Houten,  Kimbal  Porter,  Philo 
Welton,  Nathaniel  High,  John  P.  Coulter,  John  A.  Holland. 

In  1878  the  chapter  had  a membership  of  seventy-eight.  Its  present 
membership  is  one  hundred  and  eighty,  including  non-residents.  Present 
officers:  Fred  J.  Leopold,  high  priest;  Carl  M.  Limb,  king;  James  C.  Poole, 
scribe;  George  J.  Schwartz,  captain  of  the  host;  John  M.  Russell,  principal 


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28l 

sojourner;  John  W.  Ames,  royal  arch  captain;  Samuel  H.  Boyd,  treasurer; 
James  B.  Minier,  secretary;  William  F.  Pate,  grand  master  of  third  veil; 
Harry  C.  Sweeny,  grand  master  of  second  veil;  J.  Frick  Tyler,  grmd  master 
of  first  veil;  George  S.  Limb,  guard. 

The  home  of  Masonry  in  Wooster  is  now  in  leased  rooms  within  the 
Frick  Memorial  building  on  West  Liberty  street. 

Wooster  Council  No.  13,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  was  chartered  Oc- 
tober 1,  1846.  The  charter  members  were:  Kimbal  Porter,  S.  Buckius, 

George  D.  Hine,  Horace  Howard,  George  H.  Stewart,  N.  Haskell,  A.  Bartol. 
J.  W.  Crawford,  L.  L.  Klein,  Peter  Van  West. 

The  council,  in  1878,  had  a membership  of  thirty-five.  Its  present  mem- 
bership is  two  hundred  and  fourteen.  Present  (1909)  officers:  John  M. 

Russell,  thrice  illustrious  master;  W.  F.  Pate,  deputy  master;  Samuel  H. 
Boyd,  principal  conductor  of  the  work;  John  Stevens,  Jr.,  treasurer;  L.  R. 
Kramer,  recorder;  C.  M.  Limb,  captain  of  guard;  Lester  E.  Wolfe,  con- 
ductor of  candidate ; J.  C.  Poole,  steward ; George  S.  Limb,  sentinel. 

Wooster  Commandery  No.  48,  Knights  Templar,  was  chartered  August 
14,  1889.  Its  present  officers  are:  E.  Sir  Knight  Carl  M.  Limb,  eminent 

commander;  Sir  Kt.  Lester  S.  Lewis,  generalissimo;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  John  M. 
Russell,  captain  general;  Sir  Kt.  David  D.  Miller,  senior  warden;  Sir 
Kt.  Marcus  R.  Limb,  junior  warden;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  James  B.  Minier,  prelate; 
P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Samuel  H.  Boyd,  treasurer;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Fred  J.  Leopold, 
recorder ; Sir  Kt.  Thomas  Drew,  standard  bearer ; Sir  Knight  James  C.  Poole, 
sword  bearer;  Sir  Kt.  Harry  C.  Sweeny,  warder. 

The  membership.  July  1,  1908,  was  one  hundred  and  eighty-six.  Past 
eminent  commanders  of  this  commandery  have  been  as  follows:  P.  E.  Sir 

Kt.  Thomas  E.  Peckinpaugh,  1889:  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  William  W.  Firestone, 
1891 ; P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Samuel  H.  Boyd,  1893;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  James  B.  Minier, 
1895 ; P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Harry  K.  Brady,  1896;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  George  J.  Schwartz, 
1897;  P-  E.  Sir  Kt.  Ross  W.  Funck,  1898;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  John  Stevens,  Jr., 
1899;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Walter  D.  Foss,  1900;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Forbes  Alcock,  1901 ; 
P.  E.  Sir  Knight  Ell  P.  Willaman.  1901  ; P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Charles  M.  Gray. 
1902;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Harry  E.  Kurtz,  1903;  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  David  Nice,  1904; 
P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  Ezra  Neikirk,  1905:  P.  E.  Sir  Kt.  John  M.  Russell,  1906;  P. 
E.  Sir  Kt.  Frederick  J.  Leopold,  1907. 

Chapter  No.  270,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  on  January  1,  1909,  en- 
joyed a membership  of  fifty-two. 


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Other  Masonic  lodges  in  Wayne  county  are : Cedar  Lodge  No.  430,  at 
Orrville;  Garfield  Lodge  No.  528,  at  Shreve;  West  Salem  Lodge  No.  398; 
Oriental  Chapter  No.  128,  West  Salem. 

WEST  SALEM  LODGE. 

West  Salem  Masonic  Lodge  No.  398  was  organized  under  a dispensa- 
tion granted  petitioners  November  21,  1866.  Its  charter  members  were : H. 

P.  Sage,  Edwin  Fritzinger,  C.  C.  Clay,  M.  H.  Dodd,  David  Ambrose,  J.  B. 
Houk,  D.  F.  Young,  Enoch  Moore,  S.  W.  Signs,  Jacob  McGlenn,  John 
Buffett,  J.  H.  Morrison,  Isaac  Harbaugh,  Israel  Moyer,  James  Lowe. 

ODDFELLOWSHIP. 

Wooster  Lodge  No.  42,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  organ- 
ized, as  seen  by  its  charter,  June  21,  1845.  The  charter  members  were:  R. 
J.  Eberman,  William  S.  Johnson,  George  Brauneck,  J.  S.  Ward,  R.  A. 
Kinney.  Its  membership,  in  1878,  had  reached  one  hundred  and  fifty-two, 
and  January  1,  1909,  was  three  hundred  and  seventy-three.  Its  officers  at 
present  are : George  Lautzenheiser,  noble  grand ; Julius  Gerlach,  vice  grand ; 

H.  H.  Miller,  financial  secretary;  W.  E.  Barnard,  recording  secretary;  J.  R. 
Warner,  treasurer.  The  trustees  are  A.  Plank,  J.  T.  Keister  and  J.  A.  Shamp. 

Kilbuck  Encampment  No.  17,  Patriarchs  Militant,  was  chartered  Sep- 
tember 5,  1846,  with  members  as  follows:  William  S.  Johnson,  R.  J.  Eber- 
man, John  Bristle,  P.  P.  Eckfield,  William  W.  Hanna,  Jacob  C.  Chapman, 
John  M.  Naylor,  Solomon  R.  Bonewitz,  Samuel  Mentzer,  Samuel  Christine, 
J.  W.  Schuckers,  Isaac  N.  Jones.  In  June,  1878,  this  body  had  a membership 
of  eighty,  and  the  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  forty-nine.  The 
officers  are,  at  this  date,  Harry  Smith,  chief  patriarch  ; Julius  Gerloch,  senior 
warden;  R.  T.  Bechtel,  financial  scribe;  E.  O.  Powers,  recording  scribe;  J. 
A.  Schamp,  high  priest;  Harry  Baumgardner,  treasurer.  This  is  the  only 
encampment  in  Wayne  county. 

There  are  Odd  Fellows  lodges  at  the  following  points  in  this  county: 
Orrville,  with  a membership  of  one  hundred  fifty-five;  Doylestown,  with  a 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  six ; West  Salem,  with  a membership  of 
seventy-seven;  Creston,  with  a membership  of  thirty-seven;  Fredericksburg, 
with  a membership  of  thirty-nine:  Dalton,  with  a membership  of  forty-six; 
Applecreek,  with  thirty-four  members. 


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West  Salem  Lodge  No.  442  was  instituted  June  10,  1870,  with  charter 
members  as  follows:  John  S.  Addleman,  M.  H.  Huffman,  W.  H.  Fishack, 
J.  S.  Carmack,  W.  C.  Baker,  John  Keeler,  Neal  Patterson. 

Orrville  Lodge  No.  490  was  instituted  July  26,  1871,  with  the  following 
charter  members:  H.  P.  Hugus,  A.  W.  Bombarger,  A.  E.  Clark,  Isaac  H. 
Krieble,  Harrison  Bowman,  John  Dunn,  J.  C.  St.  John. 

At  Doylestown  the  lodge  was  instituted  August  17,  1854,  and  now 
has  a live  membership  of  one  hundred  and  twelve.  They  own  a fine  block 
in  which  their  lodge  room  is  situated  and  a part  is  leased  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  The  charter  members  were  as  follows:  William  H.  Redinger, 

Samuel  Rouston,  Washington  M.  Heffelman,  Uriah  Franks,  William 
Spangler. 

The  order  at  Wooster  purchased  its  own  building  on  South  Market 
street  October  1,  1901,  at  a cost  of  nine  thousand  dollars. 

KNIGHTS  OF  PYTHIAS. 

Rising  Star  Lodge  No.  22,  Knights  of  Pythias,  at  Wooster,  was  instituted 
April  1,  1870.  The  date  of  its  charter  is  February  1,  1871,  and  the  charter 
members  were  as  follows : John  H.  Carr,  Albert  Braunick,  Henry  J.  Kauff- 
man, Samuel  Rouston,  John  M.  Ebey,  Michael  S.  Goodman,  Arnold  Richen- 
bach,  Augustus  E.  Gasche,  Charles  S.  Frost,  John  S.  Caskey,  John  K.  Mc- 
Bride, Leander  Firestone.  In  January,  1878,  this  lodge  had  a membership  of 
forty-two  knights.  Its  present  membership  is  two  hundred  and  four. 

Morning  Star  Lodge  No.  41,  Knights  of  Pythias  (German),  was  insti- 
tuted December  29,  1871,  its  charter  bearing  date  of  February  15,  1872.  The 
charter  membership  was  as  follows:  William  Nold,  John  J.  Bringger,  Jacob 
Stark,  Frederick  Schuch,  Gotlieb  Gasche.  Jacob  Diehl,  Hermann  Wutke, 
Jacob  Gross,  Eberhardt  Bideker,  Emil  Podlich,  Leonard  Saal,  George  Faber, 
William  Gasche,  Jacob  Schopf,  Emil  Faber,  William  Kanzler.  Peter  Kanzler, 
Franz  Gerlach.  Heinrich  Kinkier,  Martin  F.  Limb. 

In  1878  the  lodge  had  a working  membership  of  seventy -two  knights. 
On  June  18,  1907,  this  lodge  was  united  with  the  Rising  Star  Lodge.  The 
present  (1909)  officers  of  the  combined  lodge  are  as  follows:  G.  E.  Brown, 
chancellor  commander,  Lloyd  Sanborn,  vice-chancellor;  Benton  G.  Hay, 
prelate;  William  A.  Stevens,  master  of  work;  V.  P.  Moses,  keeper  of 
records  and  seal ; R.  B.  Snyder,  master  of  finance ; John  Stevens,  Jr.,  master  of 
exchecquer;  Harvey  Joliff,  master-at-arms;  Frank  Ault,  inner  guard;  Karl 


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Ernest,  outer  guard.  This  order  meets  over  Keister  Bros.’  grocery  store  on 
East  Market  street  in  a leased  hall. 

Other  Knights  of  Pythias  lodges  in  Wayne  county  are:  Sterling  Lodge, 
at  Sterling,  with  a membership  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-one ; George  Gless- 
ner,  keeper  of  records  and  seal;  Grace  Lodge  No.  184  has  a membership  at 
Doylestown  of  eighty  members,  with  O.  B.  Heffleman  as  keeper  of  records  and 
seal;  Central  Lodge  No.  212,  at  Orrville,  with  a membership  of  one  hundred, 
with  W.  T.  Frazer  as  keeper  of  records  and  seal;  Applecreek  Lodge  No.  324, 
at  Applecreek,  with  a membership  of  forty-eight,  with  H.  H.  Wilhelm  as 
keeper  of  records  and  seal ; Smithville  Lodge  No.  483,  with  twenty-three  mem- 
bers, at  Smithville,  with  W.  G.  Stevens  as  keeper  of  records  and  seal ; Chal- 
lenge Lodge  No.  630,  at  Shreve,  with  a membership  of  forty-four,  with  W.  K. 
Miller  as  keeper  of  records  and  seal. 

The  Uniform  Rank  of  Wooster,  known  as  Funk  Company  No.  53,  was 
instituted  October  18,  1900.  It  has  a present  membership  of  thirty-six.  Its 
1909  officials  are:  J.  J.  Keister,  captain;  Samuel  Manson,  first  lieutenant; 

G.  Brown,  second  lieutenant;  Ed  McCormick,  recorder;  H.  A.  Haller,  treas- 
urer; E.  J.  Kaufman,  guard;  Charles  Schopf,  sentinel. 

IMPROVED  ORDER  OF  RED  MEN. 

Unas  Tribe  No.  57  at  Wooster  of  this  fraternal  organization  was  insti- 
tuted May  20,  1871,  with  the  following  charter  members:  Albert  Brauneck, 

Thomas  S.  Johnson,  Jesse  E.  Goodyear,  John  S.  Caskey,  George  Brauneck, 
G.  W.  Doty,  James  E.  Wescott,  J.  T.  Maxwell,  T.  Tickner,  W.  H.  Baumgard- 
ner, Samuel  Rouston,  D.  E.  Warner,  Speers  McClarran,  Henry  J.  Kauffman, 
T e : is  P.  Chliger,  Charles  S.  Frost.  Perry  Miller,  David  W.  Matz,  Henry 
McClarran.  John  K.  McBride,  Abraham  Saybolt,  Jr.,  David  McDonald,  Allen 
Clark,  D.  W.  Immel,  Edward  P.  Bates,  Henry  J.  Huber,  Jacob  R.  Bowman, 
T.  E.  Peckingpaugh,  C.  C.  Parsons,  Jr. 

ROYAL  ARCANUM. 

Wayne  Council  No.  13  of  this  secret  beneficiary  and  life  insurance  order 
(similar  to  the  Knights  of  Honor)  at  Wooster  was  instituted  September  3, 
1877.  Its  charter  members  were:  Daniel  Funck,  Joseph  C.  Plumer,  Lewis 

P.  Ohliger.  John  Van  Nostran,  Tehiel  Clark,  T.  S.  Bissell,  George  Plumer. 
Edward  S.  Dowell.  David  W.  Matz.  T.  J.  McElhenie,  T.  E.  Peckenpaugh.  A. 


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Saybolt,  Jr.,  William  H.  Harry,  Dr.  James  D.  Robison,  H.  H.  Bissell,  Martin 
Funck,  J.  D.  McAfee,  M.  A.  Miller,  Silas  W.  Ogden,  William  F.  Woods. 

KNIGHTS  OF  HONOR. 

Orr  Lodge,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  instituted  July  9,  1875.  The  officers 
were:  Rev.  J.  C.  Kauffman,  director;  William  M.  Orr,  past  director;  S.  N. 
Coe,  vice-director;  S.  D.  D.  Tanner,  assistant  director;  J.  S.  Evans,  guide; 
A.  J.  Heller,  reporter;  J.  G.  Hartman,  financial  reporter;  John  Coffee,  treas- 
urer; Rev.  J.  M.  Jenkins,  chaplain;  George  Ream,  guardian;  Solon  Boydston, 
sentinel. 

This  lodge  has  for  its  object  mutual  life  insurance  and  social  functions. 
Its  establishment  at  the  town  of  Orrville  gathered  together  a goodly  number 
of  the  people — men  and  women — who,  besides  having  an  excellent  mutual  life 
assurance  benefit,  by  the  payment  of  small  dues,  also  had  a good  time  socially. 

At  Shreve  the  Knights  of  Honor  instituted  a lodge  June  19,  1875,  w^h 
the  following  as  its  charter  members : E.  Fritzinger,  John  Zehner,  C.  C. 

Stouffer,  M.  D.,  J.  S.  Cole,  M.  D.,  Uriah  Clouse,  Z.  B.  Allee,  W.  R.  McClel- 
lan, R.  L.  Lashels,  L.  H.  Plank,  George  Musser,  A.  J.  Gearhart,  A.  Plank, 
Jr.,  H.  E.  Lind,  F.  M.  Atterholt,  Robert  McKibbens,  N.  H.  Neal,  J.  R. 
Saltman,  Ben  Meyers,  J.  A.  Case,  J.  N.  McHose,  and  has  forty-one  mem- 
bers in  all. 


GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 

In  Wayne  county  there  have  been,  since  1881,  formed  several  posts 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  including  those  at  Wooster,  Shreve, 
Dalton,  Doylestown,  Fredericksburg,  West  Salem,  Orrville,  Creston,  Smith- 
ville,  New  Pittsburg  and  Burbank.  Those  that  have  a sufficient  number  of 
the  old  comrades  of  ’61  and  ’65  at  this  date  (1909)  to  hold  meetings  and 
transact  business  are  as  follows : Wooster,  Shreve,  Dalton,  West  Salem, 
Orrville,  Creston,  New  Pittsburg. 

Given  Post,  No.  133,  was  formed  as  a part  of  the  Ohio  Department, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  on  September  12,  1881.  The  post  now  num- 
bers about  seventy-six,  but  from  one  date  to  another  it  has  contained  on  its 
rolls  as  many  as  three  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers.  The  present  elective  officers 
of  this  post  are  as  follows:  Commander.  William  Hummer;  senior  vice-com- 
mander, R.  J.  Smith;  junior  vice-commander,  W.  H.  Myers;  chaplain,  S.  J. 


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Blake;  quartermaster,  Enos  Pierson;  officer  of  the  day,  A.  R.  Boffmyer; 
surgeon,  Harvey  Porter;  officer  of  the  guard,  Otto  Bardon. 

The  list  of  commanders  since  the  post’s  organization  is  as  follows: 
1881,  J.  P.  VanNest;  1882,  J.  N.  Clark;  1883,  D.  C.  Curry;  1884,  Jehiel 
Clark;  1884,  Peter  Sparr;  1885,  C.  W.  McClure;  1886,  H.  McClarran;  1887, 
Robert  J.  Smith;  1888,  Aquila  Wiley;  1889,  Geo.  W.  Reid;  1890,  A.  Bran- 
steter;  1891,  J.  E.  Applebaugh;  1892,  P.  B.  Stroup;  1893,  A.  M.  Trunk; 
1894,  Samuel  Metzler;  1895,  S.  J.  Blake;  1896,  Enos  Pierson;  1897,  J.  R. 
McKinney;  1898,  I.  N.  Keiffer;  1898,  R.  Elson;  1899,  C.  V.  Hard;  1900, 
J.  T.  Yarman;  1901,  J.  B.  Taylor;  1902,  Jesse  McClellen;  1903,  C.  H.  Hes- 
ler;  1904,  W.  O.  Beebe;  1905,  Thomas  Everly;  1906,  T.  A.  Elder;  1907, 
S.  Rickenbaugh;  1908,  G.  D.  Dunham;  1909,  Wm.  Hammer. 

The  Woman’s  Relief  Corps  was  organized  soon  after  the  post,  probably 
in  1884,  and  has  always  been  a helpful  auxiliary  to  the  post.  A few  years 
later  was  formed  the  Ladies  of  the  Grand  Army,  another  society  which  is 
made  up  of  women  who  are  either  wives,  sisters  or  daughters  of  Grand  Army 
men.  This  society  is  styled  the  Ladies’  Circle  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

There  are  the  Daughters  of  Veterans,  also  the  Spanish-American  War 
Camp,  all  of  which  semi-military  societies  are  well  organized  at  this  date. 


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CHAPTER  XV. 


BENCH  AND  BAR. 

[This  chapter  has  been  largely  taken,  by  permission,  from  Ben  Douglas’  “ Wayne 
County  Lawyers,"  published  in  1900.] 

The  bench  and  bar  of  Wayne  county  have  a proud  record  of  achieve- 
ment and  their  history  is  of  more  than  ordinary  interest.  The  roll  contains 
the  names  of  distinguished  statesmen,  generals,  jurists,  authors  and  lawyers, 
who  have  won  both  state  and  national  fame. 

The  Wayne  county  bar  for  ability  and  integrity  has  always  stood  high 
in  the  estimation  of  the  bar  of  tht  state.  This  bar  has  the  reputation  of 
sticking  closely  to  forms  of  practice,  and  making  hard  fights  on  close  points 
of  law,  which  is  often  a surprise  to  lawyers  from  other  counties,  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  loose  practice. 

The  stress  of  the  profession  of  law  is  very  great.  On  the  bench  or  in 
the  ranks  the  law  is  an  absorbing  pursuit,  and  is  characterized  by  situations 
that  engage  the  whole  man.  The  relations  of  lawyers  to  each  other  is  pro- 
fessionally that  of  opponents.  They  stand  against  each  other;  they  contend; 
and  yet  it  is  creditable  to  the  influence  of  the  study  and  pursuit  of  the  law 
that  these  contentions  do  not  reach  the  heart  or  become  a part  of  the  life. 
There  is,  perhaps,  no  one  of  the  learned  professions  more  characterized  by 
liberality  and  kindliness  of  thought  among  its  members  than  that  of  the  law. 

The  attorneys  and  judges  of  this  community  have  always  taken  a con- 
spicuous part  in  moulding  public  opinion.  Their  business  brings  them  con- 
stantly in  the  “limelight.”  Their  forum  is  the  whole  community,  while  other 
professions  are  confined  to  a small  proportion  of  the  entire  people.  There- 
fore the  members  of  the  legal  profession  wield,  perhaps,  a greater  influence 
over  the  life  and  destiny  of  the  community  as  a whole  than  any  other  class 
of  men. 

The  memories  of  the  lawyers  of  the  earlier  decades  of  the  history  of 
Wayne  county  are  perhaps  less  striking,  familiar  and  interesting  than  those 
of  the  later  years.  The  daily  glow  of  natural  sunlight  is  regarded  as  a mat- 
ter of  course,  and  less  memorable  than  the  shadow  which  settles  down  in  the 


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days  of  eclipse.  For  a similar  reason  the  years  of  generations  gone  are  less 
vivid  in  our  recollection  than  the  more  recent  and  later  ones. 

JUDGES  OF  COMMON  PLEAS. 

Judges  of  the  courts  of  common  pleas  who  have  presided  in  judicial 
districts  of  which  Wayne  county  constituted  a part,  from  1812,  were  as 
follows : 

Benjamin  Ruggles,  William  Wilson,  George  Tod,  Alexander  Harper, 
Ezra  Dean.  Jacob  Parker,  Levi  Cox,  Martin  Welker,  William  Sample,  Joseph 
H.  Downing,  William  Given,  William  Reed,  Charles  C.  Parsons,  Carolus  F. 
Voorhis,  Wellington  Stilwell,  John  D.  Nicholas,  Edward  S.  Dowell,  John  T. 
Maxwell,  Frank  Taggart,  Celsus  Pomerene,  Samuel  B.  Eason. 

Common  pleas  judges  holding  court  in  Wooster  until  the  period  of  Hon. 
Ezra  Dean : Ruggles,  Wilson,  Tod  and  Harper. 

Benjamin  Ruggles  was  born  in  Connecticut.  After  his  admission  to  the 
bar  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  later  became  prominent  in  the  United  States 
Senate,  serving  from  this  state  from  1815  to  1833.  He  held  court  in  Wooster 
as  early  as  1812. 

William  Wilson  was  a native  of  New  Hampshire,  emigrating  to  Ohio 
about  the  time  of  the  admission  of  the  state  into  the  Union.  He  appears 
among  the  president  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  in  1803,  1810, 
1820,  holding  court  in  Wooster  in  1816.  He  served  two  terms  in  Congress. 

George  Tod  was  the  father  of  David  Tod.  Judge  Tod  was  from  Trum- 
bull county,  Ohio,  represented  the  district  of  which  that  county  formed  a 
part  in  the  Ohio  Senate  in  the  early  history  of  the  state,  was  a member  of 
the  supreme  court  of  Ohio  during  the  first  decade  of  his  history,  and  as 
president  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  held  court  in  Wooster  in  1816. 

Alexander  Harper  was  a native  of  Ireland,  immigrated  to  the  United 
States,  settled  in  Ohio,  served  in  the  earlier  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly, 
was  a member  of  Congress,  was  elected  to  the  judgship,  and  held  court  in 
Wooster  as  early  as  1822. 

CIRCUIT  JUDGES,  FIFTH  DISTRICT. 

Circuit  judges  from  the  fifth  district,  Ohio,  elected  in  November,  1884, 
under  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  April  14,  1884,  establishing  said 
court,  three  judges  being  elected,  the  respective  periods  each  was  to  serve 
to  be  determined  by  lot,  resulting  as  follows : 


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John  W.  Albaugh,  for  two  years,  re-elected,  for  six  years;  Charles  Fol- 
lett,  for  four  years,  re-elected,  for  six  years;  John  A.  Jenner,  for  six  years, 
re-elected  for  six  years.  Albaugh  dropping  out  in  1892,  J.  C.  Pomerene  was 
elected  for  six  years,  in  1892,  but  dying  in  December,  1897,  M.  L.  Smyser 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Bushnell  to  succeed  him,  serving  from  January 
15,  1898,  until  November,  of  that  year.  John  M.  Swartz,  in  November, 
1898,  was  elected  to  fill  the  residue  of  the  term,  serving  from  November  17, 
1898,  to  February  9,  1899.  In  1898,  R.  M.  Voorhis  was  elected  for  the  full 
term.  In  1894,  John  J.  Adams  was  elected  for  six  years.  In  September, 
1895,  John  A.  Jenner  resigned,  and  George  E.  Baldwin  was  appointed  by 
the  Governor,  and  served  until  in  November  of  that  year.  In  1895  Charles 
H.  Kibler  was  elected  to  fill  the  unexpired  time,  occasioned  by  the  resignation 
of  Jenner.  In  1896  Silas  M.  Douglass  was  elected  for  six  years. 

EARLY  PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS. 

The  following  lawyers  were  prosecuting  attorneys  of  Wayne  county 
from  1812  to  1819,  or  to  the  period  of  Judge  Edward  Avery:  Roswell  M. 

Mason,  1812;  Nathaniel  Mather,  1814;  J.  W.  Halleck,  1815;  Alexander  Har- 
per, 1816;  William  B.  Raymond,  1817;  H.  Curtis,  1818. 

LAWYERS  OF  l8l2. 

But  little  is  known,  or  of  record,  relative  to  a majority  of  the  lawyers 
who  were  in  attendance  at  the  first  session  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  held 
in  Wooster,  August  6,  1812,  Hon.  Benjamin  Ruggles  presiding,  with  Chris- 
tian Smith,  David  Kimpton  and  John  Cisna  as  associate  judges.  We  give 
the  names  of  the  lawyers  who  were  present:  Roswell  M.  Mason,  C.  R. 

Sherman,  J.  W.  Lathrop,  Nathaniel  Mather,  John  M.  Goodenowr,  John  C. 
Wright,  William  B.  Raymond,  Elderling  Potter. 

Jacob  Parker  was  a great  lawyer  and  a great  judge.  He  served  on  the 
common  pleas  bench  under  the  old  constitution,  when  his  circuit  included  the 
counties  of  Knox,  Richland,  Holmes,  Medina  and  Wayne.  He  was  born 
in  New  England  and  was  the  brother-in-law  of  Judge  Charles  R.  Sherman, 
who  was  a justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio,  and  three  of  w^hose  sons  are 
famous  in  the  annals  of  Ohio,  the  Judge,  the  General  and  the  Senator.  He 
w'as  president  judge  of  the  eleventh  circuit,  and  sat  in  Wooster  in  *1841  and 
1842. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Among  the  prominent  men  who  were  principally  lawyers,  whose  births 
occurred,  and  whose  earlier,  and  even  later  years,  were  spent  in  Wayne 
county,  or  within  a radius  of  twenty-five  miles  of  Wooster,  this  territory 
then  being  in  Wayne  county,  we  may  mention  the  name  of  Hon.  William 
B.  Allison,  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  in  1829, 
before  the  formation  of  Ashland  county  in  1846.  He  studied  law  in  Wooster, 
and  removed  to  Iowa  in  1857,  has  served  four  terms  in  Congress,  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  taking  his  seat  March  4th,  1873,  an^  retained 
his  place  in  that  honorable  body  over  a quarter  of  a century. 

William  L.  Strong,  ex-mayor  of  New  York  city,  went  to  Wooster  in 
May,  1845,  an<3  was  employed  by  the  firm  of  Lake  & Jones,  the  largest  re- 
tailing dry  goods  house  in  Wooster,  and  remained  in  their  employ  until  the 
first  of  January,  1847.  He  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York  in  1857,  and 
at  the  end  of  forty  years  had  risen  to  the  rank  of  one  of  the  merchant  princes 
of  that  city. 

Thomas  W.  Bartley  also  figured  in  the  courts  of  Wooster.  He  became 
Governor  of  Ohio. 

Charles  R.  Sherman  is  on  record  as  among  the  first  lawyers,  with 
J.  W.  Lathrop,  William  C.  Raymond,  John  C.  Wright,  John  M.  Goodenow, 
Roswell  M.  Mason,  Nathaniel  Maher  and  Elderling  Potter,  in  attendance  at 
the  court,  in  Wooster,  at  the  October  term,  1813.  He  was  the  father  of 
Gen.  William  Tecumseh  Sherman,  Judge  Charles  T.  Sherman,  and  Hon. 
John  Sherman  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  who  in  the  earlier  time  appeared  in 
trial  of  causes  at  the  Wooster  bar. 

Rufus  P.  Ranney  was  recognized  by  the  lawyers  of  Wayne  county, 
where  professional  duties  occasionally  called  him,  as  a man  of  superior  legal 
talent. 

Rufus  P.  Spalding  and  David  K.  Carter  quite  frequently  were  interested 
in  legal  contentions  in  the  Wayne  county  court,  both  having  been  in  Con- 
gress and  both  lawyers  and  jurists  of  wider  than  state  reputations. 

Col.  Enoch  Totten  \vas  a son  of  our  late  respected  pioneer  fellow-citizen, 
Michael  Totten,  and  was  born  in  Wayne  county.  He  won  a national  reputa- 
tion as  a lawyer. 

Samuel  H.  Kauffmann,  formerly  of  near  Millbrook,  Wayne  county, 
reared  in  that  neighborhood,  and  yet  remembered  by  some  of  our  citizens, 
possesses  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  owners  and  editors  of  the  Wash- 
ington (D.  C.)  Star , a great  metropolitan  daily. 

John  Sloane  in  his  day  was  a distinguished  citizen  of  Ohio,  and  an  honor 
to  Wayne  county,  to  which  he  removed  soon  after  the  admission  of  the  state 


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into  the  Union.  He  was  a member  of  the  Ohio  Legislature  as  early  as  1804. 
In  1807  President  Jefferson  appointed  him  receiver  of  public  moneys  of  the 
new  land  office  at  Canton,  Ohio.  He  served  ten  years  in  Congress,  from 
1819  to  1829.  In  1841  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  appointed  him  secretary  of 
state  for  three  years.  He  held  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  United  States, 
by  appointment  of  President  Fillmore,  dying  in  1856. 

Major-General  David  Sloane  Stanley  is  a growth  of  Chester  township, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  of  over  seventy  years  ago.  He  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated by  the  late  Doctor  Leander  Firestone,  of  Wooster.  He  graduated 
from  West  Point  in  1852.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  captain  in  the  Fourth 
United  States  Cavalry.  He  was  made  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  in 
1861,  and  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  major-general. 

Hon.  Patrick  A.  Collins,  a native  of  county  Cork,  Ireland,  ex-mayor  of 
Boston,  and  twice  elected  to  Congress,  lived  for  a time  in  Wayne  county, 
acting  in  the  capacity  of  coal  miner. 

Thomas  Corwin  lent  his  fascinations  to  the  old  court  house  in  Wooster, 
and  in  the  early  days  was  a noted  orator. 

Wooster  and  Wayne  county  have  had  the  following  representatives  in 
Congress:  Reasin  Beall,  John  Sloane,  Benjamin  Jones,  Ezra  Dean,  George 

Bliss,  Martin  Welker,  A.  S.  McClure,  M.  L.  Smyser,  and  Lewis  P.  Ohliger. 
The  last-named  four  gentlemen  all  resided  in  Wooster,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Hon.  Martin  Welker,  all  vigorously  and  successfully  engaged  in  their 
respective  pursuits,  two  of  them  swordsmen  of  the  law. 

John  K.  Co  wen,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  formerly  lived  in  Wayne 
county.  He  has  been  congressman  and  president  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio 
Railroad  company. 

Rush  Taggart,  of  New  York,  is  a brother  of  Judge  Frank  Taggart  of 
Wooster,  and  was  born  in  Smithville,  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  He  completed 
his  collegiate  course  at  the  University  of  Wooster,  a member  of  a class  of 
six,  who  were  the  first  graduates  of  the  institution.  After  this  he  taught 
for  a year  in  the  Wooster  high  school,  when  he  entered  the  law'  department 
at  Ann  Arbor,  from  which  he  also  graduated.  He  commenced  the  practice 
of  law  in  Wooster. 

Gen.  Samuel  R.  Curtis  was  a Wooster  lawyer,  with  a record  of  states- 
man, patriot  and  soldier,  and  shed  lustre  on  the  American  army  in  two  of  his 
country’s  wars. 

John  Bruce  points  to  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  as  his  old  home. 
He  is  of  the  Scotch  clan  of  Bruces,  of  Bannockburn.  His  parents  immigrated 


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to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Wayne  county  in  1840.  He  was  a sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war  from  Iowa,  rose  to  the  rank  of  general,  and  became  a 
prominent  lawyer  in  Keokuk,  Iowa. 

Hon.  Martin  Welker  was  lieutenant-governor  of  Ohio,  with  Chase  as 
governor,  a patriotic  and  prudent  legislator  in  Congress,  judge  of  common 
pleas  and  United  States  courts,  a doctor  of  laws  and  for  years  lecturer  on 
international  and  constitutional  law  in  Wooster  University. 

PRESENT-DAY  WAYNE  COUNTY  LAWYERS. 

Lyman  R.  Critchfield  was  bom  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  May  22,  1831, 
and  is  a son  of  the  late  Reuben  T.  Critchfield,  of  Millersburg,  Holmes  county, 
Ohio.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware, 
Ohia,  in  June,  1852.  Soon  thereafter  he  commenced  the  study  of  law,  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  with  Hon.  George  E.  Pugh,  then  attorney-general  of  the 
state,  and  after  this,  a United  States  senator  from  Ohio.  He  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  March,  1853,  and  the  following  year  he  spent  in  the  Queen 
City,  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  superior  court.  He  opened  an  office  in 
Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  rapidly  grew  into  practice  and 
became  a conspicuous  member  of  the  bar.  He  has  served  as  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Holmes  county,  and  was  a member  of  the  senate  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  Ohio.  He  was  attorney-general  of  Ohio,  in  1863-4,  and  dis- 
charged his  duties  in  a manner  satisfactory  to  his  constituents  and  the  state. 
As  one  of  the  leaders  and  foremost  thinkers  and  orators  of  the  Democratic 
party,  he  has  fought  congressional  battles.  On  two  occasions  nominated  for 
the  supreme  judgeship  of  Ohio  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  in  each  instance  he 
made  a vigorous  and  animated  canvass,  and  with  a splendid  running  record 
shared  in  the  disasters  of  his  party  in  the  state. 

Hon.  Addison  S.  McClure  was  bom  in  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
October  10,  1839.  He  received  a common  school  education  in  Wooster. 
In  the  fall  of  1853  he  entered  Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  five  years,  taking  the  honor  for  oration  in  the  annual 
literary  contest.  In  1859  he  left  college  and  went  to  the  South  as  a teacher, 
and  found  employment  near  Natchez.  Mississippi,  where,  for  a time,  he  re- 
mained, when  he  returned  to  Wooster,  in  April,  i860.  He  immediately 
entered  the  law  office  of  Messrs.  Cox  & Welker,  where  he  completed  his  ele- 
mentary studies,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Ohio,  in  March,  1861.  April 
16,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fourth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 


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fantry,  to  serve  for  three  months,  re-enlisting*  in  the  same  company  and  regi- 
ment for  three  years  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  June  4,  1861.  In  October, 
of  the  same  year,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  then  being  organized  at  Camp  Tiffin,  Wooster,  Ohio,  recruit- 
ing Company  H of  this  regiment,  having  been  commissioned  captain  of  the 
same.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Wooster. 
He  was  elected  recorder  of  the  then  village  of  Wooster,  in  April,  1867,  and 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  this  city  in  May,  1867,  serving  for  twelve  years. 
He  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Wooster  Republican  in  August, 
1870,  assuming  the  editorial  management  and  direction  of  that  paper,  which 
continued  until  1881.  He  was  a member  of  the  Republican  national  conven- 
tion, held  in  Chicago  in  1868,  which  nominated  General  Grant  for  the 
presidency,  and  of  a similar  convention,  held  in  Cincinnati,  in  1876,  which 
nominated  Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  He  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1880,  was 
unanimously  renominated  in  1882,  and  was  defeated.  In  1894  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  federal  House  of  Representatives.  He  ran  eighteen  hundred 
ahead  of  the  state  ticket,  carrying  Wayne  county  by  the  unprecedented  major- 
ity of  nine  hundred  and  ten.  He  was  renominated  in  1896,  and  was  defeated 
He  was  married  September  26,  1866.  to  Mary  L.  Brigham,  of  Vienna,  Mich- 
igan. Their  only  child,  Walter  C.  McClure,  was  born  in  August,  1880. 

Judge  Martin  Welker  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  April  25,  1819; 
his  early  life  was  of  obscure  and  modest  origin.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  held  a clerkship  in  a store  in  the  neighborhood.  Four  years  later,  at 
Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  he  commenced  his  researches  of  the 
law,  and  at  twenty-one  was  admitted  to  practice.  He  Was  appointed  clerk 
of  the  common  pleas  court  in  Holmes  county,  serving  five  years.  The  Whigs 
nominated  him  for  Congress  in  1848,  but  he  was  defeated.  He  was  elected 
common  pleas  judge  of  the  sixth  district  of  Ohio,  and  served  five  years,  under 
the  new  constitution  of  1851.  He  was  nominated  for  lieutenant-governor  in 
1859,  upon  the  ticket  with  Salmon  P.  Chase,  and  was  elected,  but  refused 
a second  nomination.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a gallant  defender  of 
the  Union  cause;  he  was  appointed  major  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  J.  D.  Cox, 
and  served  with  the  three  months’  enlisted  recruits,  subsequently  acting  as 
aide-de-camp  to  the  Governor,  and  as  judge-advocate- general  of  the  state, 
until  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  Governor  William  Denison.  He  superin- 
tended the  Ohio  drafts  in  1862  in  the  capacity  of  assistant  adjutant-general 
of  Ohio.  While  in  the  military  service  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republi- 
cans for  Congress,  but  was  defeated.  He  was  nominated  again  in  1864, 


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this  time  being  successful,  re-elected  in  1866  and  1868.  President  Grant  in 
1873  appointed  him  district  judge  of  the  United  States  for  the  northern  dis- 
trict of  Ohio. 

Judge  Martin  L.  Smyser  was  born  in  Chester  township.  Wayne 
county,  April  3,  1851,  on  a farm,  where  he  was  reared.  He  remained  on  the 
paternal  homestead  with  his  father.  Emanuel  Smyser,  a native  of  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  who  removed  to  Wavne  county  in  1832,  when  he 
registered  as  a student  at  Wittenburg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  1870.  He  soon  thereafter  commenced  the  study 
of  law  in  Wooster  in  the  office  of  Hon.  L.  R.  Critchfield.  He  passed  his 
legal  examination  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  April,  1872,  opening  an  office  at 
once  in  Wooster.  He  \vas  nominated  during  the  fall  of  that  year  for  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Wayne  county,  by  the  Republicans,  having  then  but  passed 
his  twenty-first  year.  In  1873  he  entered  into  professional  relations  with 
Hon.  A.  S.  McClure,  which  partnership  continued  for  much  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a century.  To  the  Republican  national  convention  at  Chicago  in 
1884  he  was  chosen  as  an  alternate  delegate,  and  in  1888  he  was  sent  as  a 
regular  delegate,  and  during  this  year  he  was  elected  to  Congress.  He 
was  appointed  to  the  bench  of  the  circuit  court,  January  15,  1898,  by 
Governor  Asa  S.  Bushnell,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of 
Judge  Julius  C.  Pomerene. 

Eugene  W.  Newkirk  was  born  in  Clinton  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  is  a son  of  Isaac  Newkirk,  who  died  in  December,  1870,  and  a grand- 
son of  Henry  Newkirk,  a native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  he 
being  a son  of  Isaac  Newkirk,  who  was  a soldier  under  General  Crawford, 
in  the  disastrous  military  campaign  against  the  Indians  of  Sandusky,  Ohio, 
in  1782.  Isaac  Newkirk,  the  father  of  Wade  N.,  was  a successful  farmer. 
The  son  graduated  from  the  University  of  Wooster  in  1882.  and  from  the 
Law  College  in  Cincinnati  in  1885,  and  then  opened  an  office  in  Wooster. 

Samuel  B.  Eason  was  born  at  the  old  Eason  homestead  in  Springville, 
Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  April  2,  1844,  and  1S  a son  °f  the 
Hon.  Benjamin  Eason,  of  Wooster,  the  oldest  member  in  active  practice  at 
the  Wooster  bar.  The  son  enlisted  in  the  Federal  army  May  27,  1862,  and 
served  three  months.  Then  he  studied  at  Mt.  Union,  Ohio,  Vermilion  In- 
stitute, Hayesville,  Ohio,  and  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan, graduating  in  1869.  He  has  practiced  about  thirty-five  years  in  Woos- 
ter. '•  rs  appointed  to  a judgeship,  and  lie  is  something  of  an  astronomer. 

Thomas  B.  Keeler  was  born  in  the  village  of  Congress,  Congress  town- 


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ship,  Wayne  county,  October  14,  1849,  at  which  place  he  lived  until  April, 
1876,  when  he  removed  to  West  Salem.  He  first  engaged  in  the  tanning 
business  and  then  at  the  carpenter’s  trade  with  his  father,  John  Keeler,  who 

married  to  Hannah  Matthews,  of  Wooster,  a sister  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Kuffel, 
a daughter  of  the  famous  Adam  Poe,  the  Indian  fighter.  He  received  a 
good  education  and  taught  school  until  he  removed  to  West  Salem.  During 
the  time  he  was  teaching,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  at  Wooster.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Wooster  in  1874,  but  did  not  enter  upon  practice 
until  1876.  He  Was  married  in  1874  to  Ida  Wiltmer,  and  has  two  children, 
John  V7.,  his  son,  and  a daughter,  Ida.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  West  Salem. 

Lyman  R.  Critchfield,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Millersburg,  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Hon.  Lyman  R.  Critchfield.  His  primary  education 
was  received  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  which  was  supplemented 
by  a college  course  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio. 
After  the  termination  of  his  studies  at  this  institution  he  returned  to  Millers- 
burg, entered  the  office  of  his  father,  and  there  completed  the  elementary 
work  of  preparation  for  the  professional  practice.  He  passed  the  state  exam- 
ination at  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  admission  to  the  bar  June  4,  1891.  In 
politics  he  is  a Democrat,  and  on  that  ticket  in  April,  1899,  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  city  solicitor  of  the  city  of  Wooster.  He  was  married 
September  28,  1898,  to  Rose,  daughter  of  Allen  Brown,  of  Salt  Creek  town- 
ship. When  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Spain  was  declared 
he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  D,  Eighth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. 

Asbury  Durbin  Metz  was  born  in  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  July 
24,  1852.  He  was  a son  of  Jacob  Metz,  in  the  earliest  history  of  Wooster 
and  when  it  was  a village,  and  for  years  afterwards  a boot  and  shoe  mer- 
chant. The  son  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Wooster  in  1874.  He 
studied  law  and  has  practiced  in  Wooster. 

Price  Russell  was  born  on  a farm  in  Medina  county,  Ohio.  In  1865, 
when  he  was  ten  years  old,  with  his  parents  he  came  to  Creston,  Wayne 
county,  where  he  continued  to  live.  He  passed  through  the  common  schools, 
and  the  Ohio  University,  then  studied  law  for  one  year  with  Hon.  Lyman  R. 
Critchfield.  at  Millersburg,  Ohio;  then  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  Law 
College  in  1890.  He  engaged  in  newspaper  work  for  some  time,  owning  the 
Medina  Standard ; then  began  practicing  law  in  Creston,  Wayne  county. 

Lorenzo  D.  Cornell  of  Shreve,  Clinton  township,  Wayne  county,  was 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


born  in  Chester  township,  November  26,  1854.  He  was  educated  at  the 
business  college  of  Valparaiso,  Indiana.  He  was  editor  and  manager  of  a 
weekly  journal  published  at  Shreve.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  McClure  & 
Smyser  of  Wooster  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  about  1899.  He  has  an 
office  in  Shreve  and  is  engaged  in  the  law  and  insurance. 

Charles  M.  Yocum  was  born  in  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1842,  the  son  of  Joseph  G.  Yocum,  a farmer  in  that  vicinity  for  over 
a half  century.  The  son  graduated  from  the  Vermilion  Institute  in  1866. 
He  had  a short  military  service  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  1864.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1868.  On  December  25,  1872,  he  married  Isabella  A.  Ross,  of 
Wooster.  For  many  years  he  has  practiced  law  in  Wooster. 

D.  Wenger  was  born  March  22,  1864,  in  Sugar  Creek  township, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio.  His  parents  were  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  They  removed 
to  Ohio  about  fifty-five  years  ago,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Wen- 
ger was  born.  His  early  days  were  occupied  on  the  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  entered  mercantile  life,  in 
which  he  is  at  present  engaged.  He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  spring 
of  1893  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  March,  1896.  He  studied  under  the 
Sprague  correspondence  system. 

Harry  R.  Smith,  son  of  Richard  H.  Smith,  received  a common  school 
education  and  studied  law,  opening  an  office  in  Wooster.  He  is  attorney  for 
the  Camp  system  of  railroads,  having  assumed  general  management  of  the 
Ashland  & Wooster  Railway  April  15,  1899. 

James  B.  Meech  was  born  in  Chippewa  township.  Wayne  county,  and 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  for  over  thirty  years  in  this 
county.  He  is  a Republican. 

William  C.  Yost  was  born  July  5,  1854,  in  Congress  township.  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  and  spent  his  earlier  years  on  his  father’s  farm.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  entered  the  Smithvitle  high  school,  which  he  attended  for  two 
years,  when  he  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and  graduated  at  Ann  Arbor 
University,  Michigan,  in  the  class  of  1884.  Soon  thereafter  he  came  to 
Wooster,  opened  an  office  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which 
he  is  at  present  engaged.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Wooster,  in 
1889,  and  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in  1891;  he  was  elected  city 
solicitor  of  the  city  of  Wooster  in  1893  and  re-elected  in  1895.  He  was 
largely  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Wooster  Shale  Brick  works,  also  in 
locating  the  preserving  works  in  Wooster,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  board 
of  managers. 


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John  S.  Adair  was  born  May  26,  1859,  the  son  of  Anderson  and  Hen- 
rietta (McClure)  Adair.  He  was  reared  on  a farm  in  Wooster  township. 
He  studied  six  years  at  the  University  of  Wooster,  began  studying  law  in 
1881,  moved  to  Kansas  in  1886  and  began  practicing  law,  returning  to 
Wayne  county  in  1888;  elected  city  solicitor  of  Wooster  the  following  year. 

George  W.  Miller  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Wayne  county,  No- 
vember 22,  1857.  His  parents  came  from  Pennsylvania.  In  1870  he  began 
learning  the  carriage-making  trade,  and  served  a three-years  apprenticeship 
and  worked  in  many  different  cities  at  this  trade  for  ten  years.  In  1880  he 
entered  school,  graduated  from  a normal  and  began  teaching;  in  1890  he 
entered  the  Cincinnati  Law  School,  graduating  in  1891,  then  lived  in  Chip- 
pewa township  until  1895,  farming,  serving  two  terms  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  still  farms  and  practices  law. 

M.  L.  Spooner  is  a native  of  the  Queen  City,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born  October  22,  1852,  and  is  a son  of  Hon.  Thomas  Spooner,  who,  as  a 
member  from  Ohio  of  the  Republican  national  convention  in  i860  assisted 
in  the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presidency,  and  who,  in  the 
fifties,  was  president  of  the  national  organization  of  the  American  party. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute  of  Troy, 
New  York.  In  1869  he  was  engaged  upon  the  survey  and  construction  of 
the  Kansas  Pacific  railway,  and  in  the  winter  of  1869-70  he  became  a mem- 
ber of  Troop  E,  Seventh  United  States  Cavalry,  then  stationed  at  Ft.  Wallace, 
Kansas,  in  which  he  served  for  a year,  guarding  the  line  of  the  road  against 
the  attacks  of  hostile  Indian.  He  then  located  at  Humboldt,  Kansas,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  printer  in  the  office  of  the  Humboldt  Union.  In 
1872-73  he  was  engaged  in  the  government  survey  of  what  is  now  Oklahoma. 
In  1875  he  returned  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  resumed  the  craft  of  printer, 
having  been  foreman  in  a number  of  the  large  printing  establishments  of 
Wooster,  whither  he  came  in  1881,  taking  charge  of  the  Wayne  County 
Herald.  From  1884  he  engaged  principally  in  examining  and  abstracting 
titles.  He  became  a member  of  the  Ohio  bar  in  1897. 

Edgar  E.  Stone  is  a resident  of  Milton  township,  spent  his  earlier  years 
on  his  father’s  farm,  was  a student  at  the  University  of  Wooster  for  a 
term,  also  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  about  1888. 
He  is  not,  we  believe,  actively  engaged  in  practice,  and  lives  on  his  farm 
near  Sterling,  Wayne  county. 

Warren  Ramsey,  a son  of  Warren  Ramsey,  is  a native  of  Wayne  county, 
and  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 


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when  he  attended  the  Smithville  Academy,  Wayne  county.  He  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Wooster  in  1887,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  opened 
an  office  in  Orrville,  where  he  continued  in  the  practice. 

Edward  Maag  was  born  in  Mt.  Eaton,  Paint  township,  Wayne  county, 
about  forty  years  ago.  He  is  a man  of  good  education,  and  was  a teacher 
for  a number  of  years.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

Thomas  W.  Peckinpaugh  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  November  17,  1817. 
On  his  father’s  side  he  is  of  German  extraction,  on  the  mother’s  English. 
In  1821  his  parents  emigrated  to  Green  township,  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  \vas  but  four  years  of  age.  His  father  was  a farmer,  and  with  him 
his  son  remained  until  he  was  tw’enty-one.  He  studied  law  in  Wooster  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1848.  On  October  18th  of  that  year  he  married 
Jane  E.  Cotton,  then  began  practice  in  Chippewa  township.  He  filled  sev- 
eral local  offices  and  two  terms  in  the  Legislature. 

Eugene  Carlin,  son  of  George  Carlin,  a prominent  physician  of  West 
Salem,  Wayne  county,  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that  village  and 
the  law  school  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  has  been  practicing  many  years. 

D.  T.  Downing  was  born  in  Wooster  township,  July  17,  1849.  After 
attendance  upon  the  public  schools  in  Wooster,  he  took  a classical  course 
at  Denison  University,  Granville,  Ohio.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877. 
He  opened  a la\v  office  in  Wooster,  but  after  a few  years  retired  from  practice. 

George  A.  Starn  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  February  20,  1874,  and 
was  reared  on  a farm,  upon  which  he  remained  and  worked  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was  a student  at  the  University  of  Wooster 
and  is  a graduate  of  the  law  department  of  Ada  Institute,  Ada,  Ohio,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1899.  He  is  located  in  practice  in  Orrville. 

John  C.  Morr  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  July  18,  1850.  His 
father  was  a farmer,  and  the  son  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age,  then  began  plastering  and  stone  cutting,  continuing  until  the 
spring  of  1880.  May  5,  1880,  Mr.  Morr  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  su- 
preme court  and  has  since  been  practicing  his  profession  in  Wooster. 

Benton  G.  Hay  was  born  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  February  18,  1874. 
He  was  reared  and  worked  upon  the  farm  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  began  a course  of  study,  taking  the  law  course  at  the  Ada 
Normal  Institute.  He  v as  admitted  to  the  bar.  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  March. 
1898,  and  during  the  fall  of  that  year  opened  an  office  in  Wooster. 

Joseph  Gallagher,  of  Smithville,  v as  born  January  12,  i860,  in  Wayne 
township,  Wayne  county.  He  is  a son  of  Victor  Gallagher  of  that  commu- 


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nity,  his  mother,  Elizabeth  Lehman,  being  a daughter  of  David  Lehman,  de- 
ceased. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1898,  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  hoisted 
his  legal  gonfalon  in  Smithville. 

John  R.  McKinney  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 12,  1843,  his  parents  removing  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1847. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania;  his  mother 
of  Scotch  birth,  her  parents  immigrating  to  the  United  States  when  she  was 
young.  The  family  settled  near  Dalton,  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  where  they 
remained  until  1867,  when  he  transferred  his  domicil  to  Wooster.  His  son 
worked  on  the  farm  until  his  seventeenth  year,  when  he  went  to  the  Ontario 
Academy,  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  studied  for  two  years.  August 
22,  1862,  he  joined  the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment,  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  After  his  return  from  the  army  he  attended  Vermilion 
Institute,  Hayesville,  Ohio,  for  one  year;  then  taught  school,  then  he  came 
to  Wooster.  In  June,  1875,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  here.  He  was  three 
times  elected  justice  of  the  peace  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  is  now 
located  in  Wooster. 

Ed  S.  Weitz  is  one  of  the  latest  recruits  to  the  Wayne  county  bar,  and 
since  establishing  himself  in  Wooster  he  has  won  a very  creditable  standing 
in  his  profession. 

Alfred  J.  Thomas  was  born  in  Paris,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
son  of  a mechanic.  At  an  early  age  he  went  to  Salem,  Ohio,  and  entered  a 
machine  shop.  From  there  he  removed  to  Wooster,  in  1859,  and  became  an 
employe  with  the  old  firm  of  McDonald.  Laughlin  & Co.,  with  which  he 
remained  for  a number  of  years.  He  read  law  with  the  late  Hon.  William 
M.  Orr,  of  Orrville,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  opened  an  office  in  Wooster, 
and  continued  in  the  practice  here. 

Reno  H.  Critchfield  was  born  in  Ripley  township.  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
September  22,  1865.  He  was  reared  on  a farm  and  his  earlier  years  were 
spent  in  labor  upon  it.  In  1886  he  made  a tour  of  the  Pacific  coast,  for 
sixteen  months  remained  there,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio.  He  then  reg- 
istered as  a student  at  the  Ohio  Normal  University,  a learner  in  summer, 
a teacher  in  winter,  and  this  he  continued  for  twelve  years.  The  last  three 
years  of  his  school  life  were  exclusively  spent  in  studying  law,  and  on  the 
completion  of  this  course  of  research  in  the  law  college  he  entered  an  office 
in  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  March,  1899, 
when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  then  located  at  Shreve,  Wayne  county. 

Hervey  H.  Hubbell  was  born  in  Scotch  Ridge,  Wood  county,  Ohio, 


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November  4,  1873,  ls  a son  °f  Rev.  S.  C.  Hubbell,  long  a resident  of  Wooster 
while  a retired  minister  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Hervey  H.  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Wooster  high  school,  class  of  1891,  and  a graduate  of  the 
University  of  Wooster,  class  of  1895;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1897. 

Silas  N.  Coe  was  born  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
in  June,  1837.  His  father  was  a farmer  and  mill  owner,  and  he  remained 
in  his  sendee  until  the  death  of  the  father  in  1854.  He  served  for  some  time 
as  a private  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  enlisting 
in  1861,  and  was  ranked  as  sergeant-major.  He  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1874,  and  opened  an  office  in  Orrville.  He  served  as  United  States  commis- 
sioner. He  was  married  February  14,  1877,  to  Ellen  Steele. 

Aquila  Wiley  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  fa- 
ther, William  Wiley,  was  a farmer.  In  1852  he  came  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  with  his  father,  who  purchased  land  and  settled  a short  distance 
northeast  of  Reedsburg.  Although  quite  a young  man,  his  education  was 
sufficient  to  qualify  him  for  the  duties  of  teaching,  and  for  several  years 
he  successfully  engaged  in  this  vocation.  He  read  law  in  Wooster,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar  in  June.  1857.  He  was  married  May  19, 
1876,  to  Emma,  daughter  of  Hon.  Neal  Power,  a former  dry  goods  merchant 
of  Wooster.  Mr.  Wiley  entered  the  Union  army  in  1861,  and  by  a series 
of  promotions  became  brigadier-general  in  1865.  He  was  prominent  in 
politics,  Was  elected  probate  judge  of  Wayne  county  in  1876,  elected  to  Ohio 
Legislature  in  1897. 

James  E.  Snyder  was  born  near  Burbank,  Congress  township,  Wayne 
county.  January  14,  1869,  and  is  a farmers  son.  He  studied  law,  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Wooster  in  1893,  winning  a reputation  as  an  orator; 
graduated  from  the  Ohio  State  University  in  1895,  admitted  to  the  bar 
that  year. 

Charles  C.  Jones  is  the  only  son  of  ex-State  Senator  Lake  F.  Jones  and 
Jennie  Jones,  of  Wooster,  and  was  born  in  Mt.  Vernon.  Ohio,  October 
22,  1873.  He  is  a great-grandson  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Jones,  who  settled  in 
Wayne  county  as  early  as  1811,  who  served  in  both  houses  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Ohio,  and  two  years  in  Congress.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Wooster,  taking  a commercial  course  at  Bixler’s 
Business  College  of  this  city,  later  attended  the  Ohio  State  University,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1900. 

Walter  J.  Mullins  is  the  youngest  son  of  James  Mullins  of  Wooster, 
who  permanently  established  himself  in  this  city  a number  of  years  ago.  He 


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graduated  from  the  University  of  Wooster  in  the  class  of  1881,  subsequently 
becoming  a student  of  law,  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar,  and  for  a period 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Wooster,  later  engaging  in  the 
coal  business. 

Cyrus  A.  Rider  Was  born  in  Wayne  county,  January  16,  1844.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army  in  1862,  was  wounded  at  Mission  Ridge  and  mus- 
tered out  June  13,  1865.  He  studied  at  various  academies  after  the  war. 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876  and  filled  several  local  offices. 

Benjamin  Eason  was  bom  in  a log  cabin  in  Worcester.  May  5,  1822.  the 
son  of  a millwright  and  farmer.  He  had  a hard  time  securing  an  education; 
went  to  California  in  1850,  returned  to  Wayne  county,  filled  local  offices, 
elected  state  senator  in  1859  and  in  1882;  entered  the  Federal  army  in  1862, 
becoming  captain,  later  colonel.  He  purchased  the  Wayne  County  Democrat 
in  1864,  opened  a law  office  in  1870. 

Other  living  members  of  the  Wayne  county  bar  whose  sketches  appear 
in  the  biographical  section  of  this  work  are,  Ross  W.  Funck,  J.  O.  Fritz, 
\Y.  F.  Kean,  John  McSweeney,  J.  C.  McClarran.  T.  W.  Orr,  Mahlon 
Rouch,  H.  B.  Swartz,  Frank  Taggart,  James  B.  Taylor,  W.  E.  Weygandt 
and  C.  A.  Weiser. 

FORMER  MEMBERS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY  BAR  PRACTICING  ELSEWHERE. 

Frederick  J.  Mullins,  son  of  James  Mullins,  was  born  in  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Wooster,  Ohio;  graduated  from 
the  university  here,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  opened  an  office  here; 
located  later  at  Salem,  Ohio,  as  attorney  for  the  Pennsylvania  lines. 

Enos  Foreman  was  born  in  Baughman  township,  Wayne  county,  Au- 
gust 9,  1820.  and  was  educated  at  Wadsworth  Academy.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  June,  1847,  when  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Wooster 
in  which  he  continued  for  a number  of  years.  In  August,  1852,  he,  with 
II.  C.  Johnson,  purchased  the  Wooster  Democrat , which,  in  1853,  they 
changed  to  Wooster  Republican , selling  the  same  in  1870.  He  removed 
to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  a number  of  years  ago. 

J.  C.  Christy  came  to  Wooster  from  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  the  early  eighties,  where  he  remained  about  a year.  He  had  served  three 
years  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army.  He  was  a lawyer  of  average  ability. 
He  removed  to  Kansas  City.  Missouri. 

Lucius  Adams  came  to  Wooster  from  Pennsylvania  in  1868.  He  was 


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a graduate  of  Jefferson  College,  and  also  of  the  Albany  Law  School.  His 
sojourn  in  Wooster  was  of  short  duration,  during  which  time  he  practiced 
law  and  was  local  editor  of  the  Wooster  Republican.  In  1869  he  removed 
to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  began  practice  and  has  twice  been  elected  county 
judge. 

John  F.  Maxwell  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  May  27,  1835,  and 
was  reared  on  a farm.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  the  Fredericks- 
burg Academy.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  i860;  two  years  later  he 
entered  the  Union  army;  he  was  elected  common  pleas  judge  in  1896. 

W.  H.  Spence  practiced  law  for  a short  time  about  1888.  Abandoning 
his  office  in  Wooster,  he  returned  to  Columbiana  county,  whence  he  came. 

Martin  George  Pauley  was  born  in  Wooster  in  1862,  though  reared 
in  Massillon,  Ohio.  He  was  a student  of  law  in  Wooster  but  attended  the 
Cincinnati  Law  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1890.  He  began  legal 
practice  in  Wooster,  but  removed  to  Massillon  where  he  remained. 

William  G.  Myers  was  a resident  and  land  owner  and  lawyer  for  many 
years  in  Chippewa  township,  Wayne  county.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Canal 
Fulton,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
captain  of  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment,  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  enlisting  in  1862. 

Wellington  Stillwell  studied  law  in  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  where 
he  was  born  in  1859;  in  1882  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  common  pleas 
court  of  the  sixth  judicial  district. 

Ezra  W.  Miller  was  born  in  Wayne  county  and  was  reared  on  a farm. 
He  read  law,  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  opened  an  office  in  Wooster. 
He  removed  to  Dakota  when  it  was  a territory,  and  under  both  of  President 
Cleveland's  administrations  he  was  appointed  receiver  of  public  moneys  in 
one  of  the  territorial  districts. 

D.  H.  Tvvomey  located  in  Wooster  in  1868,  where  he  remained  for  one 
year,  during  which  time  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Lafayette, 
Indiana.  From  Wooster  he  went  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  from  there  to  Duluth, 
Minnesota,  and  thence  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

Josiah  Given  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1828, 
and  in  his  early  life  was  a farm  laborer  and  blacksmith,  and  with  his  par- 
ents came  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  they  settled  when  he  was  ten 
years  old.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1851  and  served  two  terms  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Holmes  county.  He 


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entered  the  Union  army  in  1861  with  the  rank  of  captain,  became  colonel 
of  the  Seventy-Fourth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  subsequently 
a brigade  commander.  He  served  as  postmaster  of  the  thirty-ninth  congress. 
For  a short  period  he  practiced  law  in  Wooster  and  in  1868  he  removed  to 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  has  held  many  important  offices. 

James  R.  Woodworth  is  a native  of  Paris,  Lamar  county,  Texas,  but 
when  he  was  six  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
where  he  was  reared  and  obtained  his  education.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  the  family  removed  to  Kansas.  He  served  in  and  obtained  promo- 
tion in  the  Union  army.  He  read  law  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870,  beginning  practice  in  that  city.  In  1874  he 
located  in  Wooster  and  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  in  1887,  serving  one 
term.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Kansas  City. 

William  Reed  descends  from  a patriotic  ancestry.  His  father,  William 
Reed,  was  a product  of  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  grandfather, 
William  Reed,  who  was  of  Scotch  genealogy,  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  son  was  born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  1823.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar  in  1847  and  immediately  began  the  practice  of  law 
in  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  became  common  pleas  judge 
and  prosecuting  attorney. 

A.  H.  Walkey  located  in  Orrville,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  probably  twenty 
years  ago  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  a politician  as 
well  as  lawyer  and  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  Congress  from  this  dis- 
trict upon  one  occasion.  He  went  to  Denver,  Colorado. 

Thomas  Y.  McCray  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  8,  1837;  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1845.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1862  in  Ashland  comity.  In  March,  ]866,  he  moved  to  West 
Salem,  Wayne  county;  held  many  public  offices;  later  moved  to  Mansfield, 
Ohio. 

Ezra  V.  Dean  was  born  in  Wooster  about  eighty  years  ago.  His  father 
had  been  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  and  had  served  in  Congress 
two  terms  and  gave  the  son  a college  education,  who,  when  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1853,  formed  a partnership  with  his  father.  He  served  in  the 
Ohio  Legislature  from  W ayne  county  from  1854  to  1856.  When  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  was  organized 
he  was  appointed  quartermaster,  resigning  in  the  the  fall  of  1863.  In  1865, 
with  his  family,  he  removed  to  Ironton,  Ohio. 

Thomas  Johnson  was  a native  of  Virginia,  bom  November  13,  1817. 


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He  settled  in  Wooster  in  the  fifties  and  began  practicing  law.  He  was 
twice  elected  probate  judge  of  Wayne  county,  serving  from  1858  to  1864. 
After  this  he  was,  for  a number  of  years,  engaged  in  the  banking  business 
in  Wooster.  He  removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1875,  and  thence  to  Kansas 
in  1882  and  later  to  Chicago,  Illinois. 

George  W.  Ross  was  born  in  Milton  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
June  8,  1854.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  March  9,  1879,  opening  an  office 
at  Sterling,  practicing  at  the  Wayne  county  bar  until  1889,  when  he  removed 
to  Findlay,  Ohio. 

Linneus  Q.  Jeffries  is  a son  of  the  late  Hon.  John  P.  Jeffries  and  was 
born  in  Wooster  in  1844,  educated  at  the  Wooster  schools,  read  law  with  his 
father  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  June  6,  1866,  opening  an  office  that  year 
at  West  Salem,  Wayne  county,  practiced  law  here,  later  went  to  South  Da- 
kota, then  Chicago. 

Celsus  Pomerene,  representative  of  a distinguished  family,  born  in  Ber- 
lin, Ohio,  June  18,  1866,  received  a generous  education,  practiced  law  in 
Cleveland  and  elsewhere. 

Henry  McCray  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  his  par- 
ents removing  to  Ohio  in  1845.  He  read  law  in  Wooster  with  his  brother, 
T.  Y.  McCray,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  this  city  by  the  district  court 
of  Ohio  July  6,  1868.  Here  he  practiced  his  profession  until  March,  1872, 
when  he  removed  to  Ashland,  Ohio,  where  he  served  as  judge  of  the  common 
pleas  court. 

Wilbert  I.  Slemmons  was  born  near  Creston,  Wayne  county,  September 
20,  1861.  He  is  a son  of  Samuel  M.  Slemmons,  who  was  born  in  Milton  town- 
ship. The  son  graduated  from  the  University  of  Wooster  in  1884,  practiced 
law  here,  then  removed  to  Peoria,  Illinois. 

Florien  Giaugue  is  the  son  of  Augustus  and  Sophia  (Guillaume)  Giaugue, 
who  were  born  of  good  families  in  the  canton  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  and 
came  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  Florien  was  bom,  May  11,  1843,  the 
family  moving  to  Wayne  county  in  1849.  The  son  was  highly  educated  and 
became  a prominent  lawyer  and  author. 

LAWYERS  WHO  DIED  WHILE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BAR  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

Edward  Avery,  an  eminent  and  distinguished  lawyer  of  his  day,  was 
a native  of  the  state  of  Connecticut  and  a graduate  of  Yale  College.  He  was 
one  of  the  legal  pioneers  of  Wayne  county,  removed  to  Wooster  in  1817, 

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where  he  permanently  located  and  where  he  lived  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession for  forty-nine  years.  He  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne 
county  in  1819,  and  with  conceded  ability  executed  the  functions  of  that  office 
until  1825.  He  was  a member  of  the  Senate  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  serving 
from  December,  1824,  to  December,  1826.  He  served  in  the  capacity  of 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 

Levi  Cox  was  emphatically  the  pioneer  of  the  legal  profession  and 
the  printing  press  in  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  to  which  he  removed  in  1815, 
in  which  he  permanently  and  continuously  lived  for  forty-seven  years.  The 
introduction  of  the  newspaper  press  in  Wooster  is  due  to  his  intelligence  and 
enterprise.  In  1817  he  established  the  Ohio  Spectator , the  first  newspaper 
ever  published  in  the  county.  From  1819  to  1833  he  was  state  senator,  later, 
for  five  years,  was  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court. 

William  M.  Orr  was  born  in  Baughman  township,  Wayne  county, 
January  7,  1826.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  Judge  Smith 
Orr,  remaining  with  him  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  commenced 
teaching  school.  He  attended  the  Dalton  and  Wadsworth  academies,  and  in 
1846  entered  Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  Pennsylvania,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1847.  At  the  annual  contest  of  1846,  between  the  literary 
societies  of  the  college,  he  took  the  highest  honors  in  debate  and  was  vale- 
dictorian of  the  class  of  1847.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  and  opened  an 
office  in  Wooster  in  1859,  where  he  remained  until  1865,  when  he  removed 
to  Orrville,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  August  19,  1893. 

James  C.  Miller,  a native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  moved 
to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  an  early  day,  became  prominent  as  a lawyer, 
dying  suddenly  in  1844,  when  a young  man  of  about  thirty  years. 

Samuel  Hemphill  was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1817, 
and  in  1827  he  came  with  his  father  to  Wayne  county.  He  attended  college 
at  Athens,  Ohio,  and  became  an  excellent  scholar.  He  read  law  with  Judge 
Levi  Cox  of  Wooster,  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  practice  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar.  He  died  in  his  thirty-sixth  year,  February  22,  1853. 

Lucas  Flattery  was  born  in  1821,  on  a farm  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio. 
His  father  was  an  early  settler  and  farmer  in  that  county,  from  Pennsylvania, 
and  a man  of  good  education.  He  served  as  county  surveyor  for  several 
years  before  he  died  in  1837.  Mr-  Flattery  moved  to  Wooster  in  1846,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death  in  1889,  having  held  many  public  offices. 

John  W.  Baughman  resided  in  Wooster  from  1868  until  his  death  in 
1894,  his  grandfather  settling  in  Wayne  county  in  1816,  Baughman  township 

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being  named  in  his  honor.  John  W.  served  in  the  Legislature  in  1856  and 
1888,  held  a number  of  local  offices. 

Arnold  A.  Ingram  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1843  and  came  to 
Wooster  in  1866  and  studied  law  here.  In  1861  he  entered  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States.  In  1885  he  was  elected  city  solicitor  of  Wooster 
on  the  Republican  ticket. 

George  Bliss  was  born  in  Jericho,  Vermont,  January  1,  1813.  He  came 
to  Ohio  in  1832  and  held  some  important  offices  here,  including  that  of  con- 
gressman. He  came  to  Wooster  in  1858  and  lived  here  until  his  death  in 
1868.  He  was  a very  prominent  lawyer. 

Daniel  C.  Martin  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1816  and  died  at  his  home  in  Reedsburg,  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  in 
May,  1889.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar  by  the  district  court  at 
Wooster,  Ohio,  in  April,  1857.  His  practice  was  of  a local  character.  He 
was  a good  business  man,  a most  successful  collector,  aiming  to  conciliate 
misunderstanidngs  between  neighbors  rather  than  foment  litigation.  He 
was  for  a number  of  years  justice  of  the  peace  of  Plain  township. 

Nelson  Ferrell  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  in  December,  1834. 
He  read  law  in  Carrollton,  Ohio,  and  was  elected  mayor  of  that  city.  He 
removed  to  Orrville  in  1884  and  acquired  considerable  popularity  in  his 
profession  and  was  regarded  as  a good  business  lawyer.  There  were  many 
pleasant  traits  to  his  character,  and  he  aimed  to  be  just  and  fair  in  his 
dealings  with  men.  His  life  was  suddenly  terminated  at  Orrville  several 
years  ago. 

Hamilton  Richeson  died  in  Wooster  June  19,  1870,  in  the  thirty-seventh 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county  two  terms 
and  he  was  a Union  soldier. 

Edward  S.  Dowell  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  in  1847,  edu- 
cated  in  Wayne  county,  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869  and  opened  an  office 
in  Wooster  became  prosecuting  attorney  in  1874  and  was  re-elected.  In  1887 
he  was  elected  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court.  He  died  in  1896. 

William  Given  was  born  in  1819  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1838  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1843,  t*ie  same  >’ear  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Holmes  county, 
1<>  vhirh  lie  was  re-elected.  In  1840  he  was  elected  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  Ohio.  Tn  1850  he  located  in  Wooster,  and  in  1858  was  elected  judge  of 
the  common  pleas  court.  He  remained  on  the  bench  until  1862,  when  he 
resigned,  and  in  August  of  that  year  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  One 


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Hundred  and  Second  Regiment  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  in  the  army  for 
nearly  three  years.  In  March,  1865,  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general. 
He  died  in  Wooster  in  October,  1866. 

Benjamin  F.  Eason  was  born  in  Plain  township,  August  3,  1847.  He 
died  August  21,  1895,  and  was  a son  of  Col.  Benjamin  Eason  of  Wooster. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Wayne  county  bar  in  1873  an<3  a^so  held  local  offices. 
He  was  about  fifty  years  old  when  he  died. 

Joseph  H.  Carr  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  in  1842,  and  was  educated  at 
the  public  schools  of  Wooster.  He  commenced  studying  law  in  1859  and 
afterwards  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  entered  the  Union  army  in  1861 
and  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He  practiced  law  in  Wooster  and 
held  public  offices.  He  died  in  1898. 

Ohio  F.  Jones  was  bom  in  Wooster  in  1822  and  Was  a son  of  Benjamin 
Jones,  at  one  time  a member  of  Congress.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  1846.  Until  the  time  of  his  death,  1882,  he  continued  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  professional  duties. 

William  S.  Peppard  was  bom  in  Salt  Creek  township,  Wayne  county, 
in  1829.  He  read  law  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  with  Edwin  M.  Stanton, 
Lincoln’s  war  secretary,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1853.  He  began  the 
practice  of  law  at  Cadiz,  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  but  subsequently  located  in 
Fredericksburg.  Wayne  county,  where  he  continued  in  practice  until  his  death, 
July  I,  1889. 

Wilson  S.  Orr  was  born  December  28,  1846,  in  Canaan  township, 
Wayne  county,  and  died  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  September  1,  1888.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  by  the  supreme  court  at  Columbus  in  1874,  and  immedi- 
ately thereafter  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  law  in  Wooster,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  practice  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

John  K.  McBride’s  father  came  from  Pennsylvania  in  1813  when  John 
K.  was  three  years  old  and  located  in  Wayne  county.  He  became  probate 
judge  and  a noted  lawyer. 

George  Brauneck  was  born  in  Prussia  in  1813  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1835.,  settling  in  Wooster  in  1843.  He  studied  law  under  the  direc- 
tion of  George  Rex,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,  and  began  practice  in 
Wooster. 

Hiram  E.  Totten  was  born  in  Wayne  county  in  1838.  He  was  a son  of 
Michael  Totten.  He  was  reared  upon  a farm,  but  came  to  Wooster  with 
his  parents  in  1858  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1861,  when  he  opened  an 
office  in  Wooster.  He  joined  the  Federal  ranks,  was  wounded  and  died  in 
Wooster  in  1863. 


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George  Rex  was  born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  July  25,  1817.  He  removed  to 
Wooster  in  1843  an^  began  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  elected  and  served 
for  several  terms  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county  and  as  a con- 
spicuous member  of  the  Ohio  Senate.  Was  appointed  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  in  1874.  He  died  March  27,  1879. 

Joseph  H.  Downing  was  a native  of  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  with 
his  family  removed  to  Wayne  county  in  1826.  He  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful school  teachers  in  Wayne  county.  In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Legislature.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  i860  and  opened  an  office  in 
Wooster.  He  became  a captain  in  the  Union  army,  became  judge  of  the 
common  pleas  court  and  judge  of  the  probate  court.  He  died  in  1879. 

Eugene  Pardee  was  born  in  the  town  of  Marcellus,  Onondaga  county. 
New  York,  in  1814,  and  died  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  on  the  14th  day  of  October, 
1888.  He  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  in  the  fall  of  1841,  re-elected  in 
1843,  held  other  offices. 

James  C.  Glasgow  was  a native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  in  1811,  and  came  to  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
with  his  father  about  1824.  He  removed  to  Wooster  in  the  early  thirties 
where  he  studied  medicine  and  law,  although  he  never  practiced  medicine. 
He  practiced  law  in  Wooster  until  his  death  in  i860. 

Solomon  R.  Bonewitz  was  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
bom  November  28,  1820,  and  died  in  his  seventy-eighth  year.  He  was 
raised  on  a .farm  in  Wayne  township,  working  upon  it  during  the  summer 
months  and  going  to  school  in  winter.  In  1844  he  removed  to  Wooster, 
studied  law  and  opened  an  office  here  in  1845. 

Isaac  Johnson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Wayne  township, 
in  this  county,  January  10,  1836.  He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Wooster,  later  practiced  law  until  1881  when  he  was  elected  probate  judge 
and  was  re-elected  in  1884. 

James  Taylor  was  a Virginian  by  birth,  born  May  10,  1802.  Was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  at  Wooster,  October  23,  1840,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years.  He  died  at  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  July  8,  1873. 

John  P.  Jeffries  was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  19, 
1815.  In  1836  he  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Wooster. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar  in  1842.  He  served  four  years  as  prosecut- 
ing attorney  of  Wayne  county.  In  1858  he  was  a candidate  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  from  the  fourteenth  congressional  district  for  a seat  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  but  the  district  being  largely  Republican  he  was 


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defeated.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  Democratic  national  convention  at 
Charleston.  South  Carolina,  in  i860,  under  instructions  to  vote  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency.  He  served  one  term  as  probate  judge  of 
Wayne  county.  Mr.  Jeffries,  in  1844,  commenced  collecting  facts  concern- 
ing the  primitive  peoples  of  this  continent,  and  continued  his  research  until 
1868,  when  he  produced  his  volume  entitled  the  “Natural  History  of  the 
Human  Races,”  which  was  published  in  New  York  in  1869.  He  died  in 
Wooster,  August  13,  1888. 

Because  of  his  honesty,  impartiality  and  good  judgment,  none  among 
the  men  who  have  served  the  state  of  Ohio  in  a judicial  capacity  deserves  a 
higher  place  than  Charles  C.  Parsons.  He  was  born  near  Ithaca,  New  York, 
on  September  25,  1819,  and  while  he  was  still  very  young  his  parents 
removed  to  Rochester,  in  that  state,  where  they  lived  until  1830.  In  that 
year  the  family  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  at  Medina.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1840,  practiced  at  Dalton  until  1849  when  he  removed  to  Wooster. 
Held  local  offices,  including  common  pleas  judge,  retiring  in  1887  and  dying 
in  1890. 

John  McSweeney  was  born,  as  best  we  know,  in  the  town  of  Black  Rock, 
Erie  county,  New  York,  August  30,  1824.  He  came  to  Wooster  in  1845  and 
began  practicing  law  at  once.  Was  prosecuting  attorney  in  1852,  won  great 
notoriety  as  an  orator  and  became  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Ohio,  his 
reputation  being  national. 

LAWYERS  WHO  WERE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  WAYNE  COUNTY  BAR  AND  DIED 

ELSEWHERE. 

George  L.  Willyard  was  a native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1818, 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839  and  opened  an  office  in  Wooster  and  died  in  1840. 

Wyllys  Silliman  was  a state  senator  as  early  as  1803.  He  came  to 
Wooster  in  the  thirties,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Cleveland  where  he 
died. 

Charles  Wolcott  practiced  law  in  Dalton  and  Wooster  about  1838,  be- 
came a representative  and  a state  senator.  He  died  in  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  was  practicing  law. 

John  A.  Holland  was  in  the  forties  a partner  of  Gen.  Samuel  R.  Curtis, 
had  studied  law  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1837,  later  came  to  Wooster,  then  moved  to  Rockport,  Illinois,  where 
he  died. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Hayes  Holliday  was  a member  of  the  Wayne  county  bar  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  a justice  of  the  peace  in  Wooster  township,  moved  to 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he  died. 

Dennis  Winfield  Kimber  was  bom  in  Wooster,  January  30,  1855.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1878.  He  commenced  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Wooster,  moved  to  Missouri  and  died  there  in  1895. 

Samuel  R.  Curtis  practiced  law  in  Wooster  for  a short  time  in  the 
forties,  had  experience  in  the  Mexican  war,  became  a major-general  in  the 
Civil  war,  had  been  in  Congress,  and  was  connected  with  many  public  national 
improvements.  He  died  in  1868. 

John  H.  Harris  removed  from  Canton  to  Wooster  in  the  thirties  and 
began  practicing  law  here,  removed  to  Mendota,  Illinois,  and  died  there. 

Alexander  C.  McMillan  was  bom  in  Wayne  county  in  1837,  admitted 
to  bar  in  i860;  in  1862  he  removed  to  Pana,  Illinois,  where  he  died. 

William  Sample  Was  twice  elected  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court, 
serving  from  1857  to  1866.  Upon  his  retirement  from  the  bench  he  formed 
a partnership  with  the  late  Hon.  John  P.  Jeffries,  of  Wooster,  and  remained 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  this  city  for  two  years  when  he  went 
to  Newark,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Coshocton,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1877. 

Lucian  H.  Upham  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1808  and  came  to  Wayne 
county  in  1839,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1843,  served  one  term  as  auditor 
of  Wayne  county.  He  removed  to  Delta,  Fulton  county,  about  1850,  where 
he  died  in  1897,  he  was  elected  probate  judge  of  Fulton  county,  in  1854. 
In  1856-7  he  represented  Fulton  and  Lucas  counties  in  the  state  Legislature. 

James  Jeffery  was  born  in  Congress  township,  and  Was  of  Irish  ancestry, 
his  parents  immigrating  to  the  United  States  in  1819,  locating  the  same  year 
near  West  Salem,  Wayne  county.  Mr.  Jeffery  was  admitted  in  1873.  In 
1876  he  was  elected  mayor  of  West  Salem.  He  removed  to  western  Ohio 
where  he  died  several  years  ago. 

Henry  Lehman  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1809.  He  came  to 
Wooster  about  1833,  practiced  law  and  held  several  local  offices,  including 
probate  judge.  He  died  in  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey.  March  17,  1897. 

William  McMillen  practiced  law  principally  in  the  justice  courts  in  the 
ante-bellum  days.  He  moved  to  Iowa  and  died  there. 

John  McNeil  Connell  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Fairfield  county,  Ohio, 
November  7,  1829,  and  located  in  Wooster  about  1859,  served  in  the  Civil 
war,  died  in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  in  April,  1882,  after  serving  in  the  Ohio  state 
Senate  in  1864. 


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William  McMahon  located  in  Wooster  in  the  late  thirties  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  serving  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county 
in  1840. 

Bryant  Grant  came  to  Wooster  from  New  York  city  about  i860,  and 
practiced  law  for  one  year,  then  returned  to  New  York. 

Hugh  Wilson  was  born  at  Smithville,  Wayne  county.  After  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  he  opened  an  office  in  Orrville,  where  he  remained  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  afterwards  changing  his  location  to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
where  he  died  about  1899. 

Noah  L.  Jeffries  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851.  He  opened  an  office  in 
Wooster.  After  an  experience  in  practice  of  five  years  in  Wooster,  he  went 
to  Millersburg,  then  to  Ravenna,  and  then  to  Mansfield,  where  he  entered 
the  military  service  of  the  United  States.  He  died  in  Washington,  D.  C\, 
about  twelve  years  ago. 

Ezra  Dean  was  a native  of  Columbia  county,  New  York,  and  had  a 
Revolutionary  ancestry,  and  served  himself  as  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  located  in  Wooster  in  1824.  He  became  a member  of  the  Ohio  Legisla- 
ture, judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  and  served  in  Congress.  Later  on 
removed  to  Ironton,  Ohio,  where  he  died. 

George  W.  Wasson  was  a son  of  Joseph  Wasson,  who  was  a native  of 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  who  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
about  1819,  practiced  law  in  Wooster,  held  local  offices,  moved  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  died. 

John  W.  Rankin  was  a native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  the  forties  removed  to  Wayne  county,  when,  for  a short  period,  he  taught 
school  in  Wooster,  but,  probably  in  1850,  removed  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  which 
he  made  his  permanent  home,  and  where  he  died.  He  practiced  law  in 
Wooster  for  several  years. 

John  Elliott  Irvine  was  born  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  January  18,  1830. 
About  1855  he  began  practicing  law  in  Wooster.  He  died  in  Richmond, 
Ohio,  in  1869.  He  was  a noted  lawyer. 

Henry  C.  Johnson  came  to  Wooster  from  Wadsworth,  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  and  practiced  law  here.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  associated 
with  Enos  Foreman  in  the  publication  of  the  Wooster  Republican.  After 
his  withdrawal  from  this  paper  he  removed  to  Sandusky  City,  Ohio,  where 
he  published  a daily  sheet  for  a time,  when  he  returned  to  Medina  county, 
where  he  died  about  1870. 


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CHAPTER  XVI. 


NEWSPAPERS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

By  Albert  Dix. 

Wayne  county  owes  its  first  newspaper  and  newspaper  press  to  Judge 
Levi  Cox,  one  of  the  pioneer  attorneys  of  Wooster,  who  passed  away  on 
the  last  day  of  1862.  Judge  Cox  came  to  the  county  from  Pennsylvania 
and  from  the  east  he  imported  the  materials  of  a journal  office:  at  about  the 
same  time  he  isued  proposals  for  the  publication  of  a weekly  paper  in  the 
village  of  Wooster  to  be  known  as  the  Ohio  Spectator.  When  he  had  se- 
cured what  he  considered  sufficient  support  to  carry  out  his  plans,  he  took 
into  partnership  a young  man  by  name,  Samuel  Baldwin,  of  Wilkes-Barre, 
Pennsylvania.  The  young  partner  in  the  concern  was  a printer  by  trade 
and  thereby  greatly  aided  Mr.  Cox,  who  was  unacquainted  with  the  general 
work  of  a printing  establishment.  The  two  men  began  their  work  with  much 
enthusiasm  and  in  the  summer  of  1817  the  first  edition  of  the  Ohio  Spectator 
appeared. 

The  paper  was  of  a medium  size,  but  because  of  the  newness  of  the 
materials  and  the  excellent  workmanship  the  paper  made  a good  appearance. 
Politically  it  was  neutral,  promoting  only  what  was  the  best  for  the  welfare 
of  both  the  town  and  the  county.  A few  over  three  hundred  residents  were 
subscribers,  while  the  advertising  maintained  an  average  of  two  dollars 
the  week. 

The  firm  only  existed  one  year,  when  Judge  Cox  withdrew  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Asa  W.  W.  Hickox,  of  the  Western  Reserve.  The  alliance  sur- 
vived but  one  year,  when  Mr.  Hickox  disposed  of  his  interests  to  Mr.  Bald- 
win, who  continued  issuing  the  paper  for  a time  himself.  But  always  weak 
physically,  the  young  man  within  a short  time  succumbed  to  the  dread  dis- 
ease, consumption. 

Mr.  Baldwin’s  year  was  finished  out  by  a relative.  Dr.  Thomas  Town- 
send. as  manager  of  the  business  office,  while  Joseph  Clingan  had  charge 
of  the  printing.  This  management  continued  but  a short  time,  and  at  the 


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end  of  a year  the  paper  became  defunct,  and  the  county  was  without  a pub- 
lication, with  the  exception  of  a small  sheet  called  The  Electioneer , estab- 
lished entirely  to  support  personal  claims  to  office  in  the  nearing  election 
of  1820. 

During  the  period  just  covered,  Mr.  Cox,  the  founder,  had  held  a lien 
upon  the  office,  and  he  resumed  the  possession  of  it  and  soon  after  issued 
proposals  for  a renewal  of  the  Spectator. 

The  offer  was  not  well  patronized  and  consequently  Mr.  Cox  sold  out 
his  interests  to  Benjamin  Bentley,  a Wooster  man,  who  was  desirous  of 
instituting  a paper  there.  Mr.  Bentley  not  being  a practical  printer,  he  se- 
cured as  a partner  Mr.  Clingan. 

After  the  issuing  and  returning  of  the  subscription  papers,  the  Wooster 
Spectator  appeared  as  a weekly  from  the  day  of  January  13,  1820.  This 
partnership  lasted  for  two  years,  when  Mr.  Clingan  purchased  Mr.  Bentley’s 
interest.  Mr.  Clingan  conducted  the  paper  for  five  years  himself. 

The  office  again  changed  hands  in  the  spring  of  1826,  when  Col.  John 
Barr,  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  bought  it  and  issued  therefrom  a paper 
entitled  the  Ohio  Oracle , devoted  to  the  support  of  General  Jackson.  This 
publication  lasted  for  a period  of  four  years  and,  as  one  historian  of  the 
county  says  of  it,  “It  is  probable  that  this  pretentious  journal,  in  name  at 
least,  had  no  prototype  and  will  have  no  successor/’  Colonel  Barr  sold  his 
office  after  four  years  to  David  Sloane,  of  Wooster,  who  issued  a paper 
called  The  Wooster  Journal  and  Democratic  Times.  This  publication,  as 
its  predecessor,  ran  for  four  years,  when  Mr.  Sloane  disposed  of  it  to  a 
brother-in-law,  J.  W.  Schuckers,  who  published  it  for  the  same  period. 
Both  papers  were  very  capably  edited,  and  it  was  known  that  the  man  at  the 
back  of  the  editorial  department,  during  both  papers,  was  Col.  John  Sloane, 
one  of  the  “most  bitter,  vituperative,  incisive  and  powerful  writers  of  the 
day/’  A Mr.  Wharton  was  the  printer. 

Mr.  Schuckers,  in  June,  1836.  disposed  of  his  interests  to  Daniel  Sprague, 
who  for  a time  published  the  paper  under  the  name  of  the  Wooster  Journal 
and  Democratic  Times.  After  a period  of  about  four  years,  however,  he 
changed  the  name  to  that  of  the  Wooster  Democrat.  Mr.  Sprague  proved 
himself  a very  capable  manager  for  sixteen  years,  when  he  sold  out  to  H. 
C.  Johnson  and  Enos  Foreman.  The  new  managers  changed  the  name  of 
their  publication  to  the  Wooster  Republican.  After  five  years  Mr.  Johnson 
retired  from  the  business  and  moved  to  Sandusky  City.  Mr.  Foreman  con- 
tinued the  paper,  acting  as  proprietor  and  manager.  On  July  25,  1861,  Mr. 


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Foreman  issued  a daily  from  the  Republican  office,  which  was  continued 
until  November  30th  of  the  same  year.  This  was  the  first  daily  in  the  county 
and  was  devoted  entirely  to  war  news.  Mr.  Foreman  disposed  of  the  office 
in  August,  1870,  his  successors  being  Capt.  A.  S.  McClure  and  Joseph  G. 
Sanborn.  Horace  N.  Clemens,  who  had  been  the  city  editor  of  the  paper 
under  McClure  and  Sanborn,  assumed  the  controlling  interest  in  the  paper, 
and,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  N.  Clemens  & Company,  took  charge  of  the 
editorial  management  of  the  paper  and  business  control.  It  was  while  under 
the  control  of  Mr.  Clemens  that  the  Daily  Republican  made  its  first  appear- 
ance, in  June.  1887.  George  Kettler  assumed  the  city  editorship  of  the  Daily 
Republican  at  its  start,  and  has  held  the  position  through  all  the  years,  there 
having  been  numerous  changes  in  ownership  and  editorial  control,  and  at 
the  time  this  article  was  written  was  still  acting  in  the  capacity  he  has  always 
filled.  Mr.  Kettler  began  work  as  a very  young  bov.  in  his  early  teens,  in 
the  job  department,  first  holding  that  lowly  position,  “the  printer’s  devil,” 
but  he  had  his  mind  set  upon  higher  things  and  was  not  content  until  he 
reached  the  more  lofty  occupation  of  writer. 

In  1890  Mr.  Clemens,  with  a number  of  prominent  Republicans,  incor- 
porated the  company  known  as  the  Wooster  Republican  Printing  Company. 

In  1891  Mr.  Clemens  retired  from  the  management  of  the  paper,  hav- 
ing disposed  of  his  interests  to  David  W.  Solliday,  a lawyer,  bom  in  the 
county,  but  who  had  resided  for  some  years  in  Texas,  and  who  assumed 
the  duties  of  editor.  The  paper  had  a precarious  existence  for  some  time 
and  then  in  1893  Thomas  C.  Reynolds,  of  Akron,  an  editorial  writer  and 
publisher  of  much  experience,  assumed  a controlling  interest  with  Francis 
C.  Whittier,  of  Akron,  as  secretary  and  business  manager.  In  1898  Albert 
Dix,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  at  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
with  his  son,  Emmett  C.  Dix,  became  interested  in  the  business. 

Under  the  management  of  the  Messrs.  Dix,  the  publication  took  new  life, 
with  Albert  Dix  as  business  manager  and  Emmett  C.  Dix  in  editorial  con- 
trol and  assisting  in  the  local  work,  with  George  Kettler  in  the  news  depart- 
ment. The  circulation  increased  rapidly,  especially  in  1898,  because  of  the 
fine  news  service  during  the  war  with  Spain.  The  Messrs.  Dix  proved  pro- 
gressive, with  their  every  thought  centered  on  the  best  available  for  the 
people  whom  they  serve  and  consequently  have  kept  pace  with  the  times  until 
their  plant,  at  the  present  time,  is  probably  the  best  piece  of  newspaper 
property  owned  in  any  city  in  Ohio  the  size  of  Wooster.  The  office  is 
equipped  with  a Duplex  printing  press,  printing  the  paper  from  the  roll. 


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thus  being  able  to  print  the  constantly  growing  circulation  very  rapidly. 
Two  linotype  machines  are  used  in  the  composing  room. 

Having  now  completed  the  tracing,  from  origin  to  the  present  time,  of 
one  of  Wooster's  lines  of  the  press,  we  will  now  direct  our  attention  to 
another. 

In  the  summer  of  1862,  Joseph  Clingan,  of  whom  we  have  already 
spoken,  prepared  for  the  publication  of  another  paper  in  Wooster.  It  was 
in  the  same  year  that  a German,  by  name  John  Sala,  established  in  Wooster 
a German  paper,  known  as  the  Wooster  Correspondent ; it,  however,  had  a 
very  small  circulation  and  existed  but  a short  time. 

Mr.  Clingan,  having  completed  all  his  arrangements,  in  September,  1826, 
sent  out  the  first  edition  of  a most  excellent  publication.  The  Republican  Ad- 
vocate. The  paper,  which  had  as  one  of  its  objects  the  advancement  of 
General  Jackson  to  the  Presidency,  was  a complete  success,  and  was  well 
patronized,  continuing  for  twelve  years  under  the  management  of  the  orig- 
inal owner,  when  he  sold  out  to  Samuel  Littell.  Mr.  Littell,  who  was  already 
owner  of  the  Western  Telegraph , established  by  Martin  Barr,  combined  the 
two  papers,  their  politics  being  the  same,  and  entitled  the  new  sheet  The 
Democratic  Republican.  This  journal  lasted  three  years,  when  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  James  G.  Miller  and  a Mr.  Carpenter,  a printer;  these  gentlemen 
published  it  for  a year.  Isaac  X.  Hill  then  leased  the  office,  as  had  Mr. 
Miller  from  Mr.  Littell,  and  issued  for  a few  years  The  Democrat.  After 
the  expiration  of  this  lease  Mr.  Littell  sold  out  to  Messrs.  Carny  and  Means, 
who  published  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Means. 

Hon.  John  Larwill  obtained  the  proprietorship  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Means  and  sold  the  office  to  Jacob  A.  Marchand,  who  continued  as  owner 
of  the  Democrat  up  until  the  time  of  his  death,  on  August  28,  1862.  On 
the  first  of  April,  1862,  Mr.  Marchand  had  rented  the  office  to  Franklin 
Harry  and  John  H.  Oberly,  for  the  term  of  one  year.  His  death  made  it 
necessary  to  sell  the  Democrat,  and  Mr.  Oberly  purchased  it,  conducting  it 
for  a year  with  marked  ability.  In  1864  Mr.  Oberly  sold  out  to  Col.  Benja- 
min Eason,  who  took  possession  as  head  of  the  paper  on  November  1,  1864. 
Mr.  Eason  sold  the  office  in  1866  to  the  Hon.  John  P.  Jeffries,  who,  for  a 
year,  acted  as  manager,  with  his  son,  Linneaus  Q.  Jeffries,  as  publisher. 
Mr.  Jeffries  then  sold  the  office  to  Benjamin  Eason  and  Asa  Dimmock.  the 
former  doing  a portion  of  the  writing,  although  especially  occupied  with  the 
managerial  interests,  as  Mr.  Dimmock  was  then  prosecuting  attorney  of 
Coshocton  county. 


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In  May,  1876,  another  change  was  made  in  which  Mr.  Eason  sold  his 
interests  to  Mr.  Dimmock,  who  took  into  partnership  Lemuel  Jeffries,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Dimmock  & Jeffries.  These  gentlemen  in  turn  sold  it 
to  James  A.  Estill,  of  the  Millersburg  Farmer , who  took  possession  April 
30.  1868.  Mr.  Estill  retired  February  25,  1869,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
Hon.  E.  B.  Eshelman,  of  the  Columbus  Statesman , the  paper  being  conducted 
by  Messrs.  Eshelman,  Franklin  Harry  and  John  J.  Lemon.  On  October  23. 
1872,  Mr.  Lemon  sold  his  interest  to  John  H.  Boyd,  who.  on  August  2,  1876. 
turned  his  share  over  to  Thomas  E.  Peckinpaugh,  the  firm  name  then  being 
known  as  Eshelman  & Company. 

Ephraim  B.  Eshelman,  now  head  of  the  publication,  widely  known  as 
“Old  Figgers”  because  of  his  propensity  for  figures  in  dealing  with  public 
matters  when  serving  in  the  Ohio  Legislature,  was  perhaps  the  most  widely 
known  and  copied  editorial  writer  the  city  and  county  ever  knew. 

After  several  years'  existence  as  Eshelman  & Company,  Mr.  Peckinpaugh 
sold  out  his  interest  to  H.  P.  Gravatt.  In  July,  1881,  Mr.  Gravatt  became 
the  owner  of  Mr.  Eshelman’s  one-half  interest  in  the  firm.  Mr.  Eshelman 
was  then  for  a time  editor  of  the  Akron  Times , but  in  1886  returned  to 
Wooster  and  again  became  a part  owner,  securing  the  one-fourth  interest 
of  the  late  Dr.  Leander  Firestone,  and  again  assumed  the  editorial  manage- 
ment. The  firm  was  now  known  as  H.  P.  Gravatt  & Company. 

During  all  these  years,  starting  in  the  office  when  a boy  of  sixteen 
years,  Capt.  Lemuel  Jeffries  had  been  acting  as  city  editor  of  the  paper, 
serving  in  that  capacity  all  the  years  but  those  spent  as  a soldier  in  the  Re- 
bellion. Captain  Jeffries  was  a writer  of  more  than  average  ability,  being 
exceptionally  careful  in  the  preparation  of  his  copy,  and  was  on  the  pay  roll 
of  the  paper  at  the  time  of  his  death,  on  June  17.  1909.  Mr.  Eshelman. 
because  of  age,  retired  from  the  business  May  12,  1902,  and  died  in  his 
apartment  at  the  Archer  House  June  6,  1906. 

The  paper  passed  into  the  control  of  the  Wayne  County  Democrat 
Company,  a corporation,  June  12,  1905,  buying  the  property  of  H.  P.  Gra- 
vatt, then  sole  owner.  The  officers  are  John  C.  Hoffman,  manager  and  presi- 
dent; Fred  H.  Zimmerman,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  daily  issue  of  the 
company,  the  Wooster  Daily  Neu’s,  made  its  first  appearance  July  15,  1905. 
The  city  editor,  at  the  present  time.  February.  1910,  is  Edward  Hauensein, 
a young  man  who  is  rapidly  developing  as  a news  writer. 

The  equipment  for  the  Wayne  County  Democrat  and  the  Daily  News  is 
modern  and  up-to-date. 


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While  we  have  been  discussing  the  growth  of  Wooster's  two  most  im- 
portant publications,  we  must  not  neglect  to  mention  those  lesser  papers  that 
had  their  existence  contemporary  with  the  Wooster  Republican  and  the 
Wayne  County  Democrat , for  without  these  this  history  would  be  incomplete. 
While  some  of  these  lived  but  short  lives  and  meant  little  to  the  community, 
yet  others  were  considered  good  publications  during  the  years  they  lived.  One 
of  the  first  of  these  was  founded  by  R.  V.  Kennedy  and  was  called  the 
Wayne  County  Standard , a Democratic  sheet  that  did  not  survive  beyond  its 
first  year. 

Another  was  christened  the  American  Eagle.  It  was  established  by  a 
young  man  of  the  county,  by  name  Howard  Coe.  It  was  to  advocate  the 
interests  of  the  town  men  then  seeking  office  (1885),  but  this  noble  bird 
had  a woeful  flight  extending  over  the  short  period  of  but  six  months. 

Among  the  more  successful  publications  than  those  just  mentioned  was 
the  Wayne  County  Herald , established  in  1878,  as  a result  of  a split  in  the 
Republican  pary.  The  paper  had  a rather  hard  battle  for  a number  of  years 
and  passed  through  many  changes  of  ownership  and  control.  The  paper 
finally  became  the  official  organ  of  the  Prohibition  party  and  for  a number  of 
years  was  a paying  newspaper  property.  This  was  under  the  editorial  man- 
agement as  well  as  the  capable  business  management  of  John  J.  Ashenhurst. 
Other  changes  came  in  the  years  after  Mr.  Ashenhurst’s  retirement,  and 
publication  was  finally  suspended  during  the  summer  of  1909. 

Elsewhere  in  this  review  we  have  made  mention  of  a German  publica- 
tion in  the  city  that  had  but  a very  meager  growth  and  died  almost  before 
its  beginning  was  completed,  but  we  have  now  another  to  discuss,  the  Woos- 
ter Journal , the  only  German  paper  that  ever  existed  in  the  county  and  city. 
This  publication  was  established  in  1880  by  Adolph  Weixelbaum  and  was 
printed  in  the  old  Quinby  building  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  square,  which 
later  was  torn  down  and  replaced  by  the  building  now  occupied  by  the 
Annat  store. 

The  paper  prospered  from  the  start,  the  German  element  giving  it 
hearty  support.  During  the  gas  excitement  in  Findlay  in  1886,  Mr.  Weixel- 
baum sold  the  paper  to  his  brother,  Max  Weixelbaum,  and  went  to  that  city, 
where  he  embarked  in  the  same  business.  His  brother  conducted  the  paper 
for  several  years,  having  the  office  on  South  street.  For  some  reason  or  other, 
in  later  years  it  did  not  enjoy  its  past  prosperity  and  Mr.  Weixelbaum  went 
to  Tiffin,  where  he  purchased  the  old  established  German  paper  of  Seneca 
county.  Adolph  Weixelbaum,  the  founder,  is  now  in  Lima,  where  he  is 
very  successful  in  his  ventures  in  that  city. 


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The  Jacksonian , another  of  the  more  successful  contemporaries,  was  a 
Democratic  newspaper,  established  and  published  by  J.  F.  and  J.  A.  March- 
and.  The  first  issue  appeared  in  August,  1881.  Its  mission  before  the  public 
was  the  advocacy  of  the  election  of  E.  S.  Dowell  to  the  common  pleas  judge- 
ship,  as  against  C.  C.  Parsons,  who  was  successful. 

The  Evening  News,  the  first  regular  daily  paper  ever  published  in  the 
city,  was  started  by  the  above  gentlemen  in  February,  1884,  and  was  con- 
tinued by  them  until  1887,  when  it  was  taken  over  by  H.  N.  Clemens,  then 
publisher  of  the  Republican , who  changed  its  name  to  the  Daily  Republican. 

The  Evening  Journal  was  founded  by  Calvin  D.  Myers  in  1898,  and 
after  about  one  year  became  the  property  of  J.  F.  Marchand,  who  continued 
the  publication  until  1906,  when  it  was  discontinued.  The  Jacksonian  in  1906 
passed  into  the  control  of  the  Wayne  County  Democrat  Company  and  the 
Evening  Journal  into  the  hands  of  the  Wooster  Republican  Printing  Com- 
pany. 

Having  thus  as  concisely  as  possible  endeavored  to  describe  the  origin 
and  growth  of  the  papers  of  Wooster,  the  county  seat,  another  subject,  that 
of  the  papers  of  the  county  at  large,  remains  to  be  reviewed,  and  to  this 
end  we  now  turn.  The  county  is  exceptionally  well  represented  with  news- 
papers, considering  the  size  of  the  towns  therein,  and  all  of  these  publica- 
tions show  a marked  degree  of  prosperity. 

In  the  village  of  Orryille  we  have  two  papers,  The  Crescent  and  The 
Courier,  both  independent  of  any  political  party. 

The  Orrville  Crescent  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1867  by  John 
A.  Wolbach,  who  while  working  at  his  trade  in  Wadsworth  procured  a press 
and  a lot  of  second-hand  material  and  moved  the  outfit  to  Orrville,  the  trip 
being  made  on  a sled.  Mr.  Wolbach  conducted  the  plant  for  some  years, 
when  he  leased  it  to  Ruth,  of  Loudon ville,  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  sold 
it  to  Cherry  and  Colburn,  of  Wadsworth.  This  firm  published  the  paper 
but  eight  months,  when  they  sold  out  to  James  A.  Hamilton,  of  Cleveland, 
on  October  14,  1879.  In  the  intervening  years  Mr.  Hamilton  sold  the  prop- 
erty twice,  in  1891  to  Emerson  Brothers,  of  Indiana,  who  published  the  paper 
less  than  a year,  after  which  it  was  again  bought  by  Mr.  Hamilton,  who  sold 
it  again  in  1900  to  Naftzger  and  Krieble,  of  Orrville.  On  repurchasing  the 
property  Mr.  Hamilton  gave  his  son.  Harry,  a third  interest,  but  later  pur- 
chased the  son's  interest.  In  the  fall  of  1909  the  property  was  placed  in 
the  charge  of  A.  R.  Williams  and  James  G.  Hamilton,  Jr.,  a son-in-law  and 
son,  who  are  now  conducting  the  paper. 


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In  about  1904  the  paper  was  changed  from  a weekly  to  a semi-weekly, 
and  in  1908  was  changed  to  a tri-weeklv.  The  Crescent  has  kept  pace  with 
the  modern  newspaper  and  is  equipped  with  as  fine  presses  and  assortment 
of  job  and  newspaper  type  as  any  office  in  the  county.  In  the  eighties  Mr. 
Hamilton  purchased  a Thorne  typesetting  machine,  it  being  the  first  typeset- 
ting machine  to  be  brought  to  Wayne  county.  In  1901  he  ordered  a two- 
letter  Mergenthaler  linotype  machine,  it  also  being  the  first  one  of  its  char- 
acter to  be  introduced  into  Wayne  county. 

When  Mr.  Hamilton  first  assumed  control  of  the  paper,  a five-column 
quarto,  patent  inside,  was  in  use  and  the  circulation  was  about  five  hundred. 
It  was  later  changed  to  an  eight-column  folio  and  then  to  a nine-column 
folio.  When  changed  to  a semi-weekly  it  was  made  a seven-column  paper 
and  since  being  issued  as  a tri-weekly  it  has  been  divided  up  between  a five- 
column  and  six-column  folio  in  size.  Since  its  establishment  the  Crescent 
has  had  a steady  growth  until  at  the  present  time  it  is  a welcome  visitor  in 
many  of  the  country  homes  of  eastern  Wayne  county. 

The  Orrville  Courier , although  founded  in  very  recent  years,  has  had  a 
remarkable  growth  and,  aside  from  upholding  only  the  best  for  the  town, 
;1  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  many  county  papers.  The  management  has  always 
made  an  effort  to  secure  every  item  of  interest  in  the  county,  by  no  means 
limiting  it  to  the  town,  and  thereby  making  it  a publication  to  be  highly 
appreciated  by  the  farming  community. 

The  Courier  was  established  in  June,  1903,  by  the  Courier  Publishing 
Company,  an  established  company  headed  by  P.  E.  Krieble.  At  its  begin- 
ning it  was  edited  as  an  independent  paper  until,  as  we  have  mentioned,  it 
now  stands  as  one  of  the  foremost  of  the  county's  publications. 

J.  F.  Adams,  then  principal  of  the  high  school,  was  the  first  editor.  The 
Courier  was  first  published  as  a weekly  until  1907,  when  it  was  made  a semi- 
weekly, under  the  editorship  of  Glenn  D.  Willaman,  and  has  remained  such 
up  to  the  present  time.  In  September  of  1908  P.  E.  Krieble  assumed  the 
editorial  management  and  is  still  acting  in  that  capacity. 

The  village  of  Dalton  also  has  in  its  midst  a bright  little  newspaper,  The 
Gazette.  Walton  C.  Scott  was  the  founder  of  this  publication.  On  August 
3.  1875,  *ie  issued  one  edition  called  the  Dalton  Banner,  a four-column  folio, 
in  which,  in  an  editorial,  was  stated  that  the  town  and  community  would  be 
canvassed  and  if  support  enough  was  subscribed  the  paper  would  be  enlarged 
and  publication  continued.  Consequently,  on  October  5,  1875,  the  maiden 
number  of  the  Dalton  Gazette,  a six-column  folio,  appeared  and  was  pub- 


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lishecl  as  a biweekly  for  one  year,  and  since  that  time  the  Gazette  has  ap- 
peared regularly  once  a week.  The  Gazette  was  edited  and  published  by 
the  founder,  Mr.  Scott,  for  thirty-one  years,  up  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
on  December  io,  1906.  Since  that  time  the  Gazette  has  been  published  by 
his  son,  E.  F.  Scott,  who  assumed  charge  on  the  first  of  December,  1906. 
At  the  present  time  the  Gazette  is  being  published  as  a six-column  quarto. 

In  Creston,  one  of  the  villages  of  northern  Wayne  county,  there  is  an- 
other independent  paper  under  the  management  of  F.  M.  Sulliger.  Later 
than  thirty  years  ago,  we  regret  to  say,  we  can  secure  no  data  of  this  inter- 
esting publication,  as  prior  to  that  time  all  of  the  files  were  destroyed. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  period  mentioned  C.  A.  Mellen  was  the  editor 
and  manager,  and  at  that  time  the  Journal , as  the  publication  is  known,  was 
a very  small  sheet.  The  paper  remained  in  the  capable  management  of  Mr. 
Mellen  for  about  five  years,  after  which  he  disposed  of  it  to  C.  A.  Stebbins, 
now  a banker  of  Creston.  After  a number  of  years  Mr.  Stebbins  disposed 
of  the  plant,  selling  it  to  Mr.  Sulliger,  who,  as  stated,  is  now  at  its  head. 
Mr.  Sulliger  has  owned  and  managed  the  paper  for  the  longest  time  of  any 
of  its  owners  and  has  done  more  to  secure  its  prosperity.  The  printing  de- 
partment is  equipped  with  a power  press,  the  only  machine  of  its  kind  in 
the  village.  Mr.  Mellen,  the  founder,  was  a most  versatile  and  fluent  writer 
and,  though  well  advanced  in  years,  continued  contributing  to  the  publication 
up  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1909. 

The  Doylestoxvn  Journal  is  another  of  Wayne  county’s  weekly  publi- 
cations. It  is  known  that  the  paper  was  founded  in  the  month  of  September, 
1874,  by  George  W.  Everetts,  but  between  that  time  and  1889  the  files 
were  destroyed  and  definite  facts  as  to  its  growth  in  that  period  can  not  be 
ascertained.  When  Mr.  Everetts  purchased  the  plant  the  outfit  was  brought 
to  Doylestown  from  Mauch  Chunk,  Pennsylvania,  and  placed  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  for  several  years  was  located  and  oper- 
ated in  this  building.  J.  V.  McElhenie,  now  a resident  of  Canton,  Ohio, 
was  the  second  owner  of  the  paper.  For  a time  after  his  purchase  Mr. 
McElhenie  discontinued  the  paper,  but  later  resumed  it.  During  its  exist- 
ence the  paper  has  been  owned  by  William  Smith.  George  A.  Corbus,  A.  R. 
DeFluent,  Dr.  B.  F.  Putt  and  W.  S.  Hochstettler.  W.  R.  Gillespie,  the 
present  editor  and  proprietor,  purchased  the  plant  from  Mr.  Hochstettler  in 
May,  1906. 

The  W est  Salem  Reporter , founded  in  August.  1868,  by  John  Wreeks. 
is  conceded  one  of  the  best  papers  in  the  county.  Mr.  Weeks  was  succeeded 


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by  J.  W.  Hutton,  who,  in  turn,  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  F.  C.  McCauley, 
who  changed  the  name  of  the  publication  to  The  Buckeye  Farmer.  The  paper 
had  a very  precarious  existence,  and  in  1876  the  office  was  purchased  by  E. 
T.  Atkinson  and  George  W.  Brenizer,  who  changed  the  name  of  the  publi- 
cation to  the  West  Salem  Monitor.  These  gentlemen  were  at  the  helm  for 
a number  of  years  and  on  retiring  disposed  of  the  plant  to  Robert  Watson, 
of  Canal  Dover.  After  Watson’s  death  the  widow  continued  as  editress, 
but  was  not  well  supported  and  finally,  in  1888,  suspended  the  publication. 
After  nearly  two  years  without  a paper,  Mrs.  Watson  and  daughter.  Miss 
Mary  Watson,  resuscitated  the  paper,  and  in  August,  1891,  disposed  of  the 
business  to  J.  W.  Kiplinger.  Mr.  Kiplinger  remained  in  charge  of  the  paper 
until  February,  1893.  Mrs.  Watson  had  in  the  meantime  changed  the  name 
to  the  West  Salem  Reporter.  A.  F.  Dunlap,  the  present  owner,  bought  the 
plant  in  February,  1893,  and  as  its  head  has  brought  the  paper  to  the  point 
where,  as  we  mentioned,  it  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  best  papers  published 
in  the  county.  Mr.  Dunlap,  who  does  his  own  writing,  both  editorially  and 
locally,  is  a man  of  wide  experience  in  the  business,  and  well  deserves  the 
success  that  his  efforts  have  attained. 

In  another  portion  of  the  county  there  is  another  newspaper  that  has 
established  for  itself  a name  as  well  as  a large  circulation, — we  speak  of 
the  Shreve  News.  This  paper  was  established  by  W.  J.  Ashenhurst  in  the 
eighties;  in  1896  the  plant  was  purchased  by  L.  S.  Miley  and  Gen.  A.  B. 
Critchfield.  Mr.  Miley  purchased  the  General’s  interest  in  1903,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  the  editor  and  sole  owner.  In  the  period  of  ownership  and 
management  from  1896  to  1910  the  circulation  and  management  of  the 
News  have  quadrupled.  The  paper  is  independent  in  politics,  and  is  strictly 
a home  newspaper,  devoted  especially  to  local  and  county  news.  One  of 
the  distinct  principles  of  the  News,  and  one  for  which  it  deserves  hearty 
praise,  is  freedom  from  sensational  ‘'slush” — to  publish  only  the  clean,  whole- 
some happenings  of  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Miley,  the  enterprising  manager  and  editor,  was  born  in  Holmes 
county,  a Democrat  by  birth  and  adoption;  he  taught  school  for  a time, 
after  which  he  entered  at  Ada  Normal  University  and  later  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege, at  which  places  he  received  his  education. 


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CHAPTER  XVII. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION. 

With  the  settlement  of  every  new  country,  the  family  doctor  was  among 
the  first  of  the  professions  to  follow  on  the  trail  of  the  pioneers.  His  serv- 
ices were  in  demand,  even  as  now.  The  sick  had  to  be  cared  for,  though  with 
less  skill  than  at  present.  The  very  elements  of  a new  country,  the  swamps 
and  unditched  lands,  the  decaying  forests  and  a thousand  and  one  causes, 
led  to  much  sickness.  The  home  treatment  of  mother  and  grandmother  was. 
it  is  true,  more  relied  upon  than  now,  but  there  were  numerous  cases  in 
>\hich  the  good  family  doctor  had  to  be  called.  The  rides,  usually  on  horse- 
back, made  by  the  pioneer  doctors,  were  long  and  ofttimes  perilous.  The 
streams  were  all  unbridged  and  the  roads  were  but  blazed  trails  through  the 
dense  woodland.  But  by  day  and  by  night  the  faithful  physician,  with  saddle- 
bags, would  go  where  he  might  be  called  to  attend  the  sick.  He  was  indeed 
a hero  and  in  his  breast  usually  beat  the  largest  of  hearts.  He  never  refused 
to  make  a sick  call  because  the  family  might  be  poor.  His  bills  were  carried 
over  from  one  year  to  another,  without  interest,  and  many  were  never 
fully  paid.  While  it  is  true  the  science  of  medicine  had  not  then  attained 
the  perfection  that  now  marks  its  course,  yet  there  were  highly  educated  and 
successful  doctors  in  the  long  ago  twenties  and  thirties  of  the  last  century 

As  much  as  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  said  against  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine by  thoughtless  well  men  and  women,  there  comes  a time  to  each  and  all 
v lien  a sight  of  the  good  doctor  is  indeed  welcome.  When  the  fevered  brow 
and  quickened  pulse  torture  the  victim  of  some  grave  and  painful  malady, 
then  it  is  that  the  suffering  one  appreciates  the  warm  hand  and  sympathetic 
heart  of  the  physician  and  takes  his  treatment  without  a murmur.  The  reme- 
dies in  olden  times,  however,  were  not  sugar-coated  or  put  up  in  a form 
pleasing  to  a sick  person,  as  today,  but  were  of  the  crudest  sort,  and  often 
extremely  unpalatable.  Verily  this  profession  has  made  wonderful  progress 
in  the  b'st  fifty  years. 

Without  risking  any  unsupported  claim,  or  indulging  in  any  fulsome 
encomium,  it  can  be  truthfully  said  that  the  history  of  the  medical  profession 
and  its  personnel  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other  profession  in  Wayne 
county.  Law  has  produced  many  distinguished  jurists  and  practitioners  on 
the  bench  and  at  the  bar,  but  medicine  has  had  as  brilliant  and  eminent  men 


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in  its  ranks  as  can  be  claimed  for  the  legal  profession,  although,  perhaps,  they 
have  not  had  occasion  to  display  their  talents  as  have  the  followers  of  Black- 
stone.  Wayne  county  furnished  a number  of  surgeons  during  the  Civil  war 
who  rendered  services  both  on  the  battlefield  and  in  the  tented  hospitals. 

The  present-day  physicians  have  no  real  conception  of  what  hardships, 
exposure  and  trials  were  the  lot  of  the  early  physicians  of  Wayne  county. 
They  were  not  blessed  with  macadamized  roads,  automobiles,  coupes,  depot 
wagons,  taxicabs  and  closed  carriages  ; but  rode  through  thick  and  thin,  hot 
and  cold,  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night,  on  horseback,  with  the  old-time 
saddlebags  strapped  to  their  saddles.  Some  of  the  pioneer  doctors  would 
ride  many  miles  over  the  country,  in  mid-winter,  leaving  at  daylight  and  not 
returning  till  night,  worn  out  from  exposure,  fatigue  and  nervous  tension. 
It  was  characteristic  of  them  to  minister  to  the  sick  without  reference  to 
fee  or  reward,  as  the  majority  of  the  people  were  poor  and,  while  honestly 
inclined,  were  unable  to  pay  for  medical  attendance.  One  physician,  now 
gone  to  his  reward,  who  practiced  his  profession  here  for  over  a quarter 
of  a century,  estimated  that  he  had  done  over  thirty  thousand  dollars’  worth 
of  medical  service,  for  possibly  half  of  which  he  received  no  cash,  and  many 
times  no  thanks.  While  there  is  a spirit  of  grasping  for  lucre  in  all  pro- 
fessions nowadays,  yet  the  earlier  practitioners  seemed  to  take  to  the  prac- 
tice largely  from  motives  of  philanthropy,  believing,  as  was  right,  that  it 
was  one  of  the  grandest  human  offices  to  relieve  suffering,  to  cheer  the  de- 
pressed, to  succor  from  the  assaults  of  disease,  and,  failing  in  this,  to  smooth 
the  way  to  the  inevitable  tomb.  There  is  no  loftier  mission;  none  which 
more  closely  assimilates  the  human  with  the  divine.  While  the  earlier  physi- 
cians had  to  depend  on  the  science  as  a means  of  livelihood,  still  they  rose 
above  the  purely  mercenary  motives  in  their  practice.  Many  of  the  pioneer 
doctors  not  only  ministered  to  the  body,  but  to  the  soul  as  well.  Several 
practiced  medicine  and  “preached  the  gospel  to  the  poor.” 

It  is  both  amusing  and  interesting  to  look  back  fifty  or  seventy-five  years 
and  see  the  character  of  the  service  rendered  and  fees  charged  in  those  days. 
The  doctors  worked  hard  and  were  poorly  paid  for  their  ministrations.  It 
was  the  period  when  “cupping,”  “leeching”  and  bleeding  were  regarded  as 
indispensable.  The  practice  was  carried  to  extremes  in  many  cases,  as  the 
practice  of  venesection  was  performed  on  persons  who  had  no  blood  to  spare, 
and  as  a consequence  it  ceased. 

While  the  practice  of  medicine  was  regarded  as  most  honorable,  and  is 
yet,  it  was  then  far  from  lucrative.  In  looking  back,  we  find  some  of  the  fees 
charged  for  medicine  and  professional  services,  and  it  must  be  remembered 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  ,OHIO. 


that  doctors  then  dispensed  their  own  medicines.  The  charge  for  visits  in 
the  town  was  one  dollar,  and  for  visits  in  the  country,  one  dollar  for  the  first 
mile,  and  fifty  cents  for  each  succeeding  mile;  bleeding,  fifty  cents;  two  doses 
jallap,  fifty  cents;  box  of  pills,  fifty  cents;  extracting  teeth,  twenty -five  cents; 
one  dose  of  calomel  and  one  ounce  of  paregoric,  sixty  cents.  In  surgery,  the 
fees  were  very  moderate,  and  even  those  mentioned  were  not  “in  vogue”  until 
later  days,  the  earliest  practitioners  making  their  individual  charges,  which 
were  often  much  less  than  those  enumerated  here.  Diseases  such  as  dysentery 
and  fevers  were  attributed  entirely  to  ‘miasm  and  visitations  of  sporadic  and 
Asiatic  cholera  were  common.  Calomel  was  generally  taken  to  get  rid  of  the 
malaria.  Bilious  fever  sometimes  developed,  but  generally  yielded  to  the 
calomel  and  quinine  treatment,  which,  if  somewhat  heroic,  was  generally  suc- 
cessful, after  the  disease  had  run  its  course.  Some  years  the  ague  was  worse 
than  others,  and  at  times  there  were  not  enough  well  persons  to  take  care  of 
the  sick.  Often  the  entire  family  would  be  down  at  one  time  and  no  one  to 
give  them  even  a drop  of  water.  In  winter  the  most  common  disease  was 
winter  fever,  now  known  under  its  proper  name — pneumonia.  But  sickness 
was  really  rare,  except  chills  and  fever  in  the  fall,  or,  as  it  was  generally 
called,  the  ague,  in  which,  in  the  first  stage,  a coldness,  that  no  fire  could 
warm,  took  hold  of  the  victim,  and  he  shook  and  shivered  so  severely  that  the 
bed  would  shake  and  even  the  dishes  in  the  cupboard  rattle.  “A  chill  which 
no  coat,  however  stout,  of  homespun  stuflf,  could  quite  shut  out.”  After  an 
hour  or  two  of  this  paroxysm  the  patient  began  to  get  warm  and  was  soon 
in  the  agony  of  a raging  fever.  In  an  hour  or  two  more  this  would  pass 
and  the  patient,  apparently  none  the  worse  for  his  shake,  went  about  his  busi- 
ness until  the  second  day,  when  the  attack  invariably  returned.  Quinine  was 
the  remedy  always  used  in  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  which  was  considered 
the  only  helpful  remedy,  and  is  so  regarded  by  many  today.  The  old-fash- 
ioned ague,  where  the  victim  almost  shook  himself  to  pieces,  was  very  com- 
mon in  the  spring  and  fall,  and,  besides  the  remedies  mentioned,  good  big 
draughts  of  Peruvian  bark  and  whiskey  were  also  the  sheet  anchors.  Whiskey 
was  found  in  every  house  and  every  one  drank  more  or  less,  although  it  was 
usually  confined  to  the  morning  dram,  except  in  sickness.  It  was  made  from 
corn  and  was  much  purer  and  more  wholesome  than  the  vile  stuflf  now  pur- 
chased in  saloons  and  drug  stores.  Drunkenness  was  almost  unknown  in 
those  days  and  it  was  the  custom  to  show  the  hospitality  of  the  home  by  pro- 
ducing the  bottle.  No  thought  of  discourtesy  entered  the  mind  of  either  when 
the  minister  was  offered  the  contents  of  “Black  Bettie,”  after  his  journey 


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through  the  wilderness  or  the  exertion  of  a two-hour  discourse.  Whiskey 
was  worth  only  about  twenty  cents  a gallon,  and  as  it  was  made  from  corn, 
that  was  still  cheaper,  it  was  within  the  reach  of  all;  but  that  fact  did  not  lead 
to  drunkenness.  But  with  the  springing  up  of  villages,  with  their  “dogger- 
ies,” a change  of  sentiment  took  place,  and  ere  long  the  habit  of  whiskey 
drinking  began  to  be  looked  upon  with  disfavor  and,  so  far  as  home  drinking 
is  concerned,  has  about  passed  away  in  all  states  except  some  remote  mountain 
regions.  Although  the  pioneer  physician  did  not  find  it  necessary  to  carry  a 
supply  of  whiskey  along  with  his  medicines,  he  usually  recommended  it  to  his 
patients,  especially  advising  a free  use  of  it  when  “winter-fever”  was  prev- 
alent, for  this  was  the  most  fatal  of  all  frontier  diseases,  probably  because 
of  a lack  of  proper  treatment,  owing  to  its  true  nature  not  being  well  under- 
stood. 

Births  in  the  early  days  were  in  the  hands  of  the  older  women  of  the 
settlements  and  were  rarely  attended  with  unpleasant  or  dangerous  conse- 
quences. 

The  following  is  a list,  as  complete  as  is  possible  to  give  after  so  many 
years  have  rolled  into  oblivion,  of  the  physicians  who  have  practiced  the  heal- 
ing art  within  Wayne  county.  Many  are  dead,  many  of  them  removed  to 
other  sections  of  the  country  and  some  are  still  living  here : 

Dr.  Thomas  Townsend,  the  pioneer  physician  of  Wooster,  was  of  Qua- 
ker parentage,  and  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  removed  to  Wooster  in 
1810-11,  remained  there  about  thirty  years,  when  he  went  to  Wheeling,  West 
Virginia,  where  he  died.  He  was  a man  of  marked  ability  in  his  profession, 
and  performed  a considerable  part  in  the  organization  of  the  town  and  county. 
He  held  different  positions  of  official  relations  and  responsibility,  prominent 
among  which  was  an  associate  judgeship  in  1819. 

Dr.  Daniel  McPhail  was  another  early-dav  physician  of  Wooster,  settling 
at  least  as  early  as  1818.  He  was  born  and  educated  in  Scotland;  was  a man 
of  unusual  acquirements  and  a splendid  chemist.  He  practiced  medicine  in 
Wooster  about  twelve  years,  but  prejudice  rose  against  him  and  he  was  sued 
for  malpractice.  Judge  Charles  Sherman,  father  of  General  Sherman,  de- 
fended him,  and  Judge  Edward  Avery  conducted  the  prosecution.  In  the 
trial  Doctor  McPhail  vanquished  his  persecutors  and  was  triumphantly  vindi- 
cated. Desiring  to  avoid  hostile  combinations,  he  removed  to  Tennessee  and 
thence  to  New  Orleans.  Later  he  went  back  to  Tennessee,  where  he  acquired 
a vast  practice,  and  where  he  died,  having  achieved  a great  reputation  for 
skill  in  his  profession. 


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Dr.  Stephen  F.  Day  was  a formidable  man  in  the  profession  of  medicine 
and  wore  the  baton  of  a field  marshal  in  the  empire  of  physics.  The  annals 
of  medical  practice  may  supply  a more  illustrious  name,  but  it  is  doubted  if 
as  a practitioner  in  his  chosen  sphere  and  field  he  had  many  equals  or  superi- 
ors. He  entered  the  list  not  for  the  purpose  of  eliciting  applause,  starving 
competitors  or  of  being  a subaltern.  His  was  a higher  aim — that  of  acquir- 
ing a transcendent  skill;  of  mastering  the  abstrusities  of  the  books;  of  pene- 
trating the  mysterious  origins  of  disease  ; of  exploring  the  ingeniously  con- 
trived, most  complicated  and  most  wonderfully  constructed  temple  of  life;  of 
ennobling  the  ministry  of  pain,  and  exalting  and  glorifying  his  profession. 
His  pronounced  motto  was : 

“To  guard  is  better  than  to  heal, 

The  shield  is  nobler  than  the  spear.” 

He  despised  the  vandal  horde  of  mountebanks  and  quack  professors  that 
swoop  down  upon  a community,  devastate  human  habitations,  augment  the 
total  of  human  misery,  and  who,  in  the  solemn  flight  of  death,  allow  not  a sin- 
gle straggler  to  get  home.  He  ever  insisted  that  infinite  mischief  was  oc- 
casioned by  this  piebald  army  of  dog  killers,  insect  hunters,  weed  pickers, 
spider  catchers,  cockle  shell  mongers,  and  brass- faced,  unlettered  charlatans 
that  too  often  infest  communities  and,  like  the  army  in  Caesar's  time,  slay  in 
chariots  and  slay  on  foot. 

Doctor  Day — a truly  remarkable  man — was  a native  of  Morris  county. 
New  Jersey,  bom  September  4,  1798.  When  seven  years  old,  he  accompanied 
his  father  to  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  his  time  on 
a farm  and  where  he  remained  until  past  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  then, 
with  an  iron  will,  decided  to  press  forth  into  life’s  activities  for  himself. 
Bidding  farewell  to  home  and  kindred,  he  set  out  on  horseback,  attired  in 
homespun  garments  and  with  twenty-five  cents  in  his  pocket.  He  labored 
hard  at  whatever  his  hands  found  honorable  to  perform.  As  a basis  upon 
which  to  build  his  professional  life,  he  commenced  the  elementary  study  of 
medicine  with  Doctor  Leatherman,  of  Canonsburg,  Pennsylvania,  his  course 
concluding  with  a diploma  from  the  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia.  He 
immediately  entered  into  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Florence,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  equipped  with  pill-bag,  nauseating  jalap,  the  savage  knife  and  the 
blades  that  shine,  prepared  to  make  a heal  or  a lasting  scar.  In  the  early 
spring  of  1827  he  came  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  the  arena  of  a life  of  patient  and 
exhaustive  toil  and  the  theatre  of  his  subsequent  professional  career.  Here 
he  continued  in  practice  until  1861,  when  approaching  bodily  infirmities  ad- 


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monished  him  to  surrender  the  field  and  fortress  he  had  so  long  and  valiantly 
maintained. 

Doctor  Day  was  united  happily  in  marriage,  in  1833,  to  Eliza  E. 
Straughan,  of  Salem.  Ohio.  In  March,  1863,  he  was  attacked  by  paralysis, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  never  fully  recovered,  but  was  confined  to  his 
bed  until  November  25,  1869,  when  a second  attack  suddenly  caused  his 
death.  It  is  safe  to  assert  that  no  physician  and  surgeon  of  this  county  en- 
joyed the  monopoly  of  his  profession  as  did  this  truly  skillful  man.  His  cir- 
cuit of  visitation  was  not  confined  to  Wayne  county,  but  extended  far  out 
into  the  adjoining  counties.  By  some,  in  his  surgery  he  was  called  heartless, 
but  he  was  not — he  knew  what  had  to  be  done  and  went  straight  at  the  work. 
Then  he  lived  in  an  age  before  the  science  had  made  such  strides  as  has  been 
attained  in  the  handling  of  the  knife.  He  was  a man  of  clear  judgment  and 
positive  mind,  and  was  extremely  cautious  of  his  conclusions  at  the  bed  of 
illness,  but  when  his  mind  was  made  up  no  one  could* change  his  opinion.  Per- 
sonally, he  was  a man  of  imposing  appearance,  stood  over  six  feet  in  stature 
and  erect  as  a column.  He  was  a great  worker  at  whatever  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  and  this  rewarded  him  with  honors  and  wealth.  Many  young  men 
of  talent  took  their  instructions  under  Doctor  Day,  two  of  the  most  prom- 
inent of  these  being  Dr.  Edward  Thompson,  the  renowned  Methodist  bishop, 
who  died  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  March  22,  1870,  and  Dr.  Leander 
Firestone,  the  eminent  surgeon  of  Wooster.  The  former  was  in  the  office  of 
Doctor  Day  from  1833  to  ^36  and  the  latter  gentleman  from  1839  to  1842. 
So  long  as  the  practice  of  medicine  is  known  and  talked  of  in  Wooster  and 
Wayne  county,  the  name  of  Doctor  Day  will  ever  shine  as  among  the  bright 
stars  in  the  science  of  medicine. 

Dr.  Samuel  Norton  Bissell,  born  January  22,  1809,  in  the  village  of  Ver- 
non. Oneida  county,  New  York,  came  of  good  old  English  ancestry.  His 
father  was  a celebrated  physician  from  near  Hartford,  Connecticut.  Samuel 
N„  of  this  notice,  was  named  for  his  grandfather,  with  whom  his  earlier 
years  were  spent  in  Connecticut.  Under  the  careful  guidance  of  both  his 
father  and  paternal  grandfather,  he  succeeded  in  procuring  more  than  an 
ordinary  education.  He  was  a student  and  thorough  investigator  from  the 
very  first  decade  of  his  existence.  Having  chosen  medicine  as  his  profession, 
he  embarked  at  once  on  the  sea  of  life  with  this  in  mind.  He  pushed  west, 
came  to  Wooster  finally,  and  here  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  Heze- 
khh  Bissell,  then  a successful  physician  of  the  little  village.  He  remained 
with  him.  studying  until  he  had  completed  his  elementary  course  and  college 


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course,  when  he  entered  upon  the  real  duties  of  a well  educated  doctor.  In 
September,  1832,  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Sloane.  He  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  profession  in  Wooster  until  his  death,  on  June  13,  1848. 
The  circumstances  surrounding  his  death  were  indeed  painful  and  affecting. 
His  youngest  sister,  Eunice  C.,  wife  of  Harvey  Howard,  then  residing  in 
Tiffin,  Ohio,  was  seriously  ill.  A courier  was  sent  to  Doctor  Bissell,  sum- 
moning him  immediately  to  her  bedside.  With  promptness,  he  obeyed  the 
request.  There  being  no  railroad  direct  to  that  city,  he  had  to  cross  the 
county,  from  which  exposure  he  was  prostrated  with  pneumonia,  from  the 
effects  of  which,  absent  from  his  own  home  and  in  the  house  of  his  suffering 
sister,  he  suddenly  died.  Verily,  indeed  he  was  a martyr  for  his  friends  and 
the  behest  of  duty.  His  remains  were  conveyed  to  Wooster  and  deposited 
in  the  old  Presbyterian  burying  ground,  and  later  removed  to  the  city  cemetery. 
He  left  two  sons,  J.  S.  and  H.  H.  Bissell.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1871. 
His  own  death  fell  upon  the  people  of  Wayne  county,  and  Wooster  especial- 
ly. like  a thunder  clap  from  out  a clear  summer  sky.  He  was  short  in  stature, 
but  a perfect  specimen  of  manhood. 

It  should  be  recorded  of  Doctor  Bissell  that  the  mystery  and  origin  of 
life  were  not  comprised  in  his  motives;  simply  the  perfection  and  healthy, 
symmetrical  preservation  of  that  life.  It  mattered  not  to  Blind  Tom  who 
made  the  musical  instrument  on  which  he  played ; his  mission  was  to  elicit  its 
harmonies,  correct  its  discords  and  make  it  perform  a perfect  work.  With 
this  interpretation  of  his  duties,  Doctor  Bissell  practiced  medicine,  and  in  the 
varied  walks  of  his  profession  distinguished  himself  as  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar and  scientific  physicians  and  surgeons  in  northern  Ohio.  He  was  a man 
of  strong  attachments  and  of  an  amiable  and  benevolent  disposition;  of  kind 
heart  and  strong  brain.  Politically,  he  was  Whig,  and  had  he  taken  to  it 
he  would  have  made  an  excellent  political  manager.  He  served  in  the  capac- 
ity of  associate  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court  in  1845.  While  he  was 
practical  and  businesslike,  those  who  knew  him  best  testify  to  his  warmth  of 
feeling  and  noble  disposition.  Such  in  brief  is  the  history  of  the  subject  of 
this  memoir:  such  his  skill  and  learning. 

Dr.  W.  C.  Moore  was  born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  June  1.  1822. 
His  parents  removed  to  W'avne  county  and  settled  in  Chester  township  in 
1832.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when, 
in  1842.  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Leander  Firestone,  then 
practicing  in  Congress  village.  Congress  township.  There  he  continued  a 
student  of  medicine  for  three  years,  engaging  in  school  teaching  in  the  winter 


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seasons.  After  finishing  his  elementary  readings  and  having  graduated,  he 
began  practice  with  his  preceptor  in  1845,  continuing  there  a year,  then  moved 
to  Rowsburg,  where  he  remained  another  year,  when  he  returned  to  Congress 
village  and  remained  with  Doctor  Firestone  for  ten  years.  Though  not  a 
full-fledged  politician,  he  was  popular  in  his  party  throughout  the  county,  and 
in  1859  was  elected  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  Ohio,  by  that  party, 
serving  from  December  2,  i860,  to  January  6,  1862.  In  1862  he- removed  to 
Wooster,  where  he  practiced  afterwards.  It  was  written  of  him  in  1878 
that  “His  mind  is  bright,  analytical,  and  he  arrives  at  conclusions,  not  simply 
as  a result  of  his  logical  premises,  but  by  his  actual  comparative  knowledge. 
His  social  developments  are  of  a high  order,  and  his  heart  and  sou?  are  not 
hidden  under  ice,  but  lie  near  a warm  tropical  surface,  where  they  expand 
into  sunshine  and  burst  into  flowers.  He  was  somewhat  of  a poet  and  the 
following  is  the  closing  verse  of  a long  poem  he  wrote  many  years  since,  the 
same  being  suggested  by  a visit  to  his  mother’s  grave  in  a Wooster  cemetery  : 

“Thy  lips  are  sealed,  thy  silent  tongue  is  eloquent  no  more; 

I plead  in  vain  for  tidings  from  that  far,  far-gleaming  shore; 

No  mortal  eye  hath  ever  scanned  that  radiant  realm  so  fair — 

No  mortal  ear  hath  ever  heard  that  hallowed  harping  there; 

Faith’s  eye  alone  hath  scaled  the  mount  on  whose  bright  top  appears 

Heaven’s  citadel,  high  lifted  up  above  this  vale  of  tears. 

Amid  life’s  wreck  a childlike  faith,  in  inspiration  given, 

Will  light  the  tomb  and  open  wide  the  jewelled  gates  of  Heaven.’’ 

Dr.  Leander  Firestone,  who  long  adorned  the  medical  fraternity  of 
Wayne  county,  was  possessed  of  rare  genius.  In  a world  where  all  men  can- 
not be  inventors  and  discoverers,  it  is  pleasing  to  note  the  virtues  and  strength 
of  the  few  who  do  thus  appear  from  time  to  time.  In  medicine  there  are  but 
few  men  who  combine  all  the  traits  indispensable  to  a true  physician.  Doctor 
Firestone  not  only  vindicated  his  claim  to  an  exalted  rank  in  surgery,  but 
in  every  department  of  the  occult  mysteries  of  medicine  he  wielded  a strong 
pen,  talked  with  the  freedom  of  the  gushing  brook,  and  presided  over  the 
studies  of  others  with  eminent  success,  and  to  the  fame  thus  achieved  with 
scalpel  he  added  the  luster  of  instructor. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Saltcreek  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
1819.  After  he  attained  his  fourteenth  year  his  time  was  spent  at  routine 
farm  labor  in  the  summer  months,  while  in  winter  he  attended  the  common 
country  school.  He  then  went  to  Columbiana  county,  near  Salem,  where  he 
worked  and  attended  country  schools  again.  We  next  trace  him  to  Portage 


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county,  Ohio,  where  he  chopped  cord  word  for  three  shillings  per  cord  and 
hard  beech  wood  at  that.  We  next  find  him  located  two  miles  north  of  New 
Pittsburg,  Wayne  county,  with  his  uncle,  John  Firestone,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  eighteen  years  old.  He  finally  became  a country  school  teacher, 
teaching  his  first  term  in  Perry  township,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  receiving 
twelve  dollars  a month  for  his  services  and  boarded  himself. 

In  August,  1838,  Leander  Firestone  was  married  to  Susan  Firestone, 
and  the  next  year — when  he  was  twenty  years  old — he  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  S.  F.  Day,  with  whom  he  remained  three  years,  during 
which  time  he  took  a course  of  lectures  at  the  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia. 
In  March,  1841,  he  located  in  practice  at  the  village  of  Congress,  this  county, 
where  he  at  once  met  with  success.  After  thirteen  years  of  practice  at  that 
hamlet,  he  graduated  from  the  Western  Reserve  College,  located  at  Cleveland. 
During  these  eventful  years  he  had  won  a fame  and  far-reaching  reputation 
as  a skillful  physician.  The  college  from  which  he  had  recently  graduated 
was  in  need  of  someone  to  occupy  a chair,  and  in  its  survey  for  a suitable  man 
to  fill  it,  the  abilities  of  Doctor  Firestone  were  duly  recognized,  and  in  1847 
he  was  made  demonstrator  of  anatomy  in  that  institution.  This  position  he 
held  until  1853,  after  which  honorable  distinction  was  awaiting  him.  He  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  the  North  Ohio  Lunatic  Asylum,  at  Newburg. 
which  position  he  filled  until  August  6,  1856,  when  he  removed  to  Wooster, 
in  which  city  he  ever  afterwards  practiced.  In  1858  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  State  Medical  Society  and  in  1864  was  made  professor  of  obstetrics 
and  the  diseases  of  women  in  Charity  Hospital  College,  at  Cleveland,  and  held 
the  same  for  many  years.  In  1870  this  institution  was  constituted  the  medical 
department  of  the  Wooster  University,  and  he  still  held  the  same  position  as  at 
Cleveland.  June  24,  1874,  he  was  made  Doctor  of  Laws  by  the  University 
of  Ohio,  at  Athens.  As  a public  lecturer  the  Doctor  was  eloquent  and  always 
popular,  no  matter  what  his  theme.  His  descriptive  powers  were  fine  and 
interesting.  He  was  an  advanced  thinker  and  a highly  practical  worker  in  the 
medical  ranks.  He  held  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Columbus 
(Ohio)  Insane  Asylum  a number  of  years. 

Dr.  W W.  Firestone,  son  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Leander  Firestone  and 
his  intelligent  wife,  adds  another  to  the  list  of  good  medical  practitioners  of 
Wayne  county.  He  was  born  in  Congress,  Wayne  county,  February  25, 
1842.  His  parents,  both  highly  educated,  had  their  son  also  well  schooled, 
he  having  the  advantages  of  the  Wooster  city  schools  and  select  and  gradu- 
ated teachers,  under  whose  tutelage  he  completed  his  desired  course  of  study. 


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For  three  years  he  attended  Mount  Union  College,  and  in  1861  began  reading 
medicine  with  his  father.  A term  of  four  years  was  spent  in  study,  in  pro- 
fessional assistance  to  his  father,  and  in  attendance  on  lectures,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  he  graduated  from  Charity  Hospital  College,  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  now  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Wooster.  In  1865  he 
devoted  himself  entirely  to  his  profession,  and  soon  found  himself  a partner 
in  the  office  of  Leander  Firestone,  M.  D.  He  made  rapid  strides  in  his  call- 
ing. Constant  and  ever  watchful  and  of  good  judgment,  he  could  scarcely 
be  expected  to  fail  at  any  point  and  he  never  did. 

Dr.  James  D.  Robison  was  born  April  23,  1820,  at  the  corner  of  Buck- 
eye and  North  streets,  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  His  early  years  were 
spent  with  his  father,  Thomas  Robison.  Esq.,  during  which  time  he  spent  much 
of  his  time  attending  the  village  schools,  procuring  such  education  as  the  lim- 
ited opportunities  of  that  day  afforded.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
hired  as  a clerk  to  Robison  & McCune,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty, 
at  which  time,  and  in  accordance  with  an  intention  previously  resolved  upon, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine.  He  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Norton  Bissell,  in  February,  1840,  continuing  with  him  until  1841,  when, 
during  the  fall,  he  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  availing  himself  of  a course  of 
lectures  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  that  city,  soon  thereafter  taking 
advantage  of  the  clinical  course  of  instruction  at  the  Brooklyn  Hospital.  The 
summer  of  1842  he  spent  in  Cincinnati,  in  pursuit  of  his  professional  work 
in  the  office  of  Dr.  William  Wood,  simultaneously  attending  lectures  at  the 
Medical  College  of  Ohio  and  a clinical  course  at  the  Commercial  Hospital  of 
Cincinnati.  In  the  autumn  of  1842  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
graduated  and  received  his  diploma  in  March,  1843.  He  then  returned  to 
Wooster,  remained  during  the  summer  months,  the  following  fall  removing 
to  Queen  City,  locating  there  and  actively  engaging  in  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession.  Here  he  met  with  signal  success,  and  continued  until 
July  3,  1846,  and  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico.  He  was 
made  surgeon  of  the  Third  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers,  leaving  Cincinnati 
the  same  day  for  Old  Mexico.  Arriving  at  New  Orleans  on  the  gth  of  July, 
he  spent  a few  days  in  that  city  and  proceeded  to  Brazos  de  Santiago,  arriving 
August  6th  at  Camp  Curtis,  opposite  the  old  city  of  Matamoras.  December 
9th  he  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Illinois  Regiment  as  surgeon  and  was  ordered 
by  Gen.  Zac  Taylor  to  Victoria  and  later  joined  Gen.  Winfield  Scott’s  com- 
mand at  Tampico,  and  in  March  they  were  sent  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  seventeen 
days  afterwards  the  Mexican  forces  surrendered,  the  United  States  taking 


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possession  of  the  city.  On  April  io,  1847,  on  account  of  illness,  Doctor  Rob- 
ison resigned  his  commission  and  returning  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  in  October 
of  that  year  formed  a partnership  with  J.  P.  Coulter,  M.  D.,  for  the  practice 
of  medicine,  which  relation  continued  to  the  fall  of  1853.  The  next  year  he 
spent  in  and  about  the  New  York  hospitals  and  medical  institutions,  keeping 
abreast  with  the  progress  and  discoveries  of  the  profession.  He  again  re- 
turned to  Wooster  in  the  autumn  of  1854,  opened  an  office  and  engaging  in 
the  practice  until  1861,  when  the  Civil  w^ar  broke  out.  He  immediately  tend- 
ered his  services  to  his  government,  which  were  promptly  accepted,  he  being 
assigned  to  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he 
was  identified  throughout  the  three-months  service.  He  wras  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Phillippi,  one  of  the  first  engagements  of  that  long-drawn-out  wrar. 
He  it  was  who  had  the  honor  of  amputating  the  first  leg  during  the  wrar,  that 
of  a Confederate  soldier.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigade  surgeon 
in  July.  1861,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  General  Rosecrans.  Later  he 
organized  hospitals  along  the  Kenawha  and  assumed  charge  of  the  one  situ- 
ated at  Gallipolis.  After  being  wdth  Generals  Shields  and  Banks  and  with 
McClellan,  and  being  inspecting  surgeon,  wffiich  position  he  retained  until  the 
battle  of  Antietam,  September  17,  1862,  he  was  ordered  to  Washington  to 
take  charge  of  the  Patent  Office  Hospital,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  his  wdfe’s  illness.  On  his  return  home,  he 
w as  appointed  surgeon  of  the  board  of  enrollment  for  this  district,  which  place 
he  held  during  the  remainder  of  the  Rebellion.  From  the  very  outset,  in 
1840,  his  was  a well  fought  battle.  Hence  it  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing 
that  he  acted  well  his  part  in  two  great  wars.  Had  he  ventured  on  the  polit- 
ical field  it  is  almost  certain  that  he  would  have  been  elected  to  a seat  in 
Congress. 

Dr.  A.  M.  McMillen  was  a native  of  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  born  at 
Steubenville,  in  1816,  the  son  of  a millwright  and  farmer,  with  wrhom  he  re- 
mained during  all  of  his  earlier  years.  After  educating  himself,  he  taught 
school  for  eight  years.  He  then  read  medicine  in  Canal  Fulton  wfith  Doctor 
Howard,  and  graduated  at  the  old  Medical  College  of  Cleveland.  He  began 
practice  at  W est  Lebanon  in  1849,  continuing  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  May  4,  1874.  He  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1849  to  Rebecca 
Neeper.  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  as  a result  became  the  father 
of  eight  children.  He  was  a devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Mount  Eaton. 

Dr.  D.  H.  McMillen,  a nephew'  of  Dr.  A.  M.  McMillen,  was  bom  in 
Stark  county.  Ohio,  October  13,  1848.  He  read  medicine  with  his  uncle  and 


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graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medical  Surgery  in  June,  1874. 
He  began  practice  with  his  uncle  in  July,  1874,  and  was  for  years  a well 
known  physician  and  surgeon  of  West  Lebanon. 

Dr.  William  B.  Blachley  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  from  which  state  he 
removed  to  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  twenty 
years,  when  he  emigrated  to  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  in  1816.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  was  the  father  of  nineteen  children.  He  practiced 
medicine  in  Blachley ville  nineteen  years,  when  he  removed  to  Valparaiso, 
Indiana,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  He  was  a graduate 
of  Princeton  College  (now  University)  and  a member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
The  village  of  Blachley  ville  is  named  in  honor  of  him.  His  son,  William, 
also  a doctor,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  27, 
1799,  and  came  to  Plain  township,  this  county,  with  his  father,  with  whom  he 
read  medicine  and  commenced  to  practice.  His  eldest  daughter  married 
Doctor  Hunt,  of  Shreve,  Ohio,  and  the  youngest  became  the  wife  of  Capt. 
Benjamin,  son  of  Constant  Lake,  of  Wooster. 

Dr.  D.  L.  Moncrief  was  a grandson  of  a Scotchman  and  the  son  of  the 
Moncrief  who  settled  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  from  where  he  removed  to 
Canonsburg,  Washington  county.  There  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  born 
September  23,  1823,  and  resided  on  a farm  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  He 
attended  Jefferson  College,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Israel  Moore,  of  Canonsburg,  with  whom  he 
remained  three  years  as  a student,  and  then  removed  to  western  Ohio.  In 
1853  he  concluded  his  medical  course  at  Cincinnati.  From  Mercer  county, 
Ohio,  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  settling  at  Orrville  in  March,  1857,  at  once 
entering  upon  a successful  practice  and  residing  there  many  years.  He  was 
postmaster  at  Orrville  in  1861,  appointed  by  President  Lincoln,  and  served 
eight  years.  In  church  relations  he  was  a devout  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  He  carved  out  his  own  earthly  destiny,  acquired  com- 
petence and  wealth,  and  by  his  manly  methods  won  the  deserved  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  worthy  citizens  of  Wayne  county. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Stoll  was  born  in  Chippewa  township,  Wayne  county.  Ohio. 
May  2,  1849,  his  father  being  Christian  Stoll,  a wealthy  and  progressive 
farmer.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  when  he 
attended  the  Smithville  Academy,  and  from  thence  to  Savannah,  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  began 
reading  medicine  with  L.  Firestone,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  Wooster.  After  tak- 
ing thorough  courses  in  the  best  medical  colleges  in  the  land,  he  graduated 
in  1871,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Marshall- 


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ville,  this  county,  where  he  continued  for  eighteen  months,  when  he  went  to 
London,  England,  and  there  received  lectures  at  Kings  College,  but  on  ac- 
count of  sickness  was  compelled  to  return  home,  when  he  located  at  Orrville. 
He  was  made  surgeon  of  the  C.  Mt.  & C.  railroad  company  and  also  of  the 
Ninth  Ohio  National  Guards,  all  previous  to  1878. 

Dr.  W.  B.  Hyatt  was  born  March  29,  1829.  He  studied  medicine  and 
practiced  at  Marshallville.  He  was  in  the  Union  army  two  and  a half  years, 
was  wounded  by  a rebel  shell  and  received  other  bodily  injuries  which  pro- 
duced atrophy  of  the  muscles  and  anchylosis  of  the  left  shoulder  joint. 

Dr.  W.  T.  Barnes  was  born  November  10,  1843,  and  worked  on  the 
farm  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  Union  army,  enlisting 
as  a private  in  the  Fifty-first  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  After  his 
return  from  the  army  he  attended  school  at  Lexington,  Ohio,  and  in  1866 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  John  Russell,  M.  D.,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  gradu- 
ating from  Charity  Hospital  College,  Cleveland,  in  the  spring  of  1869.  and 
the  next  year  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Fredericksburg,  where  he  was 
a successful  doctor  and  surgeon  many  years. 

Dr.  James  Martin  was  born  October  20,  1824,  at  the  old  Martin  home- 
stead, on  Martin  creek,  Wayne  county,  and  descended  from  an  old  and  highly 
respectable  Ohio  family.  He  remained  at  home  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  attending  the  public  schools  about  three  months  each  winter  after  he  was 
of  school-going  age.  Later  he  attended  a select  school  at  Fredericksburg  for 
a number  of  years,  after  which  he  began  teaching  school.  He  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  T.  B.  Abbott,  of  Massillon,  Ohio,  and  during  the  time  availed  him- 
self of  a course  of  medical  lectures  then  being  given  by  William  Bowen,  of 
Akron,  Ohio,  subsequently  graduating  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of 
Philadelphia.  He  commenced  his  practice  in  East  Rochester,  Columbiana 
county,  in  August,  1850,  remained  three  years,  then  removed  to  Fredericks- 
burg in  1854.  He  married,  in  1851,  Elizabeth  Craig,  by  whom  seven  children 
were  born.  The  Doctor  was  a thorough  gentleman  and  had  a large  country 
practice  for  many  years. 

Dr.  William  S.  Battles,  who  for  a long  period  was  pronounced  one  of 
Wavne  county’s  eminent  and  highly  successful  physicians,  was  born  at  White 
Hall  Station,  then  a suburb  of  Philadelphia,  May  12,  1827.  On  his  paternal 
side  he  was  half  Scotch,  his  father  being  a descendant  of  an  old  Pittsfield 
family,  of  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts.  On  the  maternal  side  old  Eng- 
lish blood  coursed  through  his  veins.  His  mother’s  maiden  name  was  Susan 
Snowden,  a native  of  Philadelphia,  all  of  whose  ancestors  were  Quakers  for 


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more  than  two  hundred  years.  Thomas  S.,  father  of  Doctor  Battles,  removed 
from  Philadelphia  to  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  remained  there  less 
than  three  years  and  then  went  farther  west,  locating  in  September,  1833,  a 
mile  and  a half  north  of  the  present  village  of  Shreve,  Wayne  county,  Ohio. 
His  father  was  a farmer  and  young  Battles  was  used  to  and  liked  the  work 
usually  practiced  upon  a farm.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  a change  came  over 
the  spirit  of  his  dreams.  He  then  abandoned  the  farm  and  entered  Haysville 
(Ashland  county)  Academy,  where  he  put  forth  every  effort  in  gaining  use- 
ful knowledge  from  books  and  teachers.  He  taught  his  first  school  when  he 
was  twenty  years  old.  In  August,  1847,  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  T.  H. 
Baker,  of  Millbrook,  with  whom  he  remained  a period  of  four  years,  teaching 
during  the  meantime,  with  the  exception  of  six  months,  both  summer  and 
winter.  He  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Starling  Medical  College 
during  the  winter  of  1850-51  and  then  began  to  practice  medicine  with  his 
preceptor,  completing  his  course  at  Columbus,  graduating  February  22,  1852. 
On  his  return  home  he  resumed  practice  with  Doctor  Baker,  continuing  with 
him  until  the  winter  of  1853,  which  he  spent  in  Cleveland,  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  in  attendance  upon  the  hospitals  of  those  cities,  at  the  termination 
of  which  time  he  once  more  renewed  his  professional  labors  with  his  old  pre- 
ceptor. In  the  spring  of  1855  he  went  to  Edinburg,  in  East  Union  township, 
where  he  stayed  seven  months,  during  which  time  he  became  a member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association.  He  was  married,  in  November,  1855.  to 
Mahala  Keister,  of  Millbrook,  daughter  of  J.  A.  Keister,  Esq.  In  December 
of  that  year  he  proceeded  to  the  village  of  Shreve,  where  he  practiced  until 
the  spring  of  1865,  when,  owing  to  lung  trouble,  with  which  he  had  suffered 
for  a number  of  years,  he  abandoned  medical  practice  and  indulged  in  travel 
for  one  year.  In  1866  he  was  one  of  the  four  men  who  organized  the  Ash- 
land Citizens  Bank,  and  he  resided  there  a year.  But  becoming  dissatisfied 
with  commercial  life,  he  sold  his  banking  interest  and.  his  health  having  been 
restored,  he  returned  to  Shreve,  recommencing  his  practice  there  and  ever 
after  continued  in  the  same.  The  Doctor  was  solely  devoted  to  his  chosen 
profession  and  loved  it  with  the  fondness  seldom  seen  in  physicians  of  today. 
While  a student,  he  joined  the  Wayne  County  Medical  Society,  in  1851,  and 
was  also  a member  of  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Society.  He  represented  his 
home  society  at  Chicago  in  1863  and  at  St.  Louis  in  1873.  He  was  vice- 
president  of  the  Northern  Ohio  Medical  Association.  He  was  devoted  to  the 
church  of  his  choice,  the  Methodist  Episcopal;  loved  poetry  and  good  litera- 
ture, wrote  both  prose  and  poetry:  contributed  to  the  University  of  Wooster; 


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aided  the  Shreve  public  schools,  and,  like  Tennyson,  always  looked  forward 
to  the  Golden  Year.  One  of  his  gems  of  poetry  of  song  has  this  for  its  first 
verse : 

“We  love  thee,  Lord,  we’ve  long  professed. 

But  do  we  love  our  brother? 

We  love  ourselves  we  fear  too  much. 

Oh,  help  us  love  each  other/’ 

Dr.  Charles  J.  Warner  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  January  i,  1836,  a son  of  Peter  Warner,  a farmer  and  a native  of  Sun- 
bury,  Northumberland  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  the  son  lived  at  home  until 
eighteen  years  of  age.  The  farm  life,  we  are  quite  ready  to  believe,  harmo- 
nized with  the  developing  manhood  of  Doctor  Warner,  and  enabled  him  to  be- 
come a splendid  type  of  robust  manhood.  After  availing  himself  of  the  com- 
mon schools,  he  followed  teaching  school  after  nineteen  years  of  age,  first 
teaching  in  the  Rumbaugh  district,  for  which  he  was  paid  eighteen  dollars  a 
month  and  boarded  himself.  He  attended  school  in  the  summer  months  and 
taught  school  in  the  winter  time.  He  kept  this  up  for  five  years  in  succession. 
During  this  time  he  became  a proficient  English  scholar  and  acquired  a valu- 
able knowledge  of  the  Latin  language.  From  an  early  age,  young  Warner 
had  conceived  the  idea  of  becoming  a physician  and,  in  furtherance  of  this 
purpose,  in  March,  1857.  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  W.  C.  Moore,  then  prac- 
ticing in  the  village  of  Congress,  with  whom  he  remained  four  years,  three  as 
a student  and  one  in  partnership  with  him.  He  then  went  to  Homerville, 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years,  during  the  time  attended  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Cleveland  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1862.  In  the  spring  of  the  last  named  year  he  returned  to  Congress  and 
there  set  up  a medical  practice  which  he  held  for  many  years.  He  married, 
September  15,  1859,  Mary  E.  Pancoast,  of  Congress  village.  In  stature  it 
was  written  of  him  in  the  late  seventies  that  he  was  “solid,  stands  six  feet 
high,  weighs  two  hundred  and  seventeen  pounds,  is  built  of  substantial  ma- 
terial, has  a bright,  intellectual  face,  is  a man  of  pleasing  manner  and  affable 
disposition,  of  fair  complexion,  firm  and  erect  in  carriage.  He  is  a self-made, 
self-taught  man.  He  was  of  a wide  range  and  was  forceful  as  an  educator 
and  writer  on  educational  topics.  He  delivered  more  than  a score  of  excellent 
lectures  and  public  addresses  on  schools  and  education  in  Wayne  county, 
alone.” 

Dr.  Justin  Georget,  a native  of  France,  born  June  23,  1830,  in  Mountu- 
saine,  and  with  his  father,  in  1840,  emigrated  to  America,  removing  to  Can- 


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ton,  Ohio,  where  he  died.  He  entered  the  United  States  army,  remaining  one 
year  at  Governor’s  Island,  when  he  was  transferred  to  West  Point  Military 
Academy  and  remained  there  four  years.  He  read  medicine  with  J.  P. 
Bairick,  of  Massillon,  Ohio,  graduated  and,  after  a series  of  removals,  came 
to  Congress  village,  Wayne  county,  and  thence  on  to  West  Salem,  in  the  winter 
of  1866  and  there  practiced  medicine  in  a most  successful  manner. 

Dr.  J.  S.  Cole  was  a native  of  Allegheny  City  (now  Greater  Pittsburg), 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  February  19,  1836,  and  attended  Vermillion 
Institute  at  Haysville,  Ashland  county,  Ohio.  He  afterward  read  medicine 
with  Doctor  Glass,  and  graduated  from  Cleveland  Medical  College.  He  be- 
gan practice  in  Reedsburg,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  moved  to  West  Salem 
in  1873.  He  married  Ruth  A.  Smith,  daughter  of  James  B.  Smith,  of  Ash- 
land. 

Dr.  L.  G.  Harley  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1811. 
His  father  was  a farmer  who  moved  to  Ohio  in  1830.  In  1833  the  son  com- 
menced reading  medicine  with  Doctor  Haddock;  attended  the  course  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  graduated  there  in  the  spring  of  1837.  He  then  located  in  Dal- 
ton, where  he  soon  built  up  a large  and  paying  medical  practice.  In  the 
autumn  of  1839  he  was  married  to  Mary  M.  Fluke,  of  Dalton.  His  daughter, 
Virginia,  became  a member  of  the  medical  fraternity,  graduating  in  the  med- 
ical department  of  the  University  of  Michigan.  For  a short  time  she  prac- 
ticed in  Wooster  with  her  father;  she  later  married  and  moved  to  New  York 
city.  Doctor  Harley  continued  at  Dalton  thirty-one  years  and  was  the  well- 
known  physician  in  many  a score  of  homes  in  that  section  of  Wayne  county. 
He  removed  to  Wooster  in  1868  and  here  continued  his  practice. 

Dr.  T.  M.  Taggart,  son  of  Samuel  Taggart,  was  born  in  Baughman  town- 
ship, Wayne  county.  Ohio,  September  22,  1822.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Doctor  Bowen,  of  Massillon,  afterwards  graduating  at  the 
Cleveland  Medical  College.  In  1848  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Dalton.  He  was  married  in  1849  to  Henrietta  Slusser,  of  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  One  was  Dr.  Hiram  D.  Tag- 
gart, of  Akron,  Ohio.  The  father  died  May  23,  1867,  having  been  a zealous 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  seventeen  years  before  his 
decease. 

Dr.  Moses  Shaffer  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Shaffer  and  Matilda,  his  wife, 
who  lived  for  many  years  in  Chippewa  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  The 
Doctor  was  born  July  15,  1806,  and  when  about  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  and  at  twenty-one  was  admitted  to  prac- 

(22) 


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tice  as  a physician  by  a board  of  which  Dr.  James  S.  Irvine,  of  Millersburg, 
Ohio,  was  a member.  Mt.  Eaton,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  was  the  first  loca- 
tion of  Doctor  Shaffer’s  practice,  and  he  was  a successful  physician.  He 
removed  to  Wooster  from  there,  and  established  a practice,  continuing  until 
he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  when  he  was  married  to  Margaret  McClure, 
of  a family  of  high  standing  at  Wooster,  and  had  a family  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  The  eldest  daughter,  Adelaide,  was  married  to  Hon.  L.  R. 
Critchfield,  Sr.,  and  Lyman  R.  Critchfield,  Jr.,  now  a resident  lawyer  of 
Wooster,  is  one  of  their  sons.  The  family  of  the  Doctor  was  one  of  high 
standing  in  Wooster,  and  he  became  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Wayne 
county.  He  was  of  medium  size,  compact  of  muscle  and  nerve,  powerfully 
active,  and  was  known  as  a man  without  fear.  He  was  unusually  reticent, 
sober,  and  attended  to  business;  courteous,  but  an  unconquerable  antagonist 
in  a controversy.  He  was  a hunter,  and  cultivated  fine-bred  dogs  and  horses, 
and  many  an  anecdote  of  his  nerve  in  controlling  his  blooded  colts  is 
related. 

Doctor  Shaffer  established  his  home  and  his  offices  on  South  Market 
street,  in  Wooster,  and  practiced  his  profession  there  for  over  fifty  years. 
He  died  when  eighty-three  years  of  age.  He  was  skillful  in  diagnosing 
diseases  and  prescribing  remedies.  He  never  failed  to  attend  a call;  and 
his  courageous  temper  defied  storms,  high  waters,  cold  or  any  form  of 
danger.  He  was  modest  in  his  uniform  success,  and  was  never  known  to 
boast  of  his  skill  or  remarkable  cures.  His  remedies  were  simple,  and  he 
deprived  himself  of  many  occasions  for  practice  by  generous  advice  as  to 
homely  methods.  His  fee  was  always  reasonable,  moderate,  and  he  never 
would  connect  himself  with  medical  societies  or  scale  of  prices.  He  was 
very  conscientious  in  resorting  to  surgery,  or  what  is  known  as  “heroic 
treatment/'  He  was  a genuine  man,  a nobleman,  without  fear  or  reproach, 
and  his  long  life  of  benevolence,  self-sacrifice  and  professional  honesty 
endeared  him  to  the  people.  The  mention  of  his  name  in  most  parts  of 
Wayne  county,  where  he  was  known,  is  greeted  with  expressions  of  esteem 
and  eulogies  upon  his  character. 

Dr.  Hiram  M.  Shaffer  was  a son  of  Dr.  Moses  Shaffer,  and  under  the 
tuition  and  example  of  his  father  and  with  the  breeding  of  the  Shaffers  and 
the  McClures,  he  became,  after  his  services  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  in 
a very  brief  time,  one  of  the  most  noted  surgeons  and  physicians  in  Wayne 
county.  His  death  from  pneumonia,  in  August,  1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years,  induced  by  exposure  in  treating  a patient,  was  very  widely  regretted. 


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He  had  a wonderful  genius  for  his  profession.  He  followed  it  with  ardor 
and  gave  frequent  and  careful  attention  to  his  patients,  and  deservedly  had 
the  reputation  of  almost  infallible  diagnosis  and  the  cure  of  dangerous 
diseases.  To  detect  disease,  accurately  and  quickly,  seemed  an  intuition ; and 
his  knowledge  of  modem  practice  was  large.  In  surgery  his  nerves  were  like 
iron  and  he  was  fearless  in  the  most  delicate  operations.  He  was  brave, 
gc*nerous,  a fast  friend,  powerful  as  a lion,  and  was  esteemed  by  everyone 
that  knew  him. 

It  is  a sad  commentary  on  human  life  that  an  early  death  is  the  obituary 
of  genius. 

PRESENT-DAY  PHYSICIANS. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  physicians  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the 
profession  in  Wayne  county,  the  record  giving  the  name,  college  from  which 
graduated,  year  of  graduation,  and  present  location. 

Bashford,  T.  A.,  Ohio  Medical  University,  1897,  Wooster. 

Braden,  D.  H.,  Cleveland  Homeopathic  College,  1895,  Wooster. 

Beer,  T.  D.,  Starling  Medical  College,  1889.  Wooster. 

Elder.  T.  A.,  Rush  Medical  College.  1868,  Wooster. 

Graven,  T.  A.,  Jefferson  Medical  College,  1900,  Wooster. 

H?rt,  H.  A.,  University  of  City  of  New  York,  1867,  Wooster. 

Johnson,  Kate  M.,  University  of  Michigan,  1900,  Wooster. 

Knestrick,  A.  C.,  Long  Island  College  Hospital,  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
1887,  Wooster. 

Kinney,  J.  J.,  University  of  Wooster  Medical  Department.  1889,  Wooster. 

Lerch.  C.  A..  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine.  1877,  Wooster. 

Lehr,  J.  W.,  University  of  Wooster,  Medical  Department,  1883,  Wooster. 

Mowery,  M.  E.,  University  of  Wooster.  Medical  Department,  1896, 
Wooster. 

Mateer,  H.  N..  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1883,  Wooster. 

Ryall.  G.  W..  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati,  1888,  Wooster. 

Stoll,  J.  H.,  Jefferson  Medical  College,  187T,  Wooster. 

Stoll.  Harry  J.,  Rush  Medical  College,  1900,  Wooster. 

Todd,  J.  H.,  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  1865,  Wooster. 

Welch,  W.  A.,  Western  Reserve,  1884,  Wooster. 

Warren,  R.  N.,  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Medical  College,  1868,  Wooster. 

Yates,  G.  A.,  Omaha  Medical  College,  1889,  Wooster. 

Yocum.  L.  A.,  Marion  Sims  Medical  College.  1895,  Wooster. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Blankenhorn,  H.,  Western  Reserve  University,  1890,  Orrville. 

Brooks,  A.  H.,  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Medical  College,  1882,  Orrville. 

Campbell,  A.  B.,  University  of  Michigan,  1871,  Orrville. 

Irvin,  Geo.,  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Medical  College,  1903,  Orrville. 

Shie,  D.  P.,  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine,  1892,  Orrville. 

Grady,  O.  G.,  Starling  Medical  College,  1909,  Orrville. 

Haney,  J.  C.,  Ohio  Medical  University,  1895,  Dalton. 

Roebuck,  D.  Y.,  University  of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia,  1867,  Dalton. 

Jamison,  J.  R.,  Medico-Chirurgical  College  of  Philadelphia,  1894,  Apple 
Creek. 

King,  J.  K.,  Wooster  University,  Medical  Department,  1874,  Apple  Creek. 

Winkler,  W.  H.,  Wooster  University,  Medical  Department,  1872,  Apple 
Creek. 

Bertolette,  H.  B.,  University  of  Philadelphia,  1892,  Shreve. 

Funk,  E.  N.,  Starling  Medical  College, , Shreve. 

Paul,  R.  C.,  Wooster  University  Medical  Department,  1892,  Shreve. 

Rhodes,  O.  A.,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Baltimore,  1882, 
Rittman. 

Sheldon,  J.  E.,  Ohio  Medical  University,  1902,  Marshallville. 

Pfouts,  T.  M.,  Ohio  Medical  University,  1898,  Marshallville. 

Long,  L.  F.,  Wooster  University,  Medical  Department.  1893,  Fredericks- 
burg. 

Essick,  G.  C.,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Baltimore,  1893,  Con- 
gress, W.  Salem  R.  D. 

Hanna,  Chas.  M.,  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine,  1897,  Canaan  Center, 
Creston  R.  D. 

Weaver,  Thos.  A.,  Toledo  Medical  College,  1898,  Blachleyville.  Wooster 
R.  D. 

Baird,  Robert  J.,  Western  Reserve.  1896,  Creston. 

Irvin,  J.  W.,  Jefferson  Medical  College,  1886,  Creston. 

Allen,  V.  I.,  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  1907,  Creston. 

Schollenberger,  H.  A..  National  Normal  University,  1892,  Smithville. 

Yoder,  Anna  Blattenberg.  Cleveland  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
1906,  Smithville. 

Yoder,  H.  M.,  Cleveland  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1906, 
Smithville. 

McKinney,  E.  H.,  Ohio  Medical  University,  1905,  Doylestown. 

Spencer,  E.  R.,  University  of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia,  1870.  Doyles- 
town. 


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Fergeson,  J.  W.,  Wooster  University.  Medical  Department,  1876,  West 
Salem. 

Raudebaugh,  E.  C.,  Starling  Medical  College,  1896.  West  Salem. 

Smith,  G.  C.,  Western  Medical  College,  London,  Canada,  1907,  West 
Salem. 

Brinkerhoff,  J.  H.,  Wooster  University  Medical  Department,  1873, 
Burbank. 

Boor,  H.  C.,  Cleveland  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1899,  Bur- 
bank. 

Dawson,  N.  B.,  Cincinnati  Medical  College,  1878,  Sterling. 

Toland,  L.  L.,  Cleveland  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1899, 
Sterling. 

May,  R.  J.,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Cleveland,  1906,  Lattas- 
burg,  West  Salem  R.  D. 

Mowery,  A.  F.,  Wooster  University  Medical  Department,  1886,  Reeds- 
burg,  Wooster  R.  D. 

Clark,  C.  N.,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Cleveland,  1904,  Mt. 
Eaton. 

Snively.  J.  H.,  Cincinnati  Medical  College,  1891,  West  Lebanon. 

Snivelv,  Geo.,  Cincinnati  Medical  College.  1900,  West  Lebanon,  Justus 
R.  D. 


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CHAPTER  XVIII. 


RAILROADS,  CANALS  AND  TURNPIKES  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

At  a session  of  the  Ohio  Legislature,  in  1824,  an  act  was  passed  on 
February  2d  of  that  year  providing  for  the  incorporation  of  a company  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing  a turnpike  road  from  Wooster  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  In  the  April  numbers  of  the  Wooster  Spectator  notice  was  given  that 
“books  will  be  opened  at  the  house  of  Gaius  Boughton,  in  Cleveland;  at  the 
house  of  John  Hickcox,  in  Medina;  at  the  house  of  John  Hemperly,  in 
Wooster,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  subscriptions  of  stock”  for  the  same. 
Rufus  Ferris  was  president  of  the  board  of  commissioners  and  John  Freese 
was  secretary. 

In  a short  time  thereafter  the  “pike”  was  completed.  Hon.  Benjamin 
Jones  was  one  of  the  directors.  This  turnpike  served  the  people  along  its 
route  very  well,  and  carried  out  the  notion  that  had  been  uppermost  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  regarding  some  better  manner  of  transporting  the  com- 
modities of  their  farms  to  the  larger  market  centers  of  the  state.  A toll 
fee  was  charged,  yet,  the  teamster  being  able  to  draw  so  much  greater  loads 
and  in  so  much  less  time,  the  fee  seemed  but  trivial. 

THE  OHIO  CANAL. 

As  the  state  settled  up  and  civilization  advanced  in  its  methods,  the 
people  clamored  for  still  further  internal  improvements,  and  as  the  age  of 
canals  in  the  United  States  was  then  dawning,  the  subject  of  their  construc- 
tion agitated  the  minds  of  the  more  progressive  portion  of  the  settlements  in 
the  Buckeye  state,  as  well  as  in  Indiana  and  Illinois.  In  1825  was  com- 
menced the  construction  of  a canal  from  Cleveland  to  Portsmouth,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  a distance  of  three  hundred  and  seven  miles.  It  was  completed 
in  1832,  at  a cost  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  July  4,  1825,  the  cere- 
mony of  breaking  the  first  ground  on  the  National  road,  west  of  the  Ohio, 
was  celebrated.  On  the  same  day  ground  was  broken  at  Licking  Summit  for 
the  construction  of  the  Ohio  canal.  The  immortal  De  Witt  Clinton,  of  New 


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York,  whose  colossal  mind  projected  the  great  Erie  canal,  threw  out  the 
first  shovelful  of  earth  on  this  occasion. 

Surveys  were  made  by  Gen.  Alfred  Kelly  and  M.  T.  Williams,  the  canal 
commissioners,  through  Wayne  county  as  early  as  1823,  from  the  head  of 
the  Killbuck  and  on  south  through  the  county  to  Millersburg. 

A sale  of  lots  Was  offered  in  May,  1824,  in  Millersburg,  which  read: 
“The  situation  is  high,  pleasant  and  healthy,  on  the  navigable  water  and  on 
the  Killbuck  line  of  the  Ohio  canal.” 

It  is  said  the  route  through  Wayne  county  was  defeated  by  a single 
vote.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  Ohio  canal  furnished  the  farmers  the 
old  Fulton  and  Massillon  markets, — gave  them  cash  for  their  produce, — 
and  the  date  of  its  completion  defines  the  transition  period  of  the  early 
history  of  Wayne  county. 


THE  RAILROAD  ERA. 

The  first  railroad  agitation  of  much  importance  in  Wayne  county  was 
with  reference  to  the  Cleveland  & Columbus  line  in  1845.  A meeting  was 
held  October  16,  1845,  m pursuance  to  a call  published  by  John  P.  Jeffries, 
Esq.,  and  others,  to  take  into  consideration  prompt  action  regarding  secur- 
ing this  most  vital  link  of  rail  communication  between  the  East  and  West. 

This  railroad  mass-meeting  was  presided  over  by  Hon.  Cyrus  Spink, 
E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  acting  as  secretary.  It  was  resolved  and  determined  upon 
this  occasion  to  convene  a county  meeting  November  1st  of  the  same  year. 

This  call  was  responded  to  with  promptness  and  general  public  inter- 
est, and  measures  were  set  on  foot  to  raise  sufficient  funds  for  the  execution 
of  a complete  survey  of  the  proposed  road.  The  survey  was  made,  but 
excitement  and  interest  arose  in  regard  to  a proposed  road  from  Pittsburg 
to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  which  finally  culminated  in  the  building  of  the 
Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad. 

Hon.  John  Larwill,  Dr.  S.  F.  Day,  John  McSweeney,  Esq.,  David 
Robison,  Sr.,  J.  P.  Jeffries,  Jesse  R.  Straughan,  E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  Eugene  Par- 
dee, Esq.,  and  several  others  whose  names  are  now  forgotten,  having  long 
since  died,  immediately  went  to  work,  making  speeches,  canvassing  town  and 
county,  and  making  every  conceivable  endeavor  to  procure  subscriptions. 
Everybody  went  to  work,  unitedly,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  the  enterprise 
was  pressed  forward,  until  the  great  project  was  grandly  and  successfully 
consummated. 


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The  two  Wooster  newspapers  rivaled  each  other  in  setting  forth  the 
best  of  arguments  possible  to  put  in  type  for  the  people  to  read.  The  col- 
umns of  these  papers — the  Republican  and  Democrat — contained  page  upon 
page  of  articles  concerning  the  proposed  highway  from  Pittsburg  to  the 
lake  at  Chicago.  From  a letter  written  by  J.  P.  Jeffries,  Esq.,  of  Wooster, 
we  quote  the  following: 

“That  the  stock  will  be  profitable,  there  is  not  the  possibility  of  a doubt 
— that  it  will  net  the  stockholders  over  ten  per  cent  per  annum  is  in  our 
opinion  just  as  certain.  * * * 

“Nearly  every  man  in  this  county  is  able  to  take  one  share,  and  this 
he  should  do,  particularly  the  owner  of  real  estate,  because  he  will  be  bene- 
fited just  in  proportion  to  his  business,  be  it  great  or  small.  Should  every 
man  in  this  county,  Who  subscribes  a share  of  fifty  dollars,  lose  it  entirely, 
he  will  still  be  the  gainer,  from  the  fact  that  the  value  of  his  land,  his  labor, 
and  the  price  of  his  produce  will  greatly  enhance;  and  the  business  of  the 
merchant  and  mechanic  will  increase  in  proportion  to  that  of  the  farmer, 
and  thus  the  benefit  of  the  road  will  be  repaid/’ 

This  road  was  the  capital  and  emphatic  enterprise  of  Wayne  county. 
The  solution  and  consummation  of  it  is  witnessed  in  the  majestic  line  of 
steel  rail  that  threads  the  country  from  Pittsburg  to  Chicago,  now  popularly 
styled  the  “Pennsylvania  System/’ 

Let  it  be  forever  remembered  that  to  Hon.  John  Larwill  must  be  the 
honor  of  procuring  this  road’s  charter,  as  against  wonderful  opposition  made 
at  Pittsburg  and  Cleveland,  as  well  as  Steubenville  and  the  roads  centering  in 
Indianapolis.  The  charter  having  finally  been  obtained,  it  became  necessary 
for  some  one  to  follow  up  the  work  of  soliciting  subscriptions,  completing 
the  organization,  and  conducting  the  affairs  to  a successful  issue. 

Except  what  was  done  at  Salem,  in  Columbiana  county,  no  general  con- 
vention was  had  in  behalf  of  the  road  until  June.  1848,  when  a meeting  was 
convened  at  Canton,  and  directors  were  elected,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Rob- 
inson and  Bakewell,  of  Pittsburg:  Pinney,  of  Beaver;  Street,  of  Salem;  Well- 
man, of  Massillon;  J.  Larwill,  of  Wooster,  and  C.  T.  Sherman,  of  Mans- 
field. At  this  stage  the  possibility  of  making  the  ascent  from  the  Ohio 
river  up  to  the  table  lands  of  Columbiana  county  was  doubted  by  the  friends 
and  stoutly  denied  by  the  enemies  of  the  route.  Nothing  was  done  but  to 
order  surveys  and  explorations  in  that  region,  and  to  provide  means  to  pay 
the  expenses  of  the  surveys. 

The  first  chain  ever  stretched  over  the  line  of  the  present  Pittsburgh, 


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Fort  Wayne  & Chicago  railroad  was  at  Bowls  Point,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Big  Beaver,  July  4,  1848,  by  Jesse  R.  Straughan,  engineer,  in  pursuance  of 
the  orders  of  this  board. 

By  the  next  winter,  lines  had  been  run  by  all  possible  routes  from  the 
mouth  of  Big  Beaver  river,  and  that  of  the  Little  Beaver,  and  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Yellow  creek,  and  from  all  this  extended  and  exhaustive  data 
the  selection  of  the  route  was  submitted  to  the  decision  of  Col.  W.  Roberts, 
chief  engineer,  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  endorsed  and  recommended  by  the 
officers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad  Company,  as  possessing  the 
confidence  of  themselves  and  the  eastern  capitalists. 

As  the  friends  of  the  other  routes  considered  that  only  one  road  west- 
ward from  Pittsburg  could  ever  be  expected,  their  efforts  were  proportion- 
ately vigorous  and  unceasing. 

The  condition  of  affairs  and  the  opinions  held  by  men  of  wisdom  ( ?) 
at  that  day  may  best  be  inferred  by  quoting  from  a railroad  pamphlet 
directed  to  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Pittsburg,  dated  October,  1848,  and  signed, 
among  many  others,  by  him  whom  we  now  know  as  Lincoln’s  able  secretary 
of  war,  Hon.  Edward  M.  Stanton.  It  reads  as  follows : 

“Obstructions  of  Snow. — This  is  a consideration  which  you  can  not 
overlook.  The  point  fixed  in  their  charter,  which  they  must  reach  before 
they  assume  their  westward  course,  is  North  Georgetown,  in  Columbiana 
county.  This  point  is  but  a few  miles  south  of  the  south  boundary  of  the 
Western  Reserve.  And  no  one  who  has  paid  the  least  attention  to  the 
subject  will  estimate  the  average  duration  of  snow,  one  year  with  another, 
at  a depth  of  from  six  inches  to  two  feet,  at  less  than  thirty  days  longer  in 
each  year  than  you  have  at  Pittsburg,  or  we  at  Steubenville.  It  traverses 
the  state  on  very  nearly  the  same  parallel  of  latitude.  It  was  with  an  air  of 
triumph  that  Colonel  Roberts  exclaimed,  ‘and  to  Mansfield,  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  miles,  without  the  obstruction  of  the  Ohio!’  But  may  we  not  add, 
one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  miles,  through  frequent  snowdrifts?  What  trav- 
eler on  the  route  in  the  wintertime  would  not  exclaim,  with  us,  ‘What 
folly !’  ” 

But  upon  this  line  the  road  was  finally  constructed.  And  as  a basis 
upon  which  to  establish  a credit  to  warrant  the  beginning  of  the  work,  five 
thousand  dollars  a mile  was  to  be  subscribed  in  each  of  the  counties  in  Ohio, 
and  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny  City. 

This  from  Wayne  county  was  allotted  to  Mr.  Larwill,  who  was  assisted 
by  James  Jacobs,  Dr.  S.  F.  Day,  Samuel  Knepper,  John  K.  McBride,  Smith 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Orr,  John  P.  Jeffries  and  J.  R.  Straughan.  The  whole  of  the  winter  of 
1848-49  was  occupied  in  making  speeches  and  rousing  the  people  to  a sense 
of  their  duty,  for  the  gross  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
looked  as  large  as  a half  million  dollars  would  to  people  today.  Logic,  en- 
treaty and  all  else  were  employed  to  raise  this  sum  of  money  in  pledges,  but 
with  final  success. 

Great  as  was  the  labor  and  consumption  of  time  required  in  Ohio  to 
secure  this  subscription,  it  was  accomplished  before  that  in  Pittsburg  and  Al- 
legheny City  had  begun.  They  were  waiting  for  a better  time  in  money  mat- 
ters, and  listening  to  the  snow-drift  arguments  of  enemies.  And  certainly 
there  were  danger  and  doubt  as  to  the  subscription  which  could  not  be  can- 
celled from  the  masses.  Friends  wore  anxious  faces,  enemies  and  croakers 
again  came  forth  exultant,  with  their  opposition. 

The  board  was  called  again  to  meet  at  Pittsburg,  April  23,  1849,  which 
was  attended  by  the  Ohio  members  with  the  avowed  determination  to  have 
these  cities  come  up  to  their  subscription  at  once  or  they  would  return  home 
and  give  up  all  further  effort.  To  some  of  the  Pittsburg  people  this  seemed 
rash,  but  the  circumstances  demanded  it,  while  the  result  vindicated  the  wis- 
dom of  it. 

But  this,  like  all  vast  projects,  had  to  be  overcome  by  the  greater  minds 
and  more  strenuous  labor.  The  Pittsburg  directors  argued  the  inauspicious 
times,  the  collapse  of  their  city  scrip,  the  dull  trade  from  down  the  rivers, 
and  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  were  induced  to  confirm  their  arguments, 
they  finally  refusing  their  co-operation  in  an  effort  so  useless,  in  their  own 
judgment. 

Many  narrow  escapes  did  this  company  encounter.  Men  like  General 
Moorehead,  Joshua  Hanna  and  the  like,  who  were  not  friendly  to  Colonel 
Robinson,  president  of  the  company,  becoming  acquainted,  through  Mr.  Lar- 
will,  with  the  vie\vs  of  the  Ohio  members  and  the  opposition  of  Robinson  and 
his  friends  warmly  seconded  Ohio  and  offered  to  assist  in  canvassing  the 
city  for  stock,  thus  securing  a large  addition  to  the  friends  of  the  road. 

At  an  informal  meeting  in  the  parlors  of  Mr.  Hanna,  with  Moorehead 
to  represent  Pittsburg,  and  only  John  Larwill  and  Jesse  R.  Straughan  from 
Ohio,  this  plan  was  devised.  To  get  the  city  council  of  Pittsburg  to  vote 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  provided  Allegheny  City  would  subscribe  a 
like  amount.  Then  to  get  the  latter  city  to  subscribe  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  provided  the  citizens  of  the  place  would  subscribe  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars. 


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To  the  first  of  these  arose  the  united  opposition  of  Steubenville  and  the 
Pittsburg  and  Cleveland  lines,  both  before  the  Board  of  Trade  and  the  two 
chambers  of  the  council;  but  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Larwill  and  his  newly-found 
allies — Moorehead  and  others — not  only  surprised  but  defeated  their  well- 
drilled  forces;  the  subscription  carried.  It  also  carried  in  Allegheny  City. 
The  most  doubtful  part  was  yet  to  come, — that  coming  from  individuals. 

The  Ohio  delegation  had  returned  home,  leaving  only  Mr.  Larwill  and 
Mr.  Straughan  to  remain  in  fulfillment  of  the  promise — or  threat — not  to 
return  home  until  Pittsburg  had  made  up  its  subscription.  This  was  con- 
ducted as  it  had  been  in  Ohio.  The  citizens  of  Pittsburg  called  a meeting 
of  the  Board  of  Trade,  to  hear  the  reports  of  a number  of  men  from  Ohio 
as  to  the  progress  of  the  undertaking.  Among  those  present  was  the  dis- 
tinguished senator  from  Missouri,  Col.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  who  delivered, 
as  the  Pittsburg  Chronicle  said,  “a  beautiful  address.”  Mr.  Larwill  from 
Wayne  county  took  the  lead  and  spoke  in  part  as  follows: 

“They  had  already  gotten  subscriptions  and  stock  sufficient  taken  to 
justify  them  in  going  immediately  to  work.  They  of  Ohio  did  not  wish 
Pennsylvania  to  subscribe  their  money  for  the  purpose  of  building  the  road 
in  Ohio — all  they  asked  was  to  build  the  road  which  passed  through  their  own 
state,  and  that  being  done,  Ohio  was  ready  to  complete  the  whole  of  her 
share.  Unless  this  was  done,  Ohio  would  be  under  the  necessity  of  seeking 
some  other  outlet  for  her  products  and  investments  for  her  capital.  In 
Wayne  county  alone  they  had  gotten  an  individual  subscription  of  over  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  with  these  facts  they  were  anxious  to  return 
home  and  tell  their  stockholders  and  subscribers  that  Pittsburg  was  ready. 
In  Ohio  the  people  were  perfectly  convinced,  not  only  of  the  feasibility 
of  this  route,  but  also  of  its  superior  advantages  over  all  other  roads  of 
conveyance,  as  well  as  its  profitableness  as  an  investment  of  capital.  It 
was  for  Pittsburg  to  look  to  her  o\vn  interests  now.  Ohio  must  move  on, 
in  one  way  or  another,  and  if  Pittsburg  did  not  meet  them,  they  would  in 
all  probability  join  with  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  line.” 

Committees  now  began  to  canvass  every  ward  in  both  cities  and  worked 
with  a right  good  will  for  several  days,  reporting  at  headquarters  every 
evening.  The  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  reached,  but  the  canvass- 
ing was  continued  until  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  was 
obtained.  This  news  was  telegraphed  to  all  points  in  Ohio,  and  general  joy 
prevailed. 

It  was  the  birthday  of  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  & Chicago  railway. 


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In  both  city  and  country  the  meed  of  praise  was  awarded  Mr.  Larwill.  Col- 
onel Sloane,  Samuel  Hemphill,  Thomas  Robinson,  Doctor  Day,  James  Jacobs, 
David  Robinson,  Judge  Orr  and  many  others  energetically  identified  with 
the  undertaking  have  long  since  gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth,  but  their 
united  efforts  in  behalf  of  this  great  railway  building  enterprise  through 
Wayne  county  and  Ohio  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the  men  who  live 
and  move  in  the  busy  marts  of  trade  and  commerce,  as  well  as  the  tens  of 
thousands  of  farmers  whom  it  has  benefited. 

The  arrival  of  the  first  passenger  train  at  Wooster,  Tuesday  afternoon, 
August  io,  1852,  was  an  event  not  soon  to  pass  from  the  minds  of  those 
who  witnessed  the  scene.  Wooster  was  all  aglow  and  bestirred  itself.  A 
national  salute  was  fired  at  sunrise.  Four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  was  the 
hour  set  for  the  arrival  of  the  train.  At  two  P.  M.  the  surging  multitude 
began  to  pour  in  and  gather  at  the  depot,  and  by  three  o’clock  it  was  esti- 
mated that  from  fifteen  thousand  to  twenty  thousand  persons  were  lined  up 
along  the  grounds  and  track.  At  three  o’clock  a dispatch  was  received  from 
Massillon  assuring  us  that  two  trains  were  coming  with  six  hundred  passen- 
gers, five  hundred  of  whom  were  invited  guests  from  Pittsburg  and  Alle- 
gheny City.  At  ten  minutes  past  four  o’clock  the  train  arrived.  The  scene 
was  magnificent;  the  people  shouted,  cannons  boomed  thunderingly,  whirl- 
winds of  gladness  swept  over  acres  of  clapping  hands,  and  on  faces  young 
and  aged — it  was  the  pentecost  of  gayety.  The  fire  companies  never  looked 
or  behaved  better;  the  martial  music  was  inspiring  and  heroic,  and  the 
guests  were  happy,  both  by  choice  and  compulsion. 

Processions  were  formed  under  direction  of  Col.  R.  K.  Porter  and  J.  H. 
Kauke,  marshals  of  the  day,  and  proceeded  to  the  grove  northeast  of  the 
depot,  where  a table  had  been  spread  by  H.  Howard,  Esq.,  of  the  American 
House.  The  festal  arrangements  exhibited  taste  to  perfection.  The  guests 
being  seated.  Judge  Dean  called  for  order,  when  they  were  welcomed  by 
him,  in  an  appropriate  speech.  General  Robinson,  president  of  the  road, 
delivered  an  address,  when  they  all  sat  down  to  a sumptuous  dinner. 

The  guests  being  entertained  and  supplied,  the  cloth  was  removed,  and 
S.  Hemphill.  Esq.,  read  a series  of  toasts,  to  which  response  was  made. 

The  fourth  toast  read  as  follows : “Hon.  John  Larwill,  resident  director 
of  the  Ohio  & Pennsylvania  railroad.  The  celebration  today,  and  the  re- 
peated election  to  his  present  post,  as  director,  are  the  bes*  tributes  that  can 
be  offered  to  his  merits  as  an  officer  and  a man.” 

Mr.  Larwill  returned  his  thanks  for  the  flattering  expression  of  appro- 


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bation  by  his  fellow-townsmen  and  the  gentlemen  present.  The  opening  of 
the  road  was  to  him  a most  gratifying  event  in  his  life.  He  had  known 
Wooster  from  the  day  the  first  stick  of  timber  was  cut  to  that  very  hour. 
That  had  been  to  him  a proud  day  and  he  was  most  happy  to  enjoy  it  and 
to  meet  his  friends  which  he  numbered  by  the  one  word — legion. 

At  night  the  fire  companies  made  a splendid  parade,  the  engines  drawn 
by  evenly-matched  horses,  with  flowers,  plumes  and  floating  banners.  Dur- 
ing that  evening  there  was  a gorgeous  display  of  fireworks.  George  W. 
Kauffman  sent  up  a balloon.  The  firemen  of  Pittsburg  were  the  invited 
guests  of  the  Wooster  companies  at  an  elegant  repast,  served  in  their  honor 
at  the  United  States  Hall.  The  fact  that  Wooster  had  won  and  secured  a 
railroad  had  been  accomplished. 

OTHER  RAILROADS  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

By  1878  the  county  had  secured  the  following  railroads:  The  Colum- 

bus, Mt.  Vernon  & Cleveland  line;  the  Atlantic  & Great  Western  line  and 
the  Tuscarawas  Valley  line.  In  19C9  the  names  (as  now  known)  of  the 
various  railways  that  cross  some  part  of  Wayne  county  are  as  follows:  The 
Pennsylvania  (old  Pittsburg  & Ft.  Wayne  route),  the  Wheeling  & Lake  Erie 
route;  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  line;  the  Cleveland,  Akron  & Columbus  line, 
and  the  one  running  from  Ashland  southeast,  through  the  southeastern  town- 
ship of  Wayne  county. 

The  interurban  line,  known  as  the  Cleveland  & Southwestern  line,  an 
electric  railway  running  direct  from  Wooster  to  Cleveland,  through  Creston, 
in  Canaan  township,  was  built  in  1901-02. 

With  these  various  roads  and  systems  of  great  transportation  companies, 
the  populace  have  but  little  to  complain  of  in  way  of  being  able  to  get  to 
and  from  almost  any  desired  point.  Passenger  and  freight  rates  are  indeed 
reasonable.  Train  service  is  most  excellent  and  the  people  have  much  to 
thank  the  founders  of  these  various  railways  for.  Still  the  croakers  are  not 
all  dead  yet! 


NAVIGATING  THE  KILLBUCK  AND  SALT  CREEK. 

The  subjoined  was  a reminiscence  furnished  by  Nathan  W.  Smith,  of 
Wooster,  for  Douglas’  History  of  Wayne  County  (1878)  : 

“In  1812  Philip  Smith  despatched  a boat  load  of  goods  up  these  streams 
from  the  Ohio  river,  with  his  sons,  George  and  Philip,  and  James  Mclntire 


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in  charge.  The  boat  was  a ‘dug-out;  sixty-eight  feet  long  by  almost  four 
feet  in  width,  carved  out  of  one  solid  log.  It  was  constructed  several  miles 
up  Cross  creek,  in  Ohio,  where  it  was  launched  and  passed  down  the  river 
to  within  three  miles  of  Wellsville;  Here  the  cargo  was  placed  on  board, 
consisting  of  four  wagon  loads  full  of  goods,  and  on  March  20,  1812,  they 
embarked  on  the  trip  for  the  then  far-distant  Wayne  county.  They  moved 
down  the  Ohio  to  the  Muskingum,  and  up  that  stream  and  its  branches  to 
the  mouth  of  Killbuck  creek;  thence  up  that  stream  to  the  mouth  of  Salt 
Creek,  near  Holmesville;  thence  to  a point  above  Holmesville,  where  the 
goods  were  unloaded  at  Morgan’s  residence,  at  the  Big  Spring. 

“About  one  month  was  occupied  in  making  this  passage.  This  was  the 
first  craft  that  had  navigated  the  Killbuck,  which  passage  was  accomplished 
with  great  difficulty,  as  they  frequently  had  to  cut  their  way  through  drift- 
wood!” 

A REMINISCENCE. 

The  following  was  written  in  1872,  by  Frederick  Ley  da,  a pioneer  of 
Wayne  county,  then  residing  in  Minnesota,  and  was  published  in  the  Wooster 
Republican : 

“Great  things  transpired  during  1816.  Killbuck,  the  beautiful,  that 
flows  so  rapidly  west  of  Wooster  and  winds  its  way  so  majestically  south 
until  it  mingles  its  waters  with  the  great  Father  of  Waters,  was  this  year 
declared  navigable,  and  it  was  not  thought  improbable  that  the  day  would 
come  when  the  ‘Mohicans’  would  lie  conveyed  to  the  Killbuck  bridge,  and 
Wooster  become  the  head  of  navigation.  Owing  to  the  great  navigation  to 
this  part,  grain  became  scarce  and  the  demand  increased.  A benevolent  spirit 
entered  the  heart  of  John  Wilson  to  seek  food  for  man  and  beast,  and  it  was 
on  this  wise : He  laid  the  matter  before  one  William  Totten,  who  had  been 

a man  of  renown  among  the  watermen  of  the  Ohio  in  days  of  yore.  William 
thought  it  good  to  go  and  choose  some  of  the  more  valiant  men  to  accom- 
pany him.  It  occurred  to  him  that  in  the  White  Woman’s  country  there 
was  much  corn  and  to  spare,  and  the  captain  of  this  boat  led  the  way  to 
that  land  where  the  corn  grew,  and  he  procured  a craft  called  a ‘keel-boat.’ 
The  size  of  this  boat  was  fifteen  feet  in  length,  the  width  ten  feet  and  its 
depth  six  feet,  with  a cabin  thereon.  All  things  now  ready,  the  captain  went 
forth  among  the  inhabitants  of  this  land  of  corn,  and  laid  bare  the  wants 
of  his  brethren  that  dwelt  north,  even  toward  the  lakes,  and  after  they  heark- 
ened unto  his  voice  their  hearts  softened  toward  their  kinsmen  and  they  said 


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unto  him : Thou  hast  come  unto  thy  brethren  of  the  south  to  get  provender 

for  man  and  beast,  and  thou  shalt  not  surely  go  away  empty,  for  we  have 
here  an  abundance  and  to  spare.'  The  captain  answered  and  said:  ‘We 

have  not  come  here,  my  brethren,  to  ask  alms,  for  we  have  the  coin  to 
satisfy  thee.  What  wilt  thou  tax  us  for  the  provender?  Ho'w  much  per 
bushel?'  Then  the  brethren  to  the  south  answered  and  said:  Truly,  we 

are  in  need  of  the  coin,  for  we  have  not  seen  the  like  before  in  this  land.  Ye 
shall  surely  have  it  at  fifteen  cents  per  bushel.'  So  it  was  agreed  that  the 
boat  should  be  filled,  and  it  was  even  so.  The  captain  called  forth  his  men 
and  said  unto  them:  ‘Up,  we  will  haste  to  our  brethren  with  the  corn,  that 

they  faint  not.'  The  craft  was  pushed  up  the  stream  in  this  way:  On  the 

other  side  of  the  cabin  there  was  a footway  with  slats  nailed  on  from  bow 
to  stern  cross-wise.  Men  on  each  side,  with  poles,  commenced  at  the  bow, 
placed  one  end  of  the  pole  to  their  shoulder  and  the  other  end  in  the  stream, 
then  pushed,  and  as  the  boat  ran  ahead  they  kept  stepping  until  they  reached 
the  stern;  then  wheeled,  walked  back  and  did  the  same  over  again,  one  man 
remaining  at  the  helm  to  steer.  They  succeeded,  but  with  much  difficulty, 
having  to  cut  drift-wood  and  trees  that  fell  across  the  stream;  often  only 
two  miles  a day  were  made.  They  finally  landed  the  boat  above  the  Killbuck 
bridge,  south.  It  was  then  noised  abroad  that  the  effort  was  a success,  and 
great  \vas  the  rejoicing.  The  occasion  was  celebrated  in  the  partaking  of  the 
‘ardent.'  The  writer  of  this  was  considered  competent  to  take  charge  of 
said  boat  and  contents  during  the  night,  and  as  the  shades  of  evening  drew 
near  there  came  forth  from  their  hiding  places  a numerous  quantity  of  mos- 
quitoes— the  number  no  mortal  man  could  tell — and  if  anybody  ever  did 
suffer  from  these  little  Killbuck  imps  it  was  me.  Having  nothing  to  make  a 
smoke  with,  I was  completely  at  their  mercy.  The  corn  was  hauled  to  the 
town  and  disposed  of  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  bushel. 

“Joseph  McGugan  bought  the  boat,  ran  it  down  and  \vas  about  to  load  it 
when  the  rains  descended,  the  floods  came  and  that  boat,  with  the  men  on 
board,  broke  its  moorings  and  was  carried  off.  The  men  got  hold  of  limbs, 
climbed  up  the  trees  and  were  there  thirty-six  hours  before  they  were  released. 
Thus  ended  the  corn  speculation. 

“During  the  next  season  a load  of  salt  arrived  from  the  Ohio  river, 
which  was  disposed  of  at  twelve  dollars  a barrel,  and  Killbuck  was  declared 
navigable. 

“I  was  somewhat  acquainted  with  the  old  chief  Killbuck,  and  he  occa- 
sionally visited  Wooster,  always  accompanied  by  his  daughter,  quite  an 


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interesting  girl.  The  stream  was  named  for  this  chief.  He  was  a beautiful 
specimen  of  the  red  man  as  taught  and  trained  by  the  white  men — a perfect 
bloat — and  as  homely  as  the  devil,  lacking  the  cloven  foot.  Killbuck,  you  are 
not  responsible  for  being  named  after  the  old  chief!  Nor  yet  for  your  slug- 
gishness, nor  for  your  slopping  over  occasionally  to  afford  a good  ‘skating 
park’  for  young  Wooster!  Thou  wast  here,  winding  thy  unrippled  way, 
carrying  off  the  noxious  effluvia  and  draining  the  low,  rich  lands  along 
thy  borders  for  the  husbandmen  that  are  to  cultivate  that  ‘Nile/  as  yet  un- 
touched by  man.  Proud  mortals  may  stand  on  thy  banks  and  cast  a reproach- 
ful eye  or  an  epithet  on  thy  appearance,  and  say,  Why  was  it  not  thus 
and  so?  Ah!  has  man  filled  the  great  object  of  his  existence?  Nay,  verily, 
but  thou  hast.” 


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CHAPTER  XIX. 


TOWNSHIP  HISTORY. 

Wayne  county  is  subdivided  into  sixteen  townships,  and  the  following  is 
a historical  sketch  of  each: 


CHIPPEWA  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  organized  September  4,  1815,  and  is  situated  in 
the  extreme  northeastern  portion  of  the  county,  with  Medina  county  on  its 
north,  Summit  county  on  the  east,  Baughman  township,  Wayne  county,  on 
the  south,  and  Milton  township  on  its  western  border.  It  contains  thirty-six 
full  sections  of  land,  much  of  wrhich  is  underlaid  with  coal,  of  which  further 
mention  will  be  made. 

The  first  to  effect  a settlement  in  Chippewa  township  were  Nicholas 
and  Adam  Helmick,  Henry  Franks,  Sr.,  Uriah,  Henry  and  John  Franks, 
Thomas  Fredericks,  Henry  Houts,  Michael  Brouse,  Paul  Baughman,  Jacob 
Hatfield,  William  Hatfield,  John  Reichildifer,  Stephen  Fisher,  Joseph 
Springer,  Mr.  McConkey,  John  Adams,  William  Doyle,  Frederick  Gale- 
house,  Isaac  Montgomery,  Michael  Huffman,  James  and  Adam  Shatto,  Rev. 
George  Weygandt,  George  Christian,  the  Whitmans,  Michael  Feister, 
Samuel  Pierpont,  M.  D.,  John  Rouston,  James  Boak,  “Major”  South,  James 
Hutchinson,  Peter  Bradenbaugh,  Jacob  Heffleman  and  some  others  whose 
names  are  now  unknown  in  the  records  of  this  part  of  Wayne  county. 
Michael  Basinger  came  to  the  township  in  1815.  Pioneer  Hatfield  is  the 
authority  for  the  statement  that  Rogue’s  Hollow  was  named  by  a Doctor 
Crosby,  who  owned  the  ground  and  had  it  laid  out.  Daniel  Slanker  built 
the  first  mill,  a grist  mill  of  the  early-day  type,  and  to  it  was  also  attached 
a saw  mill ; it  was  west  of  Doylestown.  Mike  Greenoe  had  the  first,  Fred 
Galehouse  the  second  and  after  them  George  Wellhouse  and  Michael  Brouse 
had  distilleries.  The  first  graveyard  was  at  Easton,  and  Lucindia  Heckerton 
was  the  first  person  to  be  buried  there.  Jonathan  Coleman  of  Canton,  a 
married  man,  was  drowned  in  Donor’s  lake  in  1830. 

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Henry  Franks,  a settler  of  1816,  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  settled  south  of  Doylestown.  Henry  Franks,  known  as  “Old 
Henry,”  with  some  others,  was  taken  prisoner  on  the  Ohio  river  by  the 
Indians  when  he  was  a young  man,  and  held  in  captivity  by  them.  He  was 
tall,  straight  and  powerfully  built.  His  captors  immediately  fancied  him 
and  by  ceremonies  introduced  him  to  Indian  citizenship.  Its  first  condition 
was  to  run  the  gauntlet,  and  at  the  end  of  the  race  he  was,  to  save  his  life, 
forced  to  strike  an  Indian  with  his  hatchet,  whom  he  nearly  killed.  This 
successful  and  daring  act  on  his  part  ingratiated  him  with  his  captors,  who 
exclaimed,  “He  make  good  Indian.”  Mr.  Franks  receiving  a wound  in  the 
test  of  his  manhood,  the  Indians  instantly  took  charge  of  him,  nursing  and 
treating  him  kindly  until  he  thoroughly  recovered.  After  the  capture  of 
Crawford  in  Ohio,  and  during  the  excitement  of  his  horrible  death,  all  of 
which  Mr.  Franks  witnessed,  he  made  an  effort  to  escape,  in  which  he  was 
successful.  He  fled  to  the  lake  shore,  boarded  a British  vessel,  went  by 
water  as  far  as  Montreal,  crossed  to  the  American  side,  and  thence  on  foot 
to  Philadelphia.  From  the  last  city  he  wended  his  way  to  Pittsburg,  and 
thence  on  to  his  home  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  after  a captivity  of 
five  years. 

Frederick  Galehouse,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  township,  a German  by 
birth,  emigrated  to  America  in  1786,  going  first  to  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  settling  in  Chippewa  township,  this  county,  in  1823.  He  re- 
sided in  Wayne  county  thirty  years,  removing  to  Doylestown,  where  he  died 
in  1865.  His  oldest  son,  Frederick  Galehouse,  born  in  New  Lisbon,  came 
to  Wayne  county  with  his  father  and  was  brutally  murdered  by  a Canadian 
named  Amos  Clark,  who  struck  him  down  with  a poker,  in  January,  1840. 
The  father,  Frederick,  had  a contract  with  the  government  to  superintend 
the  construction  of  a public  road  from  New  Lisbon  to  Lake  Erie  for  the 
use  of  artillery,  and  when  the  news  of  Hull's  surrender  came,  he  told  all  to 
scatter,  which  they  did. 

The  village  of  Chippewa  was  surveyed  for  Stephen  Ford  by  Daniel 
McClure  in  the  month  of  May,  1816.  Capt.  John  Rouston  erected  the  first 
house  in  the  place. 

The  village  of  Slangerville  was  laid  out  by  Jacob  Slanker,  Reuben 
Dressier  and  John  Gartner  in  February,  1843.  This  place,  since  the  com- 
pletion of  the  railroad,  is  known  as  Easton. 

Doylestown,  the  chief  place  of  the  township  for  many  years,  was  platted 
by  William  Doyle,  December  9,  1827.  August  6,  1867,  the  place  was  in- 


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corporated.  The  first  house  in  the  village  was  a log  structure  built  by  Wil- 
liam Doyle,  and  in  it  Doyle  conducted  a tavern,  sold  whisky  and  permitted 
many  dances  to  be  held  there.  The  first  physician  of  the  place  was  Doctor 
Pierrepont.  who,  while  on  a visit  East,  stole  a horse  and  for  the  crime  was  sent 
to  the  penitentiary.  The  first  election  for  the  Doylestown  incorporation  was 
held  in  December,  1866.  The  first  officers  elected  were:  Mayor,  A.  H.  Pur- 
sell;  recorder,  William  Reed;  treasurer,  Samuel  H.  Miller;  councilmen, 
Elias  Galehouse,  James  H.  Seiberling,  Henry  A.  Soliday,  Jacob  Shaffer  and 
R.  B.  Wasson. 

Doylestown  was  supplied  with  a newspaper  by  George  W.  Everts  in 
1874,  when,  on  July  nth,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Doylestown 
Journal. 

William  G.  Fpster  served  as  postmaster  at  this  village  from  1828  to 
1847. 

Among  the  enterprising  spirits  of  Doylestown  was  Elias  Galehouse,  who 
in  his  young  manhood  established  a hotel  at  Doylestown,  continued  propri- 
etor for  eight  years,  then  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business ; built 
a foundry,  in  company  with  John  Gates,  and  made  stoves,  plows  and  other 
farm  implements;  also  run  a carriage  manufactory  at  the  same  time.  Sub- 
sequently, he  went  into  the  coal  mining  industry  and  built  a grist-  and  saw- 
mill in  Doylestown. 

Doylestown  has  been  the  seat  of  several  useful  and  successful  factories, 
including  that  of  reaping  and  mowing  machinery.  In  the  early  days  of  such 
machinery,  1861,  Peter  Cline,  John  F.  Seiberling  and  John  H.  Hower  formed 
a partnership  to  manufacture  what  was  known  as  the  “Excelsior”  dropping 
reaper  and  mower,  of  which  John  F.  Seiberling  was  the  inventor.  The  works 
were  enlarged  from  time  to  time  until  1865  and  others  were  associated  with 
the  works.  A part  of  the  plant  was  moved  to  Akron  and  a part  was  still 
conducted  at  Doylestown.  From  1865  to  1875  the  annual  output  of  these 
machines  was  about  nine  hundred.  After  1875  they  built  a new  design  of 
machine  known  as  the  “Empire”  reaper  and  mower,  invented  by  the  same 
Mr.  Seiberling.  One  factory  was  maintained  at  Doylestown  and  another  at 
Akron.  Of  this  plant  the  local  writer  of  1878  had  this  to  say:  “This  firm 
at  Doylestown  is  the  most  solid  and  reliable  manufacturing  institution  in 
Wayne  county,  or  in  northern  Ohio.  It  has  thus  far  weathered  financial  cy- 
clones, monetary  upheavals,  and  panic  simoons,  its  reputation  unquestioned 
and  its  credit  above  challenge  or  suspicion.  It  employs  about  seventy-five 
workmen  in  its  works.” 


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The  population  of  Chippewa  township  in  1900  was  two  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  thirty-seven. 

The  coal  mining  interests  of  this  township  have  been  very  extensive  and 
valuable.  This  coal  measure  is  located  in  the  northern,  eastern  and  central 
parts  of  the  county,  north  of  Chippewa  creek,  but  this  mineral  wealth  is 
found  here  and  there  throughout  the  township.  It  is  of  the  bituminous,  best 
quality  type,  such  as  the  Mahoning  and  Briar  Hill  grade.  More  concerning 
these  mines  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work  in  the  Geological  chapter. 

MILTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Milton  township  is  the  second  from  the  eastern  line  of  Wayne  county 
and  in  the  north  tier  of  townships.  It  is  six  miles  square.  It  dates  its 
organization  by  the  commissioners  in  session  October  5,  1818.  One  of  the 
early  pioneers,  Jacob  Kiefer,  went  to  Wooster  to  see  about  having  it  named, 
and  suggested  to  the  board  of  county  commissioners  that  it  be  styled  “Center 
Swamp  township,' ” from  the  fact  that  there  was  a large  swamp  in  the  center 
of  its  territory.  Commissioner  George  Bair  objected  to  this  name,  saying 
it  would  induce  odium  upon  the  township,  whereupon,  at  the  suggestion  of 
Mr.  Bair,  it  was  called  Milton  township.  In  1870  the  population  of  this 
township  had  reached  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-four;  in  the 
federal  census  of  1900  it  was  given  as  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight. 

The  first  to  settle  in  the  township,  with  a view  of  making  a permanent 
home,  was  Isaac  DeCourcey,  perceptibly  of  Indian  blood,  who,  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  was  living  on  the  Knupp  farm  as  early  as  1813. 
After  about  eight  years’  residence  in  the  townshp  he  moved  to  Allen  county. 
While  he  was  styled  a farmer,  he  devoted  most  of  his  time  to  hunting,  fish- 
ing and  trapping. 

Among  the  first  events  of  importance,  may  here  be  narrated  the  fol- 
lowing: The  first  deaths  were  those  of  Sarah  Fritz  and  her  young  son. 

Adam  Fritz,  who  died  and  were  buried  in  the  Knupp  graveyard  in  1817. 
The  third  person  to  die  in  the  township  was  David  Trump.  The  first  school 
was  taught  by  William  Dovle,  who  taught  in  a log  cabin  in  1817;  the  build- 
ing stood  where  later  the  Knupp  church  was  erected.  This  school  building 
was  twenty  by  twenty-four  feet,  built  of  round  logs  scutched  inside.  It  was 
so  cold  that  in  the  winter  time  ink  would  freeze  in  the  bottles  while  a pupil 
was  in  the  act  of  writing.  It  was  a subscription  school,  this  being  ahead  of 
the  free,  common  school  system. 


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The  first  church  building  in  the  township  was  the  Lancetown  Baptist 
church,  the  pioneer  ministers  being  Elder  Freeman  and  James  Newton.  Free- 
man was  a Revolutionary  soldier,  and  a missionary,  conducting  services  at 
private  houses  usually.  Newton,  however,  was  the  first  regular  ordained 
preacher  in  the  township. 

The  first  saw  and  grist-mills  were  built  by  Thomas  Huffstetter  on  the 
Little  Chippewa.  The  next  mill  was  built  by  Philip  Fritz  on  the  river  Styx. 

The  pioneer  doctor  was  a Mr.  Donahue,  who  was  also  a tailor  by  trade, 
and  practiced  medicine  as  well  as  tailoring. 

William  Doyle,  founder  of  Doylestown,  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Milton  township,  and  the  second  was  John  Dawson,  the  commissions  of 
both  bearing  date  of  April  27,  1819. 

The  first  distilleries  were  the  property  of  Messrs.  Hartshorn,  Gilmore 
and  John  Lance. 

The  first  postoffice  was  at  Christian  Krupp’s  place,  and  was  called  New 
Prospect. 

The  earliest  election  was  held  at  William  Doyle’s.  At  the  first  election, 
old  Mr.  Trump  had  to  be  carried  to  the  polls  to  make  a necessary  number  to 
hold  the  election. 

Among  the  early  settlers  may  be  named  Martin  Fritz,  Christian  Lance, 
John,  William,  James  and  Henry  Lance,  Andrew  Waggoner,  Thomas  Daw- 
son, Abner  Johnson,  Samuel  Slemmons  and  others  who  came  into  the  town- 
ship about  the  same  time. 

More  than  a passing  mention  should  be  made  of  Martin  Fritz,  who  was 
born  in  Alsace  in  1757,  and  emigrated  from  France  in  1771.  Not  having 
the  necessary  funds  to  pay  his  passage,  he  was  sold,  according  to  the  old 
custom,  to  a Mr.  Ray,  for  whom  he  worked  three  years  for  the  payment  of 
the  debt.  Soon  after  he  had  served  his  time  the  Revolutionary  war  broke 
out  and  he  enlisted  under  Washington  for  five  years,  being  engaged  in  several 
battles,  including  Brandywine.  After  the  war  he  married  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  moved  to  Venango  county,  and  from  there  removed 
to  Milton  township,  this  county,  in  June,  1814,  when  there  was  but  one  other 
settler  within  the  township,  the  quarter-breed  DeCourcey.  He  died,  aged 
ninety-four  years,  in  1851.  His  son  Philip,  bom  in  1804,  had  lived  longer 
in  Milton  township,  in  1878,  than  any  other  man  within  its  borders. 

The  towns  of  Milton  township  are : Johnson’s  Comers,  called  Amwell, 

named  for  Abner  Johnson,  who  made  the  first  improvements  in  it.  John 
Scoby,  of  Truxton,  New  York,  was  the  pioneer  doctor,  and  Goodsill  Foster 
was  the  first  postmaster.  Adney  Bessev  named  the  town  Amwell. 


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Russell  was  named  after  the  Russells  of  Massillon,  who  purchased  the 
property  there  and  gave  it  the  name.  A postoffice  was  established  there  at 
an  early  day,  but  its  name  was  Amwell. 

Milton  Station  began  as  a town  in  1869  when  the  first  house  was  erected 
by  David  Shook.  In  July,  1870,  C.  M.  Murdock  started  the  first  business, 
and  in  the  same  year  the  postoffice  was  removed  here  from  Shinersburg 
(New  Prospect). 

Shinersburg  was  named  after  this  manner : Michael  Hatfield  bought  the 
first  lot  there  from  Philip  Fritz,  and  built  a house  on  it,  and  started  a grocery 
store,  selling  drugs,  beer,  whisky,  etc.  One  day  Michael  got  drunk  and  in 
one  of  his  ecstatic  moods  was  heard  saying,  “When  I get  to  heaven  I will 
shine  as  bright  as  anybody” ; hence  the  name  Shinersburg. 

Lancetown,  called  after  the  large  family  of  Lances,  has  long  since  been 
defunct. 

The  present  towns  of  the  township  are  Sterling  and  Ritman,  in  the 
northern  part.  Ritman  has  a savings  bank,  with  S.  M.  Brenneman  presi- 
dent, with  a capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

Sterling  is  a good  town,  with  the  Farmers  Banking  Company,  with  D.  I. 
Simmons  as  president  and  S.  A.  Simmons  as  cashier. 

FATAL  BOILER  EXPLOSION. 

A fatal  boiler  explosion  occurred  March  11,  1870.  in  Milton  township. 
It  was  a steam  boiler  in  the  saw-mill  near  Shinersburg  and  it  resulted  in  the 
death  of  seven  men.  On  the  day  of  the  explosion  the  mill  was  being  operated 
by  Jacob  Knupp,  John  Fritz,  Lewis  Hoover  and  David,  his  brother.  Robert 
McConnell  and  son,  Frank,  and  David  Shook  were  at  work  on  a house  as 
carpenters  a few  rods  west  of  the  mill  and,  a rain  coming  on,  they  sought 
shelter  in  the  mill.  In  ten  minutes  after  they  reached  the  mill  the  boiler  ex- 
ploded and  all  were  instantly  killed,  except  David  Hoover,  who  lingered  a few 
hours. 


A REMINISCENCE  BY  PHILIP  FRITZ. 

“When  my  father  removed  to  Milton  township,  in  1814,  he  had  to  cut 
out  the  road  where  I now  live  [written  in  1878].  Bears,  wolves,  wildcats, 
porcupines,  wild  hogs,  deer  and  turkey  were  plenty.  We  often  shot  the  wild 
hogs,  as  they  made  good  meat.  Porcupines  were  numerous ; the  dogs  would 


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attack  them  and  we  would  pull  out  the  quills  with  bullet-moulds.  We  made 
sugar  by  the  barrel  in  our  camp,  took  it  to  Canton  and  sold  it.  The  wolves 
on  one  occasion  chased  us  all  out  of  the  sugar  camp.  Times  looked  pretty 
blue  when  we  came  here  to  Milton  township.  We  had  to  go  fourteen  miles 
to  Rex’s  mill  to  get  grinding  done.  I helped  to  grub  out  the  land  on  which 
Knupp’s  cemetery  is  located.  In  the  early  days  I hunted  a good  deal,  and 
often  with  the  Indians.  They  would  come  to  our  house  and  get  corn,  and 
bring  venison  to  exchange  for  it.  They  weighed  it  themselves,  the  corn  in 
one  hand  and  the  venison  in  the  other. 

“Samuel  and  John  Fritz,  Isaac  DeCourcey,  John  Huffman  and  myself 
went  up  the  country  to  Chippewa  lake  to  hunt,  and  took  our  provisions  with 
us.  I was  left  in  charge  of  the  eatables,  and  the  balance  went  to  the  woods  to 
hunt.  While  I was  watching  the  provisions  eight  Indians  approached  me, 
and  I was  terribly  frightened.  They  at  once  commenced  laying  off  their 
knives,  guns  and  tomahawks,  and  advancing  to  where  I had  a large  fire  built, 
one  of  them  would  speak  in  English,  saying,  ‘White  man  foolish;  makes  big 
fire  and  sits  away  off ; Indian  makes  little  fire  and  sits  up  close.’  They  then 
went  to  the  edge  of  the  lake  and  began  jumping  on  the  muskrat  houses,  and 
just  as  fast  as  the  inmates  popped  out  they  popped  him  over,  and  so  they  kept 
on  until  out  of  one  of  the  largest  mud-houses  sprang  a beaver,  which  was 
instantly  killed,  and  then  they  whooped  and  danced  and  drank.  Its  hide  was 
worth  sixteen  dollars.  When  our  hunting  party  came  in  the  Indians  wanted 
to  buy  their  dogs.  An  Indian  squaw  went  into  a marsh  to  pick  cranberries. 
She  had  her  papoose  with  her  and,  tying  it  to  a board,  set  it  down.  While 
she  was  in  the  marsh  a dog  came  along  and  killed  it.  She  lamented  and 
yelled  fearfully.  When  we  came  here  there  were  a good  many  Indians  about 
here — they  called  themselves  the  Delawares,  Shawnees  and  Wyandots.  They 
had  quite  a town  on  the  south  side  of  Chippewa  lake,  probably  thirty  fam- 
ilies. I used  to  go  the  settlement  often,  saw  the  little  Indian  boys  roasting 
gammons  of  meat  and  gnaw  at  them;  saw  them  shoot  pieces  of  silver  out  of 
split  sticks,  with  bows  and  arrows,  and  never  miss.  They  captured  a good 
deal  of  wild  honey  and  carried  it  in  deer  skins  turned  inside  out.  They  would 
cut  down  a tree,  carve  out  the  stump,  crush  their  corn  in  it,  and  then  put  it 
in  pots  and  boil  it,  and  then  put  in  the  meat.  An  Indian  never  uses  salt. 
Within  about  ten  rods  of  where  river  Styx — north  branch  of  the  Chippewa — 
empties  into  Big  Chippewa,  an  Indian  was  found  dead  in  the  drift,  shot 
through  the  waist,  and  it  seems  about  that  time  the  Indians  got  scared  and 
very  suddenly  disappeared.” — From  Douglas  history , published  in  1878. 


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CANAAN  TOWNSHIP. 

In  the  northern  tier  of  townships,  and  the  second  from  the  western  line 
of  the  county,  is  Canaan,  the  territory  of  which  is  six  miles  square.  It  was 
organized  May  5,  1819,  and  was  named  by  Dr.  Isaac  Barnes.  In  1870  it  had 
a population  of  almost  two  thousand  people.  According  to  the  United  States 
census  in  1900  it  had  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  one  people. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  the  following  reminiscence  was  written  by  Isaac 
Notestine,  and  as  it  brings  out  so  many  early-day  points  connected  with  the 
history  of  this  township,  it  is  here  reproduced : 

“By  whom  or  when  the  first  entries  of  land  were  made  in  this  township 
is  not  known;  but  perhaps  in  1808.  The  first  settlement  was  made  and  a 
cabin  built  in  1812  by  William  Ewing,  Sr.,  on  the  farm  later  owned  by  his 
son  Simon.  About  the  same  time  James  Rose,  a Scotchman,  and  Thomas 
Armstrong  settled  in  the  township.  Joseph  Stratton  settled  in  1817  on  the 
farm  owned  by  his  son  Daniel  and  about  this  period  the  Weed  brothers, 
Joshua  and  William,  and  Thomas  Thrapp  came  in.  Then  Daniel  Blocher 
and  Swartz  and  Nathan  Hall.  Quite  a number  of  families  were  now  located. 

“In  the  fall  of  1819,  the  first  election  was  held  in  an  ashery  that  stood 
nearly  a mile  south  of  the  present  village  of  Windsor.  The  electors  as  given 
by  George  Sommers,  a citizen,  but  not  a voter  then,  were  William  Ewing,  Sr., 
William  Ewing,  Jr.,  Thomas  Armstrong,  Joseph  and  Daniel  Stratton,  Elizier 
Perago,  Nathan  Hall,  David  Plumer,  Doctor  Barnes.  Chapman,  Daniel 
Blocher,  Swartz,  John  Templeton,  James  Rose,  Jones,  B.  F.  Miller,  James 
Buchanan.  Joshua  and  William  Reed,  Thomas  Thrapp,  and  one  Adams,  all 
of  whom  are  dead.  The  officers  elected  were:  Justices.  Doctor  Barnes  and 
Joseph  Stratton;  trustees,  Doctor  Barnes,  Joseph  Stratton.  Thomas  Thrapp; 
clerk,  Nathan  Hall,  who  held  the  office  afterwards  some  twelve  years;  other 
officers  not  remembered. 

“Immigration  now  became  more  rapid,  so  then  in  ten  years  from  the 
organization  of  the  township  at  lenst  one-half  of  the  rjuarter  sections  that 
could  be  farmed  had  on  them  one  or  more  cabins.  In  the  year  of  the  organ- 
ization George  Sommers  settled  in  the  township,  the  only  resident  of  that 
time.  About  the  same  time  John  Mclllvaine  and  James  Smith  moved  in, 
settling  near  each  other,  a mile  west  of  Jackson.  Soon  after  Daniel  Oiler. 
Henry  Kopp,  Simon  Kenney,  James  and  William  Haskins  and  Enoch  Gil- 
bert and  a number  of  others  from  the  New  England  states  and  New  York 
came  ir. 


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“Charles,  son  of  James  Rose,  was  the  first  white  child  bom  in  the  town- 
ship. Simon,  son  of  William  Ewing,  Sr.,  was  the  second  and  still  lived  on 
the  old  homestead  in  1878.  The  oldest  native  Canaanite  is  the  last  named. 
Susan,  daughter  of  William  Ewing,  Sr.,  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first 
person  married  in  the  township  to  her  first  husband,  Ramsey,  who  was  killed 
at  a mill  raising,  near  Wooster.  The  first  school  house  was  on  James  Rose's 
land,  in  which  James  Buchanan,  a Scotchman,  taught  the  first  school. 

“Almost  every  family,  men  and  women,  wore  homespun,  at  home  and 
abroad.  The  only  difference  between  the  dress  to  ‘go  to  meetin’  ’ and  that 
of  the  field  or  the  clearing,  was  in  being  fresh  washed  for  the  former.  The 
diet,  too,  was  of  the  plainest  kind,  quite  limited  in  variety,  and  frequently 
also  in  quantity.  Corn,  in  its  various  forms,  whole  or  ground,  with  buck- 
wheat, potatoes,  beans,  pork,  venison  and  other  wild  meats,  weie  the  chief 
articles  of  food.  Game  abounded,  and  many  families  depended  upon  getting 
their  meats  from  the  forest.  Though  the  pioneers  could  get  but  little  for  the 
wheat  they  sold,  the  articles  they  bought  cost  much  more  than  at  present. 
As  late  as  1825  salt  sold  for  eleven  dollars  per  barrel,  and  before  cost  still 
more. 

“If  the  times  of  settlements  were  recorded  by  decades,  from  the  first 
coming  of  William  Ewing,  in  1812,  the  first  up  to  1822,  would  find  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  families  in  the  township.  And  this  may  be  called  the  true 
pioneer  decade;  whilst  the  next  to  1832,  would  be  of  immigration,  which  dur- 
ing this  time  poured  in  in  streams,  so  that  by  1832,  of  land  suitable  for  occu- 
pation, not  more  than  twenty-five  quarters  were  unoccupied.  During  this 
second  decade  came  many  of  the  most  useful  and  substantial  citizens,  among 
them  mechanics  and  men  of  capital.  Some  of  those  who  came  during  this 
period  were,  as  remembered,  John  and  Justin  Miles,  Smith  and  David  Hois- 
ington,  Simon  Kenney,  and  the  Shanklings,  Joseph  Notestine,  Henry  Shuff- 
ling, John  D.  Hockert,  David  Wiles,  John  and  Henry  and  Daniel  Frank, 
Jason  and  Sylvanus  Jones,  Zenas  Z.  Crane,  Joseph  Henry  and  Jacob  Zarer, 
the  Wells  and  many  others  equally  prominent,  whose  names  do  not  now  come 
to  mind.  At  the  close  of  the  second  decade,  the  last  entry  of  the  public  land 
was  made  in  this  township.  Among  the  men  last  named  was  John  Kearns, 
a man  of  sterling  worth,  industrious,  skillful  and  of  much  business  ability. 
He  settled  a mile  north  of  the  Center,  on  the  present  Henry  Smith  farm.  He 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  church  in  general,  and  of  his  own,  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal,  in  particular.  At  his  death,  in  1839,  he  was  one  of  the 
wealthiest  men  in  his  township. 

“Wooster  was  the  nearest  point  of  trade,  but  it  was  a poor  place  to  sell 


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products  of  any  kind.  Wheat  and  flour  were  often  hauled  to  Cleveland,  and 
hogs  were  driven  there,  as  the  nearest  market. 

“There  are  five  villages  in  the  township,  Burbank,  Golden  Comers,  Wind- 
sor (or  Canaan  Center),  Jackson  and  Pike.” 

Of  the  educational  features  of  this  township,  it  may  be  stated  that  one 
of  the  first  institutions  of  learning  in  Wayne  county  was  Canaan  Academy, 
located  at  Windsor,  this  township.  The  original  building  was  a structure  of 
frame,  thirty-six  by  forty-eight  feet,  erected  in  1842  by  a stock  company. 
This  academy  was  controlled  by  a board  of  directors,  the  first  board  of  which 
consisted  of  John  Paul.  M.  D.,  Jonas  Notestine.  Justine  Mills,  Harvey  Rice 
and  Alfred  Hotchkiss.  The  school  was  first  opened  December  3,  1843,  with 
forty-seven  pupils,  under  the  instruction  of  Prof.  C.  C.  Bomberger,  A.  B., 
who  taught  three  years.  Reverends  Barr  and  Barker  had  charge  during  the 
summer  of  1847;  succeeded  in  the  winters  of  1847  an<3  1848  by  Prof.  Isaac 
Notestine,  who,  with  short  intervals,  remained  in  charge  until  1863.  After 
that  year  the  school  was  taught  by  a number  of  professors  until  1875,  when 
it  was  permanently  closed,  Prof.  J.  W.  Cummings  being  then  in  charge. 
While  Professor  Notestine  was  teaching,  in  the  winter  of  1851,  the  house 
was  burned,  and  the  next  building  was  constructed  of  brick.  It  is  conceded 
that  Canaan  Academy  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  educational  work 
of  Wayne  and  adjoining  counties. 

The  churches  of  this  locality  are  treated  in  the  Religious  chapter  of 
this  work. 

Burbank,  within  this  township,  was  incorporated  in  1868,  when  the 
name  was  changed  from  Bridgeport.  Burbank  Academy  was  organized  in 
1873.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  the  first  to  be  organized  in  the 
place.  The  business  factors  in  the  hamlet  in  1909  were:  M.  W.  Hower  & 

Son ; Will  Frary,  who  is  postmaster,  George  Brothers,  R.  L.  Malcomb,  J.  E. 
Addleman.  H.  A.  Overs  and  A.  Overs  & Company. 

CONGRESS  TOWNSHIP. 

Congress  is  the  extreme  northwestern  sub-division  in  Wayne  county; 
is  south  of  the  line  of  Wayne  and  Medina  county,  west  of  Canaan  township, 
north  of  Chester  township  and  borders  on  the  Ashland  county  line.  Wayne 
township  was  organized  October  5,  1818.  Hon.  Michael  Totten  and  James 
Carlin  gave  the  following  concerning  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  the 
county : 


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In  1815,  the  first  families  moved  into  what  is  now  Congress  township. 
Sometime  during  the  first  week  of  February,  Michael  and  Henry  Totten,  ac- 
companied by  George  and  Isaac  Poe,  cut  a trail  from  Wooster  to  where  the 
village  of  Congress  stands,  which  at  that  time,  was  all  forest,  the  lands  not  yet 
having  been  entered.  These  gentlemen  camped  until  they  finished  their  cabin 
on  section  27.  Mrs.  Catherine  Totten  was  the  first  white  woman  in  the 
township.  The  first  furniture  within  the  township  was  drawn  on  a sled 
from  Wooster  by  the  Totten  boys,  in  February,  1815.  The  first  week  in  the 
following  April,  George  and  Isaac  Poe  and  a few  other  families  came  in  and 
settled  upon  the  same  section.  Peter  Warner  and  family  moved  into  the 
southwest  part  of  the  township  that  spring.  In  1816  Matthew  Brower  and 
James  Carlin,  with  their  families,  moved  onto  the  same  farm,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  next  to  invade  this  fair  domain  was 
George  Aukerman  and  John  Nead,  with  their  families.  After  this  period 
emigrants  came  from  different  sections  of  the  country  and  settled  the  town- 
ship in  various  sections.  The  first  white  person  who  died  in  Congress  town- 
ship was  Mrs.  Amasa  Warner,  and  the  second  was  Mrs.  Totten. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  John  Totten  in  the  first  cabin  built. 

George  Poe  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace.  The  first  school  house 
was  erected  in  1819,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  27.  The  first  clear- 
ing was  made  by  the  Tottens  and  consisted  of  five  acres,  which  was  planted 
to  corn  and  cut  in  the  autumn  for  fodder  purposes,  and  the  same  fall  winter 
wheat  was  sowed  on  the  land,  these  crops  being  the  first  corn  and  wheat 
grown  within  Congress  township.  Game  was  very  plentiful,  and  for  some 
time  after  the  arrival  of  the  first  families  was  the  chief  article  of  diet.  Hogs 
and  sheep  could  not  at  first  be  raised,  on  account  of  the  wolves  that  would 
devour  such  animals  at  sight.  One  early-day  winter  the  first  settlers — the 
Tottens — had  twelve  sheep  enclosed  in  the  same  lot  with  the  cabin,  and  they 
were  believed  to  be  safe  there,  but  one  night  a pack  of  wolves  assailed  the  pen 
and  killed  all  of  them  but  two  and  one  of  these  escaped  and  ran  into  the  house, 
awoke  the  family,  but  the  hungry  wolves  had  finished  their  work  and  fled 
for  the  woods.  The  next  day  one  of  the  Tottens  pursued  them  as  far  as  the 
Harrisville  swamp,  in  Medina  county,  but  got  no  opportunity  of  shooting 
at  them.  Near  the  swamp  was  a camp  of  Indians,  numbering  about  thirty 
or  possibly  forty. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Congress  township  may  be  recalled : John 
Jeffrey,  Walter  Elgin,  David  Gardner,  Jacob  Holmes,  Jacob  Shellebarger, 
Peter  and  Samuel  Chasey,  G.  W.  Howey,  David  Nelson,  James  Grimes’  father, 
James  Boyd,  Hector  Burns,  Samuel  Sheets,  N.  N.  Perrine,  A.  Yocum,  John 


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Vanasdoll,  Rev.  John  Hazzard  and  family,  Isaac  Matthews  and  others  whose 
names  have  slipped  from  memory. 

James  Carlin  is  the  authority  for  the  statement  that  the  first  marriage 
in  Congress  township  was  that  of  Jesse  Matteson  and  Eleanor  Carlin.  The 
first  sermon  was  preached  by  a Presbyterian  minister,  named  Matthews,  who 
spoke  with  a sword  girded  to  his  body.  The  first  grist-mill  was  built  by 
Naftzger,  where  a man  named  Buchanan  was  killed,  waiting  for  his  grist. 
The  earliest  doctor  in  the  township  was  Mr.  Mills,  while  the  first  carpenter 
was  Jacob  Matthews. 

Royce  Summerton,  away  back  in  the  seventies,  gave  the  following  rem- 
iniscence on  Congress  township  in  early  times  when  his  father  was  numbered 
among  the  pioneer  settlers : 

“When  father  and  his  family  moved  into  the  county  there  were  but  five 
neighbors  within  a radius  of  several  miles.  Isaac  Matthews  came  as  early 
as  1814,  and  the  Poes  were  here  and  Peter  Chasey  and  his  son,  Samuel.  On 
one  occasion,  when  father  and  I were  coming  home  from  Naftzger’s  mill 
with  the  wagon  drawn  by  two  oxen  and  a horse  hitched  on  in  front,  I mounted 
on  the  horse,  the  wolves  gathered  in  large  numbers  at  our  side,  and  I got 
greatly  alarmed,  but  father  just  laughed  and  said  there  was  no  danger.  After 
butchering  day  the  wolves  were  very  troublesome,  and  on  one  occasion  a 
large  hog  was  missing  for  three  days,  when  it  returned  mangled  and  fly- 
blown, having  been,  as  was  supposed,  attacked  by  a bear. 

“In  the  early  days  the  woods  were  infested  with  pea-vines,  which  crept 
over  the  ground  and  would  climb  small  shrubs  and  trees  to  the  height  of  two 
or  three  feet,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year  the  cattle  would  eat  it  and  fatten  on 
it,  and  many  of  them  died,  and  it  came  to  be  believed  that  it  was  from  the 
overeating  of  this  pea-vine. 

“In  the  first  log  (Methodist  Episcopal)  church  in  Congress,  Harry  O. 
Sheldon  was  preaching  at  a quarterly  meeting,  and  there  being  a large  crowd 
present,  it  was  difficult  for  all  to  be  seated.  Joseph  Ewing  stood  up  defiantly 
in  the  center  of  the  room.  Mr.  Sheldon  came  back  to  him  and  asked  him  to  be 
seated,  which  he  refused,  when  Sheldon  caught  him  violently  on  his  hip,  car- 
ried him  out  and  forced  him  to  kneel  down  while  he  prayed  for  him/' 

The  Poe  family  was  one  of  much  historic  note,  and  the  encounter  with 
Bigfoot,  the  noted  Indian,  is  narrated  in  the  Miscellaneous  chapter  of  this 
volume. 

The  towns  and  villages  of  Congress  township  are  West  Salem,  Auker- 
nian.  Congress  and  Pleasant  Home. 


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Congress  was  originally  called  Waynesburg.  It  was  platted  March  6, 
1827,  by  Philip  Gates  and  David  Newcomer,  Peter  Emory  doing  the  survey- 
ing. The  first  house  in  this  village  was  built  by  Michael  Funk  and  Elmer 
Yocum  and  was  situated  upon  the  site  of  the  present  Methodist  church.  The 
first  postmaster  was  Jacob  Hare.  The  pioneer  physician  was  Doctor  Mills. 
George  Wicks  kept  the  first  hotel  and  David  W.  Poe  established  the  first 
tannery  in  the  village.  Among  the  early  deaths  after  the  village  was  platted 
was  an  old  Indian.  He  and  his  wife  were  on  a tramp  and  stopped  at  Griffith’s 
tavern,  where  they  got  tight  and  abusive,  and  the  landlord’s  wife  threw  a pot 
of  boiling  water  on  him,  and  he  died. 

Congress  village  was  incorporated  in  1837.  The  first  officers  were: 
Mayor,  John  Tarr;  recorder,  William  Rogers;  councilmen,  Joe  Fish,  John 
Zuber,  P.  Pancost,  R.  Summerton  and  John  Potts. 

West  Salem  was  platted  by  Peter  and  John  Rickel,  June  14,  1834.  It 
became  an  incorporated  place  in  1868,  the  first  officers  being:  Mayor,  D.  H. 
Ambrose;  trustees,  D.  Eshleman,  D.  Gable,  J.  Georget,  J.  J.  Shank,  W.  R. 
Huber;  recorder,  E.  Fritzinger;  treasurer,  John  Zehner.  This  town  is 
located  in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  the  township  and  county. 

In  1878  Mrs.  Peter  wrote  the  following  reminiscence  that  now,  after  a 
third  of  a century  almost,  is  appropriate  in  the  history  of  Congress  town- 
ship : 

“It  was  fifty-five  years  ago  yesterday  (October  10,  1877)  when  Peter 
and  I landed  here  with  our  two  children,  coming  from  Bedford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  a farmer.  We  settled  in  the  woods  near  where  I 
now  live,  built  a cabin  with  a puncheon  floor  and  stick  chimney.  My  first 
neighbors  were  Rev.  John  Hazzard,  Mr.  Ford  and  Charles  Crile.  Peter, 
however,  had  been  out  here  two  years  before  we  moved  and  entered  a quarter 
of  land  on  which  West  Salem  is  now  largely  built.  There  were  no  roads 
then  around  here,  and  we  had  a hard  time  getting  the  two-horse  wagon 
through.  Peter  was  born  in  Virginia,  January  30,  1794,  and  died  October 
7,  1865.  My  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Rickel  and  I was  born  in  old  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania,  May  1,  1803.  We  had  seven  boys  and  two  girls.  I 
used  to  work  in  the  field  and  fainted  in  the  field  once  while  husking  corn. 
Folks  had  to  work  then  indeed,  and  I used  to  help  haul  logs  and  such  things, 
and  now  would  like  to  live  again  in  the  woods,  instead  of  in  town,  for  then 
I could  hear  the  wild  birds  sing  as  in  the  old  days.  John  Rickel,  who,  with 
Peter,  laid  out  West  Salem,  was  a brother  of  mine.  He  was  a native  of  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Wayne  county  three  years  before  we  did, 


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and  some  of  the  town  is  built  on  land  he  settled  on  at  that  time.  John  was 
an  Albright  preacher. 

“ Joseph  Harbaugh  put  up  the  first  house  in  West  Salem  after  it  was 
laid  out.  It  was  an  old-fashioned  frame  and  he  paid  about  twelve  dollars  for 
the  lot.  Jacob  Hyatt  rented  the  house  and  died  in  it  three  months  after  he 
moved  in.  James  Hyatt  kept  tavern  there  afterwards  and  it  was  the  first 
public  house  in  Salem.  Cass  and  Emerson  were  among  the  first  doctors. 
William  Cass  started  the  first  store,  without  any  counter  save  a bench.  He 
bought  eggs,  butter,  etc.  Reverend  Beer  was  an  early  preacher.” 

An  agricultural  society  was  formed  in  West  Salem  in  1867,  when  by- 
laws were  adopted  and  first  officers  elected  as  follows:  William  Buchanan, 
president;  John  Wicks,  secretary;  D.  Eshleman,  treasurer;  and  John  Zehner, 
Peter  Stair  and  Captain  Mitchell,  directors. 

In  the  village  of  Congress,  in  1909,  the  following  were  the  business  fac- 
tors: George  W.  Michael,  general  merchandise;  C.  A.  Wiler,  general  dealer; 
A.  W.  Mowrey,  hardware  and  paints;  Ebert  & Eby,  furniture  and  under- 
taking; Bert  W.  Mowrey,  furniture  and  undertaking;  C.  C.  Fresh,  hotel  and 
feed  barn;  Clemen  C.  Holmes,  harness  and  shoemaking;  Arthur  J.  Garver, 
wagonmaking  and  blacksmithing ; Clifton  Martin,  hay,  grain  and  potatoes; 
Simson  & Ginter,  hay,  grain  and  potatoes ; David  Moser,  furs,  skins  and  pelts. 

CHESTER  TOWNSHIP. 

Chester  township  is  the  second  from  the  north  line  of  Wayne  county 
and  on  the  western  line  of  the  county,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  being  on  its 
western  border.  It  is  seven  miles  from  east  to  west  and  six  north  and  south. 
With  several  other  sub-divisions  of  the  county,  it  was  organized  into  a civil 
township  March  5,  1816.  Even  before  its  real  organization,  it  was  styled 
Chestnut  township,  or  the  chestnut  region,  on  account  of  its  great  growth  of 
that  kind  of  timber.  In  1870  the  township  had  a population  of  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  twenty-one.  By  the  time  the  1900  United  States  census 
was  compiled  it  had  decreased  to  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty-eight. 

The  earliest  settlers  in  the  township  were  Judge  James  Robinson,  Samuel 
Funk,  Phineas  Summerton,  John  Moyers,  the  Hillis  boys  and  their  mothers, 
John  Emory,  John  Lowery,  the  Cunninghams,  Joseph  Aikens,  James  Fulton, 
Jacob  Worst.  Adam  Rumbaugh,  John,  Abram  and  Isaac  Myers,  Samuel 
Vanosdol,  Phineas  Davis,  Anthony  Camp,  Michael  Mowrey,  Philip  Hoff- 
linger,  Daniel  and  John  Pittinger,  Nathaniel  Paxton,  William  and  Hugh 
Adams,  Benjamin  Emmons,  John  Campbell,  Thomas  Johnston,  John  A. 


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Kelley,  Abraham  Ecker,  Isaac  White,  Henry  Sapp,  John  Hern  and  John 
Helman.  As  the  county  is  now  bounded,  some  of  these  would  be  located  in 
what  is  now  Ashland  county. 

Chester  township  has  within  its  borders  the  following  platted  towns  and 
villages : Cedar  Valley  postoffice,  Overton,  New  Pittsburg,  West  Union,  or 
Lattsburg. 

New  Pittsburg  was  laid  out  March  6,  1829,  by  George  H.  Hovey.  At 
this  point  John  Hall  built  the  first  house  and  kept  a hotel. 

Lattsburg  (West  Union)  was  platted  by  J.  W.  Hoegner  for  Jacob  Grose, 
February  27,  1851.  The  name  of  the  village  was  changed  in  1855  from  West 
L’nion  to  Lattasburg,  after  Ephraim  Latta.  Here  John  Fesig  built  the  first 
house,  a log  structure  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square.  He  used 
it  for  both  a shop  and  residence.  Latta  bought  out  Fesig  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  hand  sickles.  The  postoffice  was  established  here  May  14, 
1867,  when  W.  C.  Baker  received  his  first  appointment,  and  who  continued 
many  years  as  postmaster.  Samuel  Bridenstein  started  the  first  store  in  which 
dry  goods  were  carried.  Henry  Allspaugh  was  the  first  to  practice  medicine 
in  the  town.  It  is  claimed  by  old  residents  that  the  first  person  to  die  was  a 
woman  who  was  buried  in  the  middle  of  the  road  (as  later  surveyed  out), 
between  Lattasburg  and  the  German  Baptist  church. 

Concerning  the  first  settler  in  Chester  township,  it  may  be  here  recorded 
that  James  Robison,  brother  of  Thomas  and  David,  so  well  known  in  the 
city  of  Wooster,  was  born  February  17,  1787,  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1813  immigrated  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  temporarily  stopping 
in  Wooster,  the  same  year  building  the  saw-mill  on  Little  Killbuck  creek,  in 
the  southwest  corner  of  Chester  township.  He  then  became  a citizen  of 
Chester  township,  three  years  prior  to  its  organization.  A saw-mill,  in  those 
early  days,  was  next  in  importance  to  a grist-mill,  and  hence  the  name  of 
Robison’s  Mills  became  universally  and  popularly  known  throughout  the 
entire  western  part  of  Wayne  county,  and  was  for  many  years  after  its  builder 
had  been  laid  away  with  other  pioneers  of  the  county.  While  the  mill  itself 
has  for  more  than  forty  years  been  in  ruins  and  decay,  yet  the  locality  is  often 
spoken  of  as  “Robison’s  Mill.”  Mr.  Robison,  aided  by  a single  individual, 
spent  three  months  in  digging  the  race  for  the  old  saw-mill.  The  woolen 
factory,  though  not  so  ancient  an  institution  as  the  mill,  ranked  among  the 
best  of  its  kind  in  the  county,  and  was  built  at  a very  early  period.  During 
his  presence  in  Columbiana  county,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a member 
of  the  Ohio  Legislature,  it  was  burned,  as  a result  of  defective  flues.  The 


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saw-mill  was  also  swept  away  by  the  flames.  On  his  return,  without  indul- 
gence in  any  surmises  or  complaint,  he  quietly  set  about  rebuilding  the  factory 
and  the  mill.  He  placed  in  new  and  better  machinery  in  both  factory 
and  saw-mill.  Before  the  disastrous  fire,  he  simply  carded,  spun  and  pulled, 
but  after  the  rebuilding  he  made  other  additions  and  introduced  the  manu- 
facture of  yarns,  blankets,  cloths,  etc. 

Here  was  the  waterpower,  and  Mr.  Robison  had  the  enterprise  and  intel- 
ligence to  utilize  it,  and  it  became  not  only  a benefit,  but  a benefaction  to  the 
whole  community.  He  was  not  a visionary  man,  but  practical,  and  devoted 
himself  to  material  enterprises.  He  had  been  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812-14 
and  supplied  the  army  of  Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison  with  provisions,  at  Fort 
Meigs,  his  wagon  on  one  instance  standing  in  the  woods  loaded  with  flour,  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Robison  hill,  to  the  south  of  Little  Killbuck. 

WAYNE  TOWNSHIP. 

Wayne  township  derives  its  name  from  the  county,  which  was  named 
for  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne — “Mad  Anthony.”  This  township  is  centrally  lo- 
cated in  the  county  and  touches  the  incorporate  line  of  the  city  of  Wooster, 
the  seat  of  justice.  It  is  a full  congressional  township,  six  miles  square.  It 
dates  its  organization  from  October  12,  1816,  and  in  1870  had  reached  a pop- 
ulation numbering  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fourteen.  Its  popula- 
tion according  to  the  federal  census  of  1900  was  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eleven. 

The  first  white  man  to  settle  within  the  limits  of  this  township  was 
among  the  following,  but  it  is  not  certain  who  did  actually  effect  the  first 
clearing.  The  first  pioneer  band  was  as  follows : James  Glass,  the  Roses, 

the  Feazles,  the  Clarks,  Meeks,  Turners,  Thomas  Armstrong,  Moses  Thomp- 
son, Thomas  Pomeroy,  Henry  Perrine,  George  Gibson,  Ralph  Cherry,  John 
and  Peter  Vanostran,  Fred  Garver,  Armstrong  Davison,  John  Richey,  John 
and  Peter  Bacher,  Thomas  Beall,  Peter  Anspaugh,  Peter  Eiker,  George  Bair, 
Henry  Snyder,  Peter  and  Jacob  Ihrig.  William  Elgin,  Mordecai  Boon,  Peter 
Everly,  Jacob  Seiford,  Benjamin  Miller,  Abraham  Vanmeter,  William  Bur- 
gan,  Alexander  Hanna. 

George  Blair  and  Thomas  Armstrong  were  the  first  justices  of  the  peace. 

Fred  Garver  erected  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township,  in  1814.  A 
year  later  he  built  the  first  grist-mill,  deriving  his  water  power  from  the 
Little  Apple  creek. 


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Being  so  near  the  city  of  Wooster,  there  have  never  grown  up  any  towns 
of  much  importance  in  Wayne  township.  The  only  one  now  in  existence  is 
Madisonburg,  in  the  center  of  the  township. 

The  churches  and  schools  of  this  township  are  treated  in  the  two  chap- 
ters on  these  respective  subjects,  and  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

While  it  is  not  the  object  of  this  volume  to  treat  much  on  the  personal 
histories  of  many  of  the  pioneers,  as  many  are  fully  treated  in  the  biograph- 
ical volume  of  this  work,  yet  it  may  be  of  historic  interest  to  mention,  in  this 
township  history,  something  concerning  the  life  and  deeds  of  the  Wasson 
family. 

Joseph  Wasson,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  March 
29.  T775-  His  grandson,  Joseph  Wasson,  was  born  June  30,  1839,  two  miles 
east  of  Congress  village,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  until  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  remained  upon  the  farm,  when  he  first  began  his  ventures  upon  the 
untried  seas  of  life's  journeys.  He  spent  much  of  his  life  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  where  he  achieved  a reputation  as  a writer.  He  was  for  many  years 
a newspaper  man,  acting  as  editor,  proprietor  and  correspondent.  He  at- 
tended the  Vienna  Exposition  as  a special  correspondent  for  Forney's  Press , 
writing  a series  of  brilliant  letters,  signed  “Josef-”  On  his  return,  he  was 
despatched  to  New  Orleans  by  the  Press  and  New  York  Times  as  a corre- 
spondent. He  was  one  of  the  early  contributors  to  the  Overland  Monthly . 
He  was  in  the  campaign  and  within  twelve  miles  of  General  Custer  when  he 
was  destroyed  by  the  Indians,  a correspondent  of  Eastern  papers  and  furnish- 
ing the  news  of  that  region  to  the  Associated  Press.  He  finally  settled  down 
in  such  work  and  profession  in  San  Francisco,  California. 

GREENE  TOWNSHIP. 

Greene  township  is  second  from  the  north  as  well  as  from  the  east  line 
of  Wayne  county — in  it  the  thriving  city  of  Orrville  is  situated — and  it  was 
organized  February  5,  1817.  taking  its  name  from  Major-Gen.  Nathaniel 
Greene,  a Revolutionary  soldier  and  a native  of  Warwick,  Rhode  Island.  The 
population  has  grown  from  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifteen  in  1870 
to  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighteen  in  1900,  as  shown  by  the  fed- 
eral census.  The  first  township  officers  were:  Trustees,  Peter  Flickinger. 

George  Bodyston.  Thomas  Hayes;  treasurer.  Thomas  Dawson:  clerk,  David 
Boydston. 

Of  the  first  settlers  and  the  first  events  in  this  township  let  it  be  recorded 

f-M) 


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in  this  connection  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  Wayne  county  observed 
one  peculiarity  in  the  first  occupancy  of  it.  It  was  a wilderness,  overgrown 
with  timber,  with  the  exception  of  about  twelve  acres  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  3,  which  was  clear  of  trees,  stumps,  and  even  roots,  and  was  called 
by  the  first  comers  “the  Indian  field.” 

Tradition  is  not  always  reliable  to  pin  history  to,  but  in  the  absence  of 
the  recorded  facts  we  always  must  place  some  credence  to  traditionary  fea- 
tures of  early  settlements.  In  this  case  a tradition  runs  thus:  As  early  as 

1802,  a party  of  four  young  men,  who  had  passed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Cleveland,  and  leaving  the  latter  place  for  Tuscarawa,  nowr  Coshocton,  were 
attacked  by  the  Indians  and  one  of  their  number  killed,  when  the  remaining 
three  retrated  by  the  line  of  trees  they  had  blazed.  The  bullet  that  killed 
the  young  man  entered  a small  oak  tree,  wfhich  the  Indians  notched  high 
above  the  ground.  A few  years  later  two  of  the  three  young  men,  accompa- 
nied by  others,  returned  to  the  spot  of  the  murder,  discovered  the  notched 
tree,  but  saw  no  remains  of  their  dead  comrade.  This  was  evidently  the  first 
white  person  to  meet  death  within  w hat  is  now  Greene  township. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1811  by  Michael  Thomas  with  his  wife 
and  seven  children.  He  emigrated  from  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  33.  Following  him  came  in 
Thomas  Boydston  and  wrife,  who  settled  on  the  same  section.  For  three 
years  these  were  the  only  settlers  in  the  towmship.  In  1814  Lorenzo  Winkler 
and  family  came  in  from  Virginia,  settling  on  section  22.  Until  1815  emi- 
gration to  this  part  of  the  county  was  very  limited.  Among  those  who  soon 
found  their  way  to  this  township,  and  became  permanent  settlers  may  be 
mentioned  George  Boydston,  Thomas  Hayes,  David  McConahay,  David 
Boydston,  David  Antles,  Thomas  Dawson.  John  Wade,  George  Smith, 
Thomas  Smith,  Jacob  Breakfield,  John  Harris,  Douglas  Wilford,  Barter  Har- 
ris, James  Sparks,  John  Hobbs,  Francis  Shackler,  Isaac  Robins,  Phineas 
Burrwell,  Thomas  Johnston,  John  Bigham,  Robert  Calvins,  Jacob  Cook, 
Charles  Kelley,  Will  Ruffcorn,  George  Carson,  Jacob  Breakbail  and  Thomas 
Alison. 

By  1817  the  township  had  a population  of  one  hundred  and  forty-seven 
souls,  of  which  twenty-six  were  legal  voters.  In  April,  1817,  the  first  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  residence  of  William  Barnett,  on  section  21. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  a daughter  of  Michael  Thomas,  bom 
September  25,  1812;  the  second  was  that  of  Richard  Antles,  February  3, 
1813. 


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The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  Liverton  Thomas  and 
Anna  Wade,  by  “Priest”  Jones,  in  1815. 

The  first  saw-mill  erected  was  by  Thomas  Smith,  on  a site  where  Smith- 
ville  now  stands. 

The  first  frame  building  was  constructed  in  1822,  on  the  farm  later 
owned  by  Cyrus  Hoover. 

In  the  autumn  of  1815  John  Wade  built  a hand-mill  to  crush  corn  for 
family  use;  this  was  situated  upon  the  farm  later  owned  by  D.  L.  Kieffer. 

As  late  as  1819  there  were  visible  indications  of  the  old  Indian  village 
situated  on  section  21. 

The  first  warrant  was  issued  for  the  arrest  of  John  Treasurer,  for  as- 
sault and  battery,  upon  complaint  of  Cephas  Clark.  Treasurer  was  a “fortune 
teller,”  and  Clark  had  his  fortune  told  “on  tick” ; the  teller  proved  to  be  a 
liar,  and  Clark  “bucked”  and  wouldn’t  pay,  whereupon  Treasurer  got  him 
“in  chancery”  and  drafted  “sirloins  on  his  frontispiece.”  Both  were  citizens 
of  East  Union  township. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  Greene  township  was  undoubtedly  in  1812, 
by  Reverend  Gray  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Peter  Kane,  a student  of  Oxford,  Eng- 
land. The  pioneer  school  house  was  a log  cabin  eighteen  by  twenty-two  feet, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  after  its  settlement  by  the  white  race  was 
on  December  27,  1817,  and  occurred  at  a raising  on  the  old  Ruble  farm,  the 
victim  being  Christian  Partshie,  who  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a stick  of 
timber. 

This  township  has  been  the  site  of  several  towns  and  villages,  including 
Smithville,  Orrville  and  Weilerville. 

The  schools  and  churches  of  this  township  will  be  treated  under  their 
respective  headings  in  another  chapter. 

The  present  business  interests  of  Smithville  is  represented  as  follows: 
Postoffice,  S.  B.  Norris,  postmaster,  W.  H.  Hutchison,  assistant;  hardware, 
Hartzler  & Gerig  and  E.  S.  Brenneman ; grocery,  John  Swanger  and  Hous- 
ton ; grocery  and  drygoods,  J.  J.  Schrock ; exclusive  grocery,  Blough  & Com- 
pany; shoe  store,  Isaac  Deahuff ; grocery  and  produce,  Kohler  & Hilty ; drugs, 
T.  A.  C.  Pontius.  The  trades  are  as  follows:  Blacksmith,  Clyde  Mertz, 

Charles  Everett,  Nicholas  Curie;  grist-mill,  John  B.  McCollough;  warehouses, 
H.  S.  Rutt,  handling  all  kinds  of  produce  and  coal ; lumbermen,  E.  E.  Gilber, 
C.  G.  Miller  (with  a planing  mill)  ; butchers,  A.  E.  Bechtol,  J.  B.  Sheller, 


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wholesale  and  retail;  hotel,  W.  G.  Coulter;  bank,  Farmers  and  Merchants. 
The  professional  men  were,  at  the  same  date,  Drs.  W.  G.  Zimmerman,  H. 
M.  Yoder,  H.  A.  Schollenberger ; attorney,  Joseph  Gallagher. 

The  banking  business  is  carried  on  at  this  point  by  the  Farmers  and 
Merchants  Bank,  with  W.  H.  Zaugg  as  its  president  and  E.  U.  Burkholder 
as  its  cashier. 

BAUGHMAN  TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  on  the  east  line  of  Wayne  county  and  the  second  from  the  north 
line  of  the  county.  It  derived  its  name  from  John  Baughman,  who  was  the 
grandfather  of  John  W.  Baughman,  of  Wooster,  who  was  the  first  settler 
within  the  township,  which  civil  sub-division  of  the  county  was  organized 
March  5,  1816.  In  1870  it  had  a population  of  two  thousand  and  sixty-seven, 
but  according  to  the  federal  census  of  1900  it  contained  a population  of  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-seven. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  township  may  be  named  the  Fore- 
man family,  the  Harkins  family,  Robert  Taggart,  Samuel  Taggart,  Lewis 
McKean,  Sr.,  John  Campbell,  Valentine  W.  Ault,  John  Sickman,  John  Wil- 
son, Benjamin  Weygandt,  John  Douglas  and  others,  whose  sons  and  daugh- 
ters reside  in  the  county  at  this  time. 

This  is  a rich  and  well-developed  agricultural  district  and  the  towns  of 
the  township  are  Marshallville  and  Burton,  while  a part  of  the  town  plat  of 
Orrville  is  within  the  borders  of  this  township. 

MARSHALLVILLE. 

This  town  is  located  in  the  extreme  northwestern  portion  of  Baugh- 
man township,  on  section  5.  It  was  laid  out  by  James  Marshall,  February  7, 
1817,  the  same  being  the  next  village  platted  after  that  of  Wooster  was  laid 
out.  Mr.  Marshall  was  an  excellent  man,  a sturdy  member  of  the  old 
Seceder  church  of  Dalton.  Marshallville  was  named  by  and  for  Mr.  Marshall 
and  in  1834,  when  Martin  Weimer  came  to  the  place,  there  were  but  ten 
houses,  and  there  were  occupied  by  Elijah  Dancer,  Calvin  Brewster,  James 
and  Joseph  Hogan.  Enoch  Mofitt,  James  Marshall,  John  Roch  and  Dr. 
Comstock  and  two  shoemakers  named  Ellingham  and  Scotton. 

The  town  was  legally  incorporated  as  a municipality  February  10,  1866. 
Its  first  officers  were  Charles  Schlutt,  mayor;  C.  L.  Gehres,  recorder;  Martin 
Weimer.  George  Reinoehl,  Benjamin  Carrel,  John  Pfunder,  William  Pinkley. 
councilmen.  The  population  of  Marshallville  in  1900  was  three  hundred  and 
fifty-seven. 


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The  banking  business  here  is  carried  on  by  the  Marshallville  Banking 
Company,  with  I.  W.  Beery  as  its  cashier. 

FAIRVIEW,  OR  BURTON  CITY. 

The  village  of  Fairview  was  surveyed  by  John  Brinkerhoff,  December 
14,  1850.  A post  office  was,  however,  established  there,  known  as  Burton 
City,  first  being  called  Baughman. 

Flouring  mills  were  erected  here  in  1858  by  Benjamin  Coe,  the  same 
having  a capacity  of  forty  barrels  a day.  Besides  supplying  a large  home 
trade,  the  product  of  these  mills  was  shipped  to  Philadelphia. 

The  Burton  City  Woolen  Mills  were  established  in  i860  by  Isaac  Van- 
guilder.  There  were  produced  cloths,  cassimeres,  blankets,  jeans,  satinets, 
stocking  yarns  and  a large  variety  of  flannels. 

On  June  9,  1874,  the  steam  grist-mill  of  C.  G.  Binkley  was  blown  up, 
suddenly  killing  George  W.  Henshaw,  of  Wooster,  and  causing  the  death 
of  Mr.  Binkley  within  a few  hours. 

SUGARCREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

On  the  east  line  of  Wayne  county  and  the  second  from  the  south  line 
is  found  the  civil  township  of  Sugarcreek.  It  was  organized  April  11, 
1812,  and  contains  thirty-six  sections  of  land,  being  six  miles  square.  Its 
population  increased  from  two  thousand  six  in  1870  to  two  thousand  two 
hundred  and  seventy-four  in  1900. 

John  Kinney  and  John  Goudy  were  the  first  settlers  in  Sugar  Creek 
township,  and  John  and  James  Goudy  were  the  next,  and  after  them  came 
Peter  Cox  and  Samuel  Cook,  William  Homan,  and  Rev.  James  Adams,  who 
was  the  first  preacher  in  the  locality.  William  Homan  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace,  elected  about  1826.  At  an  early  day  an  election  was  held 
where  Sugarcreek,  East  Union,  Baughman  and  Greene  corner,  and  every 
man  who  attended  it  went  home  with  two  offices.  The  first  school  house 
in  the  township  was  built  on  the  farm  owned  later  by  Jacob  Cox,  and  Sam- 
uel Cook  was  the  first  to  teach  in  the  township.  It  was  a subscription  school 
and  the  rates  were  fifty  cents  a pupil  for  each  month’s  schooling,  and  in 
the  absence  of  money  almost  anything  else  was  received  for  pay.  The 
first  school  house  erected  in  Dalton  was  where  later  the  cemetery  was  laid 
out;  the  first  teacher  was  Peter  Vorrhes.  The  first  church  (Presbyterian) 
was  built  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  quarter  later  owned  by  S. 


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Snavely;  Rev.  James  Adams  being  the  first  minister.  This  was  the  earliest 
church  building  in  the  township  or  town. 

William  Goudy  built  the  first  grist-mill,  three  miles  southwest  of  Dal- 
ton. It  was  constructed  of  logs,  had  one  run  of  buhrs  made  of  “nigger- 
heads,”  the  neighbors  helping  to  dig  the  race.  This  mill  was  built  in 
1823-24. 

James  Goudy  came  to  what  is  now  Sugarcreek  township  as  early  as 
1809,  settling  near  Dalton.  His  brother  John  had  effected  a settlement  in 
the  neighborhood  even  prior  to  his  settlement.  The  father.  John  Goudy, 
was  in  St.  Clair’s  defeat,  November  4,  1791,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the 
right  groin,  which,  but  for  the  thickness  of  his  clothing,  would  have  caused 
death.  After  being  shot  he  traveled  eighteen  miles,  when  he  paused  by 
the  wayside  and  ate  the  flesh  of  a dead  horse,  which  later  he  declared  was 
the  best  meat  he  had  ever  eaten.  He  carried  the  bullet  in  his  flesh  many 
years  and  finally  died  from  its  effects. 

TOWNS  AND  VILLAGES. 

Of  the  town  of  Dalton  it  may  be  recorded  that  Rev.  James  Adams  had 
the  town  of  Dover  surveyed  October  16,  1817,  by  A.  Porter,  and  it  em- 
braced forty-six  lots.  Sharon  was  surveyed  March  29,  1828,  by  C.  W. 
Christmas,  and  that  consisted  of  thirty  lots.  The  entirety  of  these  towns, 
together  with  that  of  Middletown,  laid  out  by  Jacob  Switzer,  in  1828,  ceas- 
ing to  exist  as  plats,  the  village  of  Dalton  sprung  up  on  the  same  ground. 
In  1821  Dalton  contained  but  one  house,  and  a man  named  Freeman  kept  the 
first  tavern,  where  afterwards  the  Eagle  House  stood.  The  first  physician 
of  the  place  was  Doctor  Watson,  and  the  first  store  was  kept  by  Mr.  John- 
son. The  first  church  of  the  village  was  the  Presbyterian. 

Dalton  of  today  consists  of  a place  having  a population  of  six  hundred 
and  sixty-six,  and  has  several  good  business  houses,  carrying  the  goods 
usually  kept  in  towns  of  its  size,  and  the  farmers  find  here  an  accommodat- 
ing class  of  dealers  and  ready  sale  for  the  products  of  their  farms  and 
gardens.  For  church  and  other  interests  see  special  chapters  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 

Die  banking  business  of  this  place  is  well  cared  for  by  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  with  a capital  of  twentv-five  thousand  dollars.  Its  present 
officers  are  W.  H.  H.  Wertz,  president;  T.  C.  Hunsicker,  cashier.  Their 
deposits  are  (September,  1909)  $162,000. 

Moscow  was  laid  out  by  Joseph  H.  Larwill,  Josiah  Crawford  and  John 


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Larwill,  April  16,  1815,  but  it  never  materialized  to  the  extent  o f its  san- 
guine proprietors’  hopes. 

“Sonneberg  Settlement’"  was  so  named  for  a settlement  in  Switzerland, 
its  population  being  chiefly  from  the  canton  Berne,  in  Switzerland.  The 
following  was  Written  of  this  peculiar  people  in  1878. 

“They  enumerate  ninety-eight  families  and  have  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  members.  The  sect  was  founded  by  Menno,  surnamed  Simmons,  in 
1536,  who  commenced  life  as  a Roman  Catholic.  The  modem  Mennonite  as 
a rule  does  not  pretend  to  know  just  what  the  history  of  his  sect  is,  or  just 
what  he  now  believes.  They  know  they  are  opposed  to  war  and  going  to 
law.  . They  follow  farm  life  as  a rule,  and  are  very  industrious.  In  this 
township  they  introduced  the  painting  of  dog-houses  and  the  manufacture 
of  apple-jack.  The  first  of  this  stock,  all  from  Berne,  to  come  into  Wayne 
county  were  Isaac  Somer,  Uhlrick  and  Peter  Lehman  and  David  Killhover, 
the  latter  bringing  the  regular  John  Rogers  family.  Their  first  place  of 
rendezvous  was  in  a school  house  four  miles  east  of  Wooster,  when  they 
moved  to  ‘Switzerland  No.  2,’  and  in  1820  organized  a church.” 

EAST  UNION  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  formed  September  5,  1814,  and  was  named  by  Simon 
Chaffin,  Sr.,  who  was  a native  of  Union,  Maine.  It  is  the  second  township 
from  the  east  and  south  line  of  the  county  and  is  six  miles  square. 

The  following  is  a reminiscence  on  the  early  times  by  Simon  Chaffin, 
Jr. : “The  first  white  man  who  died  in  East  Union  township  was  Vesta 

Frary,  who  was  buried  on  the  John  Ramsey  farm  with  thirty  or  forty  others. 
Mr.  Chaffin  cut  musket  balls  out  of  trees,  shot  there  by  members  of  Beall’s 
army.  On  Amos  Walter’s  farm  was  erected  one  of  the  first  churches,  called 
the  Ebenezer  church.  The  Methodists  soon  after  organized  in  the  town- 
ship. The  presiding  elder  was  Rev.  Henry  O.  Sheldon,  who  was  a strong 
man  and  could  carry  a barrel  of  salt  or  cider  with  ease.  Two  drunken  men 
on  one  occasion  disturbed  a camp  meeting  when  he  was  present,  and  he 
choked  them  into  silence.  The  Indians  had  a sugar  camp  on  land  later 
owned  by  John  Lang,  also  there  were  two  huts  there.  The  first  school 
house  was  upon  land  then  owned  by  Anson  Sillson.  built  in  1814.  The 
teacher  was  a Mr.  Pratt  and  he  spelled  door  ‘dore.’  The  first  justice  of  the 
peace  was  Andrew  Lucky,  who  kept  a tavern.” 

The  first  permanent  settler  in  this  township  was  Simon  Chaffin,  Sr.,  a 
native  of  Lincoln  county,  Maine,  who  was  born  in  1765  and  removed  to 


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Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1811,  coming  in  a four-horse  wagon,  traveling  a distance 
of  more  than  a thousand  miles,  occupying  fifty-seven  days,  never  unloading 
the  wagon  until  he  arrived  at  Poland,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He  moved 
to  East  Union  township,  Wayne  county,  in  the  early  spring  of  1813.  His 
wife  and  six  children  accompanied  him;  his  brother-in-law,  Obediah  Luce, 
came  at  the  same  time.  He  entered  lands,  but  his  regular  occupation  was 
that  of  a scythemaker  and  hoemaker. 

Frederick  Brown,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1814,  but  had  been  in  the  county  with  his  son,  John 
J.,  in  1812  and  improved  a piece  of  land  on  a twelve-hundred-acre  tract  he 
had  secured  from  the  government.  He  was  the  first  of  the  name  Brown  to 
locate  in  Wayne  county.  The  subjoined  reminiscence  will  tell  the  story  of 
early-day  Indian  scares  and  narrate  many  other  interesting  points  connected 
with  the  settlement  of  this  township  and  Wayne  county,  in  general : 

“This  will  narrate  an  incident  that  occurred  in  what  was  called  Smith's 
settlement,  near  the  present  site  of  the  county  infirmary.  One  afternoon 
two  of  the  Smith  women  heard  what  they  supposed  to  be  guns  firing  in 
the  direction  of  Wooster,  ‘at  the  rate  of  five  hundred  a minute.’  The  neigh- 
borhood, numbering  about  forty  persons,  soon  assembled,  men,  women  and 
children.  There  were  but  eight  guns  in  the  party.  One  of  these  belonged 
to  John  J.  Brown,  then  a boy  and  small  for  his  age.  After  consultation 
it  was  decided  that  James  Mclntire  should  approach  Wooster  cautiously  to 
ascertain  the  exact  state  of  affairs  there,  and  that  the  balance  of  the  company 
should  set  out  for  Steubenville,  by  way  of  the  old  Indian  trail,  the  women  and 
children  on  horseback  and  the  men  on  foot  with  their  guns.  Young  Brown's 
gun  was  transferred  to  an  older  man.  and  two  children  committed  to  his 
care.  Waits  Smith,  a small  boy  whom  he  carried  behind  him,  on  a very 
spirited  horse,  and  Jonathan,  a younger  boy,  who  was  placed  in  his  arms. 

“The  party  traveled  in  silence  during  the  entire  night,  not  a child  giving 
the  least  sign  of  fretfulness.  In  the  morning  they  were  overtaken  by  Mc- 
lntire, who  brought  the  welcome  news  that  Wooster  was  resting  in  quietude 
and  that  the  noise  heard  by  the  two  women  was  one  made  by  men  cutting 
straw  with  axes  in  a trough  for  feed.  At  this  news  the  main  company  of 
fugitives  returned,  hungry  and  weary,  to  their  cabin  homes  in  the  forest.  A 
few.  however,  continued  on  in  their  flight  to  the  old  settlements  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 

“Nevertheless,  this  stampede  of  the  pioneers  was  not  without  thrilling 
incident.  When  the  party  in  its  flight  was  crossing  the  Big  Sugar  creek 
they  discovered  a campfire  close  to  the  trail.  The  Indian  dogs  barked  and 


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immediately  the  Indians  raised  a whoop.  At  this  the  company  took  shelter 
in  the  brushwood  as  best  they  could.  All  became  quiet  in  a short  time,  when 
those  with  guns  began  to  scout  around  to  learn  the  character  of  the  Indians 
in  the  camp.  They  proved  to  be  Chief  Johnycake  and  his  tribe.  The  story 
the  whites  told  alarmed  them  and  they  said  they  would  also  flee  the  country, 
as  they  were  friendly  Indians  and  equally  in  danger  of  being  hurt  by  the 
hostile  tribes,  but  that  they  must  first  have  their  supper,  then  roasting  on  the 
campfire.  Afterwards  Mclntire  passed  their  encampment.  He  was  blowing 
a large  tin  horn  and  riding  at  full  gallop  to  overtake  the  flying  settlers  and 
apprise  them  of  their  groundless  apprehension.  Johnycake  and  his  braves 
became  greatly  alarmed  and  fled  supperless,  as  on  the  returning  day  the 
settlers  who  wended  their  way  home  found  the  camp  entirely  deserted.  The 
deer  was  suspended  over  the  smouldering  embers,  burned  to  a crisp.  Johny- 
cake and  his  people  were  never  seen  again  in  that  settlement  by  the  whites. 
They  had  before  that  time  been  very  familiar  and  friendly.” 

The  following  interesting  notes  were  written  on  the  recollections  of 
pioneer  Noah  Brown: 

The  first  election  was  held  in  section  16,  at  Smith  Orr’s  house.  Andrew 
Lucky  was  elected  first  justice  of  the  peace.  The  first  school  house  wras 
built  on  section  21,  although  a log  house  built  before  that  for  the  Presby- 
terian church  to  hold  services  in  was  used  for  school  purposes.  The  earliest 
teachers  were  George  Hackett  and  George  McConnell.  The  first  burial  was 
on  the  John  Ramsey  farm,  and  tw'O  w-ere  buried  on  the  Smith  Orr  place, 
a Mr.  Miller  and  a child  that  was  scalded  to  death.  Old  Aaron  Rambo  had 
the  first  grist-mill  in  this  township,  near  the  residence  of  David  Carr,  and 
the  bolt  was  turned  by  hand.  After  Rambo,  Garret  Albertson  erected  an- 
other mill.  South  of  Cross  Keys  at  a spring  a Mr.  Pratt  had  the  first 
distillery.  At  the  head  of  Apple  creek  there  was  an  Indian  camp.  Mr. 
Brown  had  a grindstone  which  was  bought  at  Canton,  Ohio,  as  the  family 
came  to  the  country,  and  it  is  said  that  it  wras  used  by  many  neighbors  from 
long  distances  away. 

Herr  Driesbach,  the  famous  lion  tamer,  lived  and  died  in  Wayne  county. 
He  was  born  in  Sharon,  Schoharie  county.  Newr  York,  November  2,  1807, 
his  grandparents  coming  from  Germany.  His  father  died  wrhen  eleven 
years  of  age  and  the  boy  soon  drifted  to  New  York  city,  where  he  worked  in 
the  Zoological  Gardens,  and  soon,  youth  as  he  was,  made  a reputation  for 
control  of  wild  animals,  he  being  the  first  person  to  make  a performing  ani- 
mal of  the  leopard.  In  1830  he  connected  himself  with  the  traveling  menag- 
erie of  Raymond  & Co.,  and  soon  went  to  Europe  with  Raymond,  meeting 


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with  much  success  as  a tamer  of  wild  beasts.  He  traveled  through  England, 
Scotland  and  Ireland,  then  in  France,  Germany,  Holland  and  Russia,  exhib- 
iting before  all  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe.  About  1840  he  returned 
to  the  United  States,  having  established  a world-wide  reputation,  and  was 
of  the  states  of  the  Un’on  until  1854,  when  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
the  foremost  man  in  his  profession  in  the  world.  He  made  his  annual  tours 
Sarah  Walter,  daughter  of  John  Walter,  of  Wooster  township,  and  settled 
down  to  the  peaceful  life  of  a farmer.  In  1875  he  opened  a hotel  at  Apple- 
creek  Station.  Here,  after  but  two  days’  illness,  on  December  5,  1877, 
he  died,  leaving  a widow  and  one  son.  His  was  a very  interesting  life,  full 
of  events  which  after  his  death  were  compiled  in  book  form  and  sold  ex- 
tensively. 

The  Cheyney  family  was  one  of  striking  prominence  in  Wayne  couijty, 
and  descended  from  the  Revolutionary  stock  of  the  same  name,  of  which 
Thomas,  the  father  of  John,  who  settled  in  Wayne  county,  was  famous  by 
reason  of  his  first  discovering,  for  General  Washington,  that  the  British 
forces  were  on  the  same  side  of  the  stream  as  the  American  army  at  Chad’s 
Ford,  near  Brandywine,  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  through  this 
intelligence  the  American  army  was  saved  a defeat,  as  is  recorded  in  the 
history  of  our  country. 

Old  Squire  Cheyney  was  a most  useful  and  powerful  man  in  the  settle- 
ment of  Wayne  county.  He  built  the  first  mill  in  East  Union  township,  and 
within  the  space  of  thirteen  years  built  six  grist-mills  and  nine  sawmills  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio.  His  early  neighbors  were  John  Knight,  Jacob  Tracey, 
George  Basil  and  others.  He  occasionally  received  visits  from  old  Johnny 
Appleseed,  whom  Richard  Cheyney  frequently  saw.  His  remains  were  buried 
in  the  Edinburg  cemetery. 

TOWNS  OF  EAST  UNION  TOWNSHIP. 

Edinburg  was  laid  out  by  William  Thomas  and  John  L.  Cheyney,  Au- 
gust 16,  1832.  Ira  Pratt  started  the  first  store  and  was  the  postmaster  in 
Edinburg.  Prior  to  the  appointment  of  Cornelius  Smith  the  postoffice  was 
kept  at  the  old  town,  and  after  that  at  Applecreek  Station. 

Applecreek  Station,  which  is  of  more  recent  origin,  was  caused  by  the 
building  of  the  Cleveland,  Mt.  Vernon  & Columbus  railway.  Andrew  Wood- 
ruff, a blacksmith,  erected  the  first  house  in  Applecreek  Station.  John  Hind- 
man owned  the  land  on  which  this  village  was  platted.  David  Clark,  later 
of  Wooster,  started  the  first  hotel.  A ne\v  school  building  was  built  in  1874. 
Messrs.  Eberly.  Holcomb  and  Caldwell  were  the  first  three  teachers. 


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In  1909  the  village  of  East  Union  was  but  a mere  hamlet  with  one 
firm — Carver  & Eshleman — handling  drygoods,  groceries,  notions,  hardware, 
boots  and  shoes,  cigars  and  tobacco.  They  also  operate  a grain  elevator  and 
warehouse. 


WOOSTER  TOWNSHIP. 

This  sub-division  of  Wayne  county  was  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  David 
Wooster,  and  was  organized  April  11,  1812,  along  with  Sugarcreek,  Mohican 
and  Prairie  townships.  It  had  a population  of  one  thousand  one  hundred 
and  forty-five  in  1870  and  by  190a  had  increased  to  seven  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty.  This  is  the  township  in  which  the  city  of  Wooster  is  situated, 
and  as  now  divided  contains  only  twenty-one  sections.  Franklin  township 
is  on  its  south  while  Plain  is  to  its  west,  with  Wayne  township  north  and 
East  Union  on  the  east.  Being  situated  as  it  is  (surrounding  the  city  of 
Wooster),  its  history  is  largely  found  in  the  city  history  given  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Benjamin  Jones  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  the  follow- 
ing are  some  of  his  recollections  concerning  early  times  here : 

In  1814  Mr.  Jones  went  on  horseback  to  Coshocton,  accompanied  by 
William  Totten,  to  buy  flour,  bacon,  salt,  dried  fruits,  ets.,  for  the  early 
settlement,  which  commodities  he  placed  on  a pirogue  and  with  the  help  of 
a few  stout  men  paddled  the  rude  boat  to  the  waters  of  the  Killbuck  and  up 
through  the  drift  of  that  sluggish  stream  to  the  mouth  of  Applecreek,  and 
thence  up  that  creek  to  where  the  old  Robison's  Mill  stood,  within  the 
incorporation  of  Wooster.  This  exploit  of  inland  navigation  was  heralded 
with  acclamation  by  the  inhabitants  of  Wooster,  who  rushed  to  the  boat 
to  obtain  their  supplies.  He  built  the  first  bridge  that  was  ever  laid  across 
the  Muddy  Fork,  and  constructed  the  road  extending  from  Reedsburg  across 
the  quagmire  to  what  was  known  as  the  “French  Miller’'  property.  He  had 
sixteen  men  employed  on  the  contract,  and  at  night  one-half  of  the  number 
guarded  the  others  while  they  slept.  During  this  work  one  of  his  laborers 
was  killed  and  literally  mangled  by  the  Indians.  There  were  at  this  time 
but  three  houses  between  Wooster  and  Jeromeville.  Several  weeks  were 
employed  on  this  contract,  Mr.  Jones  doing  the  cooking  for  his  men  in  the 
woods  and  performing  his  duties  with  true  early-day  skill. 

Mr.  Jones  constructed  the  first  bridge  on  the  Killbuck,  on  what  was 
known  as  the  Columbus  Avenue  road.  He  aided  in  securing  the  charter  for 
the  turnpike  running  from  Wooster  to  Cleveland,  and  was  a director  and 
stockholder  in  the  same.  He  exerted  himself  both  in  and  outside  the  State 


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Legislature  in  behalf  of  the  choice  of  the  Killbuck  route  for  the  Ohio  canal. 
In  1816-17  he  built  the  first  jail  in  Wayne  county,  constructing  it  cheaply 
from  the  old  logs  of  the  block  house  erected  by  George  Stidger  in  1812. 

On  July  4,  1824,  Mr.  Jones  and  wife,  then  keeping  the  Wooster  Hotel, 
roasted  an  ox  and  prepared  a grand  dinner  for  the  occasion.  The  tickets 
to  this  banquet  sold  at  fifty  cents  and  there  were  over  three  hundred  sold. 
The  ox  was  roasted  among  the  elders  and  brush  in  the  rear  of  Lindell 
Sprague’s  residence.  Many  distinguished  men  were  present,  including  Con- 
gressman John  Sloan,  Brigadier-General  Beall,  Judge  Ezra  Dean  and  others. 
After  the  dinner  was  over,  Mr.  Jones  invited  the  children  of  the  town  to  a 
free  entertainment.- 

On  one  occasion  Mr.  Jones  went  to  Morgan  s,  down  the  Killbuck,  to  get 
provisions,  and  among  other  things  Mrs.  Morgan  gave  him  some  fresh 
meat  which  she  put  in  a large  gourd  of  the  capacity  of  a half  bushel.  The 
wolves,  scenting  the  meat,  pursued  him  with  fierceness  and  angry  demon- 
strations, when  several  times  he  thought  he  would  have  to  throw  everything 
away  and  try  to  save  himself. 

While  traveling  on  horseback  up  the  Killbuck  bottoms,  south  of  Woos- 
ter, Mr.  Jones  captured  three  black  bear  cubs  and  put  them  in  a sack  over 
the  saddle.  They  proved,  however,  to  be  heavier  than  he  had  calculated, 
and,  hearing  the  mother  of  the  cubs  approaching,  he  considered  it  wise  to 
throw  one  out  of  the  sack,  and  gave  the  others  away.  He  carried  the 
mail  from  Canton  to  Mansfield  on  horseback.  He  aided  in  the  organization 
of  the  first  agricultural  society,  and  he  owned  a colt  that  took  the  premium 
at  the  first  county  fair. 

After  an  eventful  career,  both  in  public  and  private  life,  Mr.  Jones  died, 
honored  by  all  who  knew  him.  It  was  such  characters  as  his  that  fashioned 
the  foundation  stones  of  the  good  government  of  his  state  and  county. 

PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

Flain  township,  the  second  from  the  south  line  of  the  county  and  on  the 
western  line  of  Wayne  county,  contains  about  forty-two  sections  of  land, 
being  seven  miles  east  and  west  by  six  north  and  south.  It  was  organized  in 
1817.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  plains,  or  grades,  that  to  so  large  an 
extent  constituted  its  timber  growths  at  the  date  of  its  settlement.  The 
population  of  this  township  in  1900  was  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
sixty-six. 

The  first  settler  in  the  township  was  John  Collier,  locating  on  the 


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James  Childs  farm.  William  Meeks,  a native  of  Virginia,  was  the  second 
settler  in  this  township.  The  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township  was 
Cyrus  Baird.  George  and  David  Lozier  settled  upon  the  prairies  in  1814, 
south  of  Blachleyville.  They  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  owned  good 
farms.  Benjamin  White,  a shoemaker  and  preacher,  was  another  of  the 
sturdy  pioneer  characters.  Daniel  Miller  built  a sawmill  in  1815.  lie  also 
built  the  first  house  in  Blachleyville,  where  Swain’s  hotel  later  stood.  He 
kept  a tavern  and  sold  whisky;  went  to  Indiana  and  began  the  practice  of 
medicine.  Augustus  Case  settled  as  early  as  1814.  John  Cassiday  was  the 
first  to  teach  school  within  this  township.  The  first  minister  of  the  gospel 
was  Elder  French,  a Baptist.  Another  early  settler  was  Philip  Arnold,  of 
Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  came  in  1812;  for  many  months  after 
their  arrival  they  had  no  bread  in  the  house  and  were  compelled  to  live  on 
venison,  honey  and  potatoes. 

Dr.  William  B.  Blachley,  born  in  New  Jersey,  lived  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  until  1816,  when  he  emigrated  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
settling  in  Plain  township.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  Blachleyville  for 
nineteen  years,  then  moved  to  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  where  he  died,  aged 
seventy-four  years.  The  town  of  Blachleyville  was  named  for  him. 

Benedict  Mellinger,  Sr.,  Aaron  Baird,  Cyrus  Baird,  John  Tyron,  Robert 
Eason,  John  Folgate  (who  reached  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  years, 
the  oldest  of  any  man  in  the  county),  William  and  Henry  Rouch  were  all 
settlers  of  a very  early  date  in  Plain  township,  and  had  much  to  do  with 
laying  the  foundation  stones  of  the  township’s  government  and  helped  to 
make  its  first  pioneer  improvements. 

TOWNS  AND  VILLAGES  OF  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

The  town  plattings  of  this  township  are  indeed  quite  numerous.  Mill- 
brook  received  its  title  from  General  Thomas  McMillan,  who  named  and 
surveyed  it.  It  was  laid  out  by  Elijah  Yocum  August  10,  1829.  A grist- 
mill was  built  by  McMillan  to  the  east  of  the  town  site  in  1816  for  John 
Nimmon;  later  this  was  turned  into  a carding-mill. 

Blachleyville  was  platted  by  William  B.  and  William  Blachley,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1833. 

Jefferson  was  platted  June  30,  1829,  by  Stephen  Williams  and  Alex- 
ander Hutchinson.  This  place  is  four  miles  west  of  Wooster  and  came  to 
be  a place  of  much  business  importance.  It  was  on  the  Wooster  and  Ash- 
land stage  route,  making  it  a desirable  quarter  in  which  to  live. 


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Reedsburg  was  laid  out  by  William  Reed  in  December,  1835,  and  its 
first  settlers  were  Matthias  Starn,  Joseph  Mowery,  John  Peters  and  Wil- 
liam Hagerman. 

Springville  \vas  platted  by  David  Brown,  December  16,  1844,  and  was 
originally  called  Buffalo,  or  Heath’s  Corners. 

REMAINS  OF  BUFFALOES  AND  CEDAR  TREES. 

Land  owners  in  plowing  and  ditching  on  the  way  between  Springville 
and  Millbrook,  many  years  ago,  unearthed  the  remains  of  large  cedar  trees, 
and  about  1830  immense  logs  were  taken  out  three  feet  from  the  surface  that 
had  probably  lain  there  for  ages.  Trees  were  found  from  three  to  four  feet 
in  diameter.  South  of  Millbrook,  while  cutting  a ditch,  more  of  these  large 
cedar  trees  were  found.  What  is  strange  about  all  this  is  the  fact  that  there 
are  no  cedar  forests  in  this  section,  nor  is  there  any  knowledge  of  any  having 
been  here  in  the  centuries  past.  In  about  the  same  locality  were  also  found 
numerous  buffalo  skulls  and  horns  and  the  remains  of  human  bodies  of  great 
size.  Who  they  were  and  what  their  history  can  only  be  conjectured  at  this 
late  day. 


CLINTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Clinton  township  is  the  extreme  southwestern  township  in  Wayne  county 
and  contains  twenty-eight  sections,  its  domain  being  four  miles  north  and 
south  by  seven  east  and  west.-  Ashland  county  is  on  its  west  and  Holmes 
county  to  its  south.  It  was  organized  June  7,  1825,  and  in  1870  had  reached 
a population  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  two,  but  according  to  the 
United  States  census  of  1900  the  township  had  a population  of  two  thousand 
and  twenty-eight.  It  derived  its  name  from  Governor  DeWitt  Clinton. 

The  first  white  men  to  invade  the  wilds  of  this  township  for  the  pur- 
pose of  effecting  a permanent  settlement  were  as  follows : Nathan  G.  Odell, 
John  Newkirk,  Joshua  and  Thomas  Oram,  Thomas  Odell,  Abner  Lake,  Jacob 
Funk.  Aimer  Eddy.  Thomas  McConkev.  John  Jones,  Stephen  Morgan,  Asa 
Griffith.  William  and  J.  Wells,  Reuben  and  Philip  Avlesworth.  Noah  Whit- 
ford,  Lorenzo  D.  Odell. 

Mr.  Brewer  built  a cabin  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Newkirk  spring,  about 
twenty  feet  from  its  source. 

The  first  election  in  the  township  was  held  in  the  cabin  of  John  Jones. 
Nathan  G.  Odell  was  chosen  first  justice  of  the  peace,  but  he  declined  to  serve. 


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when  James  Priest  was  elected  and  served  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  first 
public  road  opened  was  the  one  running  from  Wooster  to  Loudonville.  An 
Indian  trail  extended  from  the  head  of  Odell’s  lake  to  Millersburg,  and  one 
to  Jeromeville  from  the  same  point.  The  Indian  town  was  located  on  the 
north  side  of  the  lake  and  contained  about  three  hundred  Indians,  under  Mo- 
hican John. 

What  was  known  as  the  Big  Prairie  was  at  first  looked  upon  as  an 
impassable  swamp;  it  was  soggy,  wet,  full  of  ponds,  dangerous  to  stock  and 
counted  of  no  value. 

The  first  man  known  to  have  died  within  Clinton  township  was  Thomp- 
son, an  emigrant  who  took  sick  while  stopping  with  John  Newkirk.  He  was 
sick  but  a short  time. 

The  first  physician  in  the  township  was  Dr.  Henry  Peters,  who  located  at 
the  intersection  of  the  roads  at  the  Newkirk  graveyard.  The  first  woman  to 
die  in  the  township  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Oram. 

In  1814  Reuben  Newkirk  and  Thomas  Odell,  two  young  men,  went  to 
Wooster  to  procure  a coffin,  carrying  it  home  on  the  backs  of  their  horses. 
Each  bore  one  end  of  it,  though  at  times  the  end  would  strike  the  trees,  when 
they  would  singly,  time  about,  have  to  carry  it  on  their  shoulders. 

The  first  resident  of  the  township  to  marry  was  Thomas,  son  of  Nathan 
G.  Odell,  who  was  united  to  Nancy  Drake,  of  Holmes  county,  in  1813. 

The  first  school  house  in  this  township  was  called  the  Newkirk  school. 
It  was  located  on  Henry  Newkirk’s  land.  It  was  a small  log  affair,  the 
neighbors  having  met,  cut  trees  and  converted  them  into  a school  house.  It 
was  covered  with  shingles,  and  contained  three  long  benches  for  the  children, 
and  a fireplace  running  the  whole  length  of  it.  The  first  teacher  was  a lady 
from  Holmes  county  who  received  seventy-five  cents  per  week  for  teaching. 

The  first  church  was  erected  by  the  Disciples,  about  a mile  and  a half 
northeast  of  Shreve. 

The  first  work  of  Methodism  in  the  township  was  near  Newkirk  Spring, 
where  a church  was  built  in  1843.  See  chapter  on  church  history. 

At  an  early  day,  in  this  township  were  the  following  named  persons 
engaged  in  the  distillery  business:  Almond  Aylesworth,  Henry  Shreve, 

Thomas  McConkey,  Thomas  A.  Brown,  Mahaley  McConkey  and  John  Comer. 

Cornelius  Quick  built  the  first  mill  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  in  1825 ; his 
dam  backwatered  the  region  and  raised  the  lake  about  fifteen  inches.  Nathan 
G.  Odell  sold  the  land,  not  wishing  to  litigate  over  the  matter.  Comer,  how- 
ever, later  had  a law  suit  over  it  and,  after  long  years  of  lawing,  both  men 
were  financially  ruined. 


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The  towns  and  villages  of  this  township  are  Shreve,  Craghton,  Big 
Prairie  and  Centerville. 


FRANKLIN  TOWNSHIP. 

Franklin  is  one  of  the  two  irregular-shaped  townships  in  Wayne  county, 
the  other  being  Wooster  township.  Franklin  was  named  from  old  Benjamin 
Franklin  of  Philadelphia,  the  statesman  and  scientist.  The  township  was 
organized  for  civil  purposes  June  7,  1820.  Its  population  is  now  about  one 
thousand  two  hundred  and  one. 

The  first  settlement  made  by  any  one  in  Wayne  county,  outside  of  Woos- 
ter, was  made  in  this  township  on  lands  later  owned  by  Thomas  Dowty.  James 
Morgan  and  Thomas  Butler  were  the  two  white  settlers  who  first  wandered 
into  the  territory  now  embraced  in  this  township.  They  came  in  1808  and 
soon  after  came  in  John  Boyd,  Robert  Buckley,  John  and  James  Cisna, 
Tommy  Lock,  Samuel  Mitchell,  Jacob  Nixon,  William  Nolan,  Jacob  Miller, 
Moses  Lockhart  and  John  Hughes. 

The  first  land  entered  in  the  township,  in  the  regular  way,  was  by 
James  Morgan. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Samuel  Mitchell.  One  of  the  early 
school  houses  was  the  Polecat  school  house  on  the  farm  of  Daniel  Daringer. 

The  pioneer  distillery  of  the  township  was  conducted  by  old  Johnny 
Boyd,  who  sold  it  in  quantities,  “Yes,  sir,  just  as  little  as  you  want,  sir/’ 

The  first  grist  mill  was  erected  by  a Mr.  Mitchell  on  land  later  owned 
by  Andrew  Bucher. 

The  first  lime  in  Wayne  county  was  burned  in  a log  heap  to  test 
its  quality,  and  later  a kiln  was  made  and  lime  successfully  burned  in  the 
same  by  Henry  Munson.  Sr.,  in  1816  or  1817.  It  was  he  who  furnished  the 
lime  employed  in  the  building  of  the  old  Wiler  house  of  Mansfield,  hauling 
it  there  by  ox  teams  at  about  fifty  cents  a bushel.  At  nights  he  slept  under 
his  wagon,  while  he  turned  his  oxen  out  to  graze. 

Among  the  recollections  of  Pioneer  John  Harrison,  the  following  was, 
many  years  since,  made  a matter  of  record : “Salt  was  worth  six  cents  a 

pound  when  I came  here.  Bought  a two-horse  wagon  from  old  Billy  Poulson 
in  1826  and  paid  for  it  in  salt;  went  to  Cleveland  for  it;  obtained  one  barrel 
there  and  one  barrel  ten  miles  out  of  the  city.  These  two  barrels  of  salt  paid 
for  the  wagon — price  thirty  dollars.  A bushel  of  wheat  would  then  pay  for 
a pound  of  coffee,  the  former  being  of  little  cash  account  until  the  canal 
was  opened.  There  were  some  Indians  about  when  we  came  here.  Old 


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Chief  Dan  Lyon  remained  after  the  other  Indians  had  all  left.  He  was  used 
to  making  wooden  ladles  and  trade  them  to  the  whites  for  bacon.” 

INDIANS  BURN  THE  BUTLER  CABIN. 

From  a reminiscence  dictated  by  John  Butler,  a pioneer  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Franklin  township,  we  take  the  liberty  to  extract  the  following. 

Mr.  Butler  being  absent  at  his  father-in-law’s,  the  Indians  burned  his 
cabin.  The  cause  was  presumed  to  be  as  follows:  Butler  had  raised  con- 

siderable com  in  the  bottoms  and  had  a good  many  hogs.  A gang  of  In- 
dians passed  one  day  and  shot  one  of  them.  Mr.  Butler  followed  after  and 
found  them  encamped  in  the  locality  of  the  present  site  of  Shreve.  He  went 
to  the  chief  and  told  him  the  circumstances,  and  that  he  must  pay  him,  the 
chief  going  to  the  thief  and  telling  him  he  must  pay  for  the  hog  he  killed. 
He  asked  him  what  he  killed  it  for,  whereupon  the  Indian  replied,  “I  wanted 
grease/’  The  chief  made  him  pay  for  the  animal,  Mr.  Butler  receiving  in 
pay  therefor  two  deer  skins,  which  the  Indian  indignantly  kicked  toward 
him.  It  was  soon  after  this  Mr.  Butler's  cabin  was  burned,  and  he  claimed 
the  gang  of  Indians  did  it.  He  then  erected  a hewed  log  house  on  the  exact 
spot  where  had  stood  the  rude  cabin  that  they  had  burned.  In  this  Mr. 
Butler  died  March  17,  1837. 

THE  MORGAN  BLOCKHOUSE. 

This  fort  stood  on  the  Thomas  Dowty  farm,  and  but  a few  rods  from 
his  house,  and  was  quite  a large  structure  and  a source  of  protection  to 
the  pioneers.  During  the  summer  of  Hull’s  surrender  a company  of  soldiers 
were  stationed  here  from  Tuscarawas  county.  A would-be  brave  soldier  of 
this  company  was  ever  boasting  of  his  courage  and  ached  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  have  a fight  with  the  Indians.  The  boys  concluded  they  would  ac- 
commodate him.  They  caused  to  be  painted  and  decked  in  true  Indian  style 
of  costume  one  of  their  number,  and  had  him  secrete  himself  in  a swamp  close 
by.  The  company  proceeded  on  one  of  its  scouts  and  passed  by  this  swam]), 
when  the  mythical  Indian  sprang  out,  yelling  and  pointing  his  gun,  took 
after  Sir  Valiant  Soldier,  who  rushed  at  the  top  of  his  speed  and  concealed 
himself  in  a marsh.  The  company  and  the  painted  man  rapidly  returned 
to  the  blockhouse.  Soon  thereafter  the  would-be  Indian  fighter,  who  had 
lost  his  shoes  in  the  swamp,  returned.  Some  of  the  boys  went  in  search  of 
his  shoes  and  brought  them  into  camp. 

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DEATH  OF  OLD  CHIEF  LYON. 

Alexander  Bell,  of  Holmesville,  once  informed  'Squire  Butler  that  when 
he  was  a boy  he  went  to  old  Lyon’s  camp,  near  the  mouth  of  Butler  Spring 
run,  and  found  him  in  a sick  condition  in  his  rude  hut.  Lyon  asked  Bell 
to  take  his  camp  kettle  and  bring  him  some  fresh  water,  Which  he  did, 
when  Lyon  asked  him  to  look  at  his  tongue.  Bell  told  him  how  it  looked, 
when  the  old  chief  said,  “Me  dead  Indian/’  Bell  said,  “I  will  go  and  tell 
Jess  Morgan  if  you  wish  me  to,”  to  which  Lyon  consented.  Jess  came, 
accompanied  by  Bell,  and  they  found  the  old  chief  very  sick,  whereupon  he 
repaired  to  Sandusky  and  communicated  the  facts  to  his  Indian  friends,  when 
several  of  them  came  along  back  with  Jess.  They  took  the  old  Indian  upon 
one  of  their  ponies,  but  in  a few  days  word  came  back  that  his  spirit  had 
gone  to  the  happy  hunting  ground. 

Throughout  the  county  there  used  to  be  many  reports  concerning  this 
old  chief.  The  early  settlers  all  knew  him,  as  he  visited  their  cabins  and 
frequently  was  a source  of  terror  to  women  and  children. 

/ MORELAND  VILLAGE. 

Moreland  is  the  only  village  ever  platted  within  Franklin  township. 
It  was  laid  out  by  Jonathan  Butler  and  George  Morr  January  17,  1829.  The 
first  building  in  the  place  was  erected  by  a blacksmith  for  a shop;  his  name 
was  Loux. 


SALT  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

Salt  Creek  township  is  on  the  south  line  of  Wayne  county  and  the 
second  township  from  the  eastern  line  of  the  county,  with  Holmes  county 
on  the  south,  Paint  township  on  the  east,  Franklin  on  the  west  and  East 
Union  township  on  the  north.  It  contains  twenty-four  sections,  is  four 
miles  from  north  to  south  and  six  from  east  to  west.  It  was  formed  March 
5,  1816. 

Of  the  first  settler  in  this  township  and  his  family,  the  following  may 
be  narrated:  William  Searight  was  born  October  17,  1779,  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to 
America  about  1760,  settling  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  He  served  seven 
years  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  William,  the  son,  who  came  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  selected  lands  here  in  1810  and  built  a small  log  cabin  on 


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the  banks  of  Salt  Creek,  facing  the  Pine  Hill.,,  He  was  then  the  only  man 
and  his  family  the  only  family  within  Salt  Creek  township,  as  no^  bounded 
— indeed  he  was  “monarch  of  all  he  surveyed.”  Ke  entered  four  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  His  nearest  neighbors  lived  in  Prairie  township,  Holmes 
county.  The  next  to  effect  a settlement  in  Salt  Creek  township  was  Henry 
Barnes,  just  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812-14.  After  the  news  of  Hull's 
surrender,  Mr.  Searight  and  family  fled  for  safety  to  the  blockhouse,  four 
and  a half  miles  distant,  built  in  Prairie  township.  Holmes  county.  The 
Indians  there  were  friendly.  About  this  time  old  Chief  Lyon  visited  Sea- 
rights  and  told  Mrs.  Searight  that  he  had  cut  the  tongues  from  out  of  ninety- 
nine  women  and  wanted  hers  to  make  an  even  hundred.  Mr.  Searight  died 
July  16,  1846,  and  his  good  wife  followed  him  in  February,  1848.  They  had 
ten  children. 

From  the  memory  of  Pioneer  Joseph  Miller  the  following  facts  concern- 
ing this  township  are  given  to  enrich  its  history: 

William  Searight  built  the  first  saw  mill  erected  on  Salt  creek,  the 
date  being  1813.  Judge  Frederick  built  the  next  mill  in  1816.  The  Sea- 
right mill  burned  and  John  Cheyney  and  Samuel  Miller  rebuilt  another  in 
1820  for  saw  mill  purposes  only.  Frederick's  second  mill  was  built  in  1836, 
and  had  a capacity  of  two  hundred  barrels  a day — a very  large  flou ring-mill 
for  then  or  even  later  years  in  the  history  of  milling.  This  mill  was 
burned  in  1876.  James  Russell,  a blacksmith,  built  the  first  house  in  the 
town.  Samuel  Miller  built  and  conducted  the  first  hotel.  Jacob  Frederick 
had  the  first  distillery  in  the  township  and  it  is  related  that  in  the  days  when 
the  old  Ohio  canal  was  being  constructed  that  there  were  no  less  than  eight 
distilleries  within  two  miles  of  Fredericksburg  village.  The  first  doctor  was 
James  Clarkson,  who  came  in  1827  and  died  in  1846.  John  Taylor  was  the 
first  lawyer.  Samuel  Goodwin  said  that  buffalo,  deer  and  elk  would  haunt 
the  salt  licks. 

FREDERICKSBURG  VILLAGE. 

Fredericksburg  was  platted  by  Jacob  Frederick  November  27,  1824. 
and  named  in  honor  of  its  founder.  He  served  as  one  of  the  associate 
judges  of  Wayne  county  as  early  as  1826.  The  Fredericksburg  Cemetery 
Association  was  organized  in  1872. 

The  population  of  this  village  in  1900  was  five  hundred  and  eleven. 
Its  business  interests  consisted  of : The  Bank,  by  E.  Z.  Aylsworth ; under- 

takers, J.  H.  Hunter  and  B.  S.  Bontrager;  general  stores,  S.  M.  Warner, 


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Charles  Sterling  and  J.  B.  McCormick ; hardware,  Stucker  & Leeper ; baker, 
C.  W.  Smith ; butcher,  J.  B.  Shultz ; Fredericksburg  Pottery  Company,  plan- 
ing mills,  flouring  mills  and  Ohio  Terra  Cotta  Company.  The  present  post- 
master is  C.  R.  Kilgore.  Churches,  Presbyterian,  Congregational,  United 
Presbyterian,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Christian. 

The  town  and  country  is  well  cared  for  in  the  way  of  a first-class  bank- 
ing house,  known  as  the  Citizens  Bank,  with  a capital  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  individual  responsibility.  Its  officers  are : H. 

W.  Cary,  president;  A.  T.  Stultz.  vice-president;  E.  Z.  Aylsworth,  cashier. 

PAINT  TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  the  extreme  southeastern  sub-division  of  Wayne  county  and  was 
organized  March  5,  1816.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  a spring 
existed  in  its  territory,  the  water  of  which  resembled  red  paint  and  im- 
parted its  peculiar  color  to  the  earth  and  other  objects  it  chanced  to  touch.  Ac- 
cording to  the  1900  United  States  census,  the  township  contained  a popula- 
tion of  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  six.  There  are  nowr  two  town  plats 
within  Paint  township,  Mount  Eaton  and  West  Lebanon. 

The  first  person  to  settle  within  the  limits  of  Paint  township  was  Michael 
Waxier,  who  emigrated  from  Harrison  county  in  1810.  He  was  a true 
backwoods  character,  dressed  in  buckskin  breeches,  hunting  shirt  and  moc- 
casins, and  usually  armed  wdth  his  scalping  knife,  tomahawk  and  rifle.  As 
the  brave  are  generally  generous,  even  so  was  he  w^ho  had  the  honor  of  first 
breaking  soil  in  this  goodly  part  of  Wayne  county.  He  frequently  hunted 
with  old  Chief  Lyon  and  Bill  Harrison.  It  is  told  of  Mr.  Waxier  that  he 
encamped  one  night  where  Winesburg  is  now  located  and  barely  escaped  de- 
struction from  a gang  of  angry  wrolves  which  attacked  him,  and  to  which  he 
offered  a stout  resistance  until  morning,  having,  in  the  meantime,  killed 
several,  and  in  true  Indian  style,  scalped  them. 

The  next  settlers  in  Paint  township  were  James  Sullivan,  John  Sprague, 
David  Endslev,  Nathan  Peticord,  James  Galbraith,  William  Vaughan, 
Elijah  Carr,  Samuel  Shull,  Frederick  Shull  and  Jacob  Beals. 

The  first  election  held  in  the  township  was  in  1816,  and  Frederick 
Shull  and  Jacob  Beals  were  the  candidates  for  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  Not  many  votes  were  cast  and  the  result  was  a tie.  wrhereupon  the 
aspirants  cast  lots,  and  Beals  was  the  winner,  hence  became  the  first  justice 
of  his  township.  He  held  the  position  twelve  years. 

Another  character  of  the  early  days  in  this  township  was  David 


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389 


Houmard,  a native  of  Switzerland,  and  was  among  the  very  first  emi- 
grants  to  pass  through  the  locks  on  the  great  Erie  canal  at  Lockport.  The 
family  passed  through  Cleveland,  Ohio,  when  there  were  but  about  fifty 
houses  there,  arriving  in  Sugarcreek  township  September  2,  1825.  He 
was  seventeen  weeks  in  coming  from  Switzerland.  At  Cleveland  he  bought 
a yoke  of  oxen  for  thirty-six  dollars  which  he  hitched  to  a wagon  and  in 
that  way  came  to  Wayne  county.  He  remained  at  the  Sonneberg  colony 
a month  and  settled  in  P&int  township  in  May,  1826.  He  was  a cutler  by 
trade,  and  made  many  curious  firearms  and  tools.  His  house  has  been  thus 
described : “The  original  dimensions  of  it  were  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  and 

it  was  constructed  of  logs,  not  hewed  until  after  the  house  was  erected.  It 
was  composed  of  two  rooms,  the  second  one  on  the  east  side  being  nearly 
square,  and  without  being  filled  or  mudded.  Here  his  family,  consisting  of 
wife  and  child,  passed  the  winter  of  1826  and  ’27.  This  cabin  was  without 
a floor,  the  fireplace  was  in  the  center  of  the  room,  and  as  companions  of  his 
family,  the  cow  and  calf  were  wintered  in  the  same  room,  the  cabin  being 
house  and  stable  both.  The  milk  was  kept  in  white  walnut  troughs, 
strained  through  old  garments  and  cloths  and  the  churn  was  made  of  a 
hollow  cherry  tree,  with  a board  nailed  on  at  the  bottom.” 

Joseph  Perrott  was  the  second  Frenchman  to  locate  in  Paint  township, 
coming  in  1829,  and  Emanuel  Nicolet  came  in  1830.  In  1834  immigra- 
tion set  in  in  earnest. 

MOUNT  EATON. 

Mount  Eaton,  formerly  styled  Paintville,  was  platted  as  early  as  1813 
by  William  Vaughn  and  James  Galbraith.  Elijah  Carr  is  supposed  to  have 
erected  the  first  building  in  the  place,  and  Samuel  Shull  kept  the  first 
tavern.  The  earliest  minister  to  proclaim  the  gospel  at  this  point  was 
Archibald  Hanna,  a Presbyterian,  who  conducted  religious  services  for  a 
number  of  years  in  a tent  in  the  big  woods. 

In  1829  the  name  Mount  Eaton  took  the  place  of  former  Paintville. 
The  first  incorporation  election  of  Mount  Eaton  was  held  April  4,  1870, 
when  three  trustees  were  elected  as  follows:  J.  B.  Westcott,  James  Huston 
and  John  Schlafly.  There  were  forty-two  votes  cast  at  this  election. 

Mount  Eaton  had  a fire  company  organized  as  early  as  1861.  In  1823 
James  Morrow  operated  a carding  mill  by  horse  power  in  Paintville.  In 
1827  an  iron  foundry  was  in  operation  there,  the  same  being  run  by  Weed 
& Jones.  In  1827-8  Joseph  H.  White  published  the  Anti-Masonic  Mirror , 
a weekly  newspaper,  which  soon  languished  for  lack  of  support.  In  1831 
the  first  steam  grist  mill  at  Mount  Eaton  was  placed  in  running  order  by 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Col.  William  Goudy;  five  years  later  it  was  burned,  but  in  1838  was  re- 
built, and  again  destroyed  in  1839  by  the  explosion  of  the  boilers.  In  this 
accident  John  Murphy  was  suddenly  killed  by  being  scalded,  John  Mc- 
Donald was  mangled,  and  Jeremiah  Nelson  and  James  Bradley  were  injured 
and  only  survived  a few  days.  One  of  the  boilers  was  hurled  fifty  yards 
up  the  hillside,  splitting  a sawlog  in  its  course. 

Cholera  made  its  dread  appearance  at  Mt.  Eaton  in  1833,  the  disease 
having  been  brought  there  by  a Frenchman  named  Benedict  Brown- 
stine,  who,  with  his  family,  were  emigrants  who  had  a dead  child — a cholera 
victim — with  them  when  they  arrived.  The  disorder  soon  became  malignant 
in  its  form.  David  Boyd,  an  intoxicated  man,  strutted  up  to  the  wagon 
to  see  how  a cholera  victim  looked,  and,  being  attacked,  died  the  same  day 
before  sundown.  In  a month  twenty-six  persons  died  of  the  scourge.  It 
made  its  appearance  about  the  middle  of  August.  Doctors  Hall  and  Barber 
did  all  in  their  power  to  stay  its  spread,  but  for  all  that  every  one  in  ten  of  the 
population  died.  The  last  victim  was  James  Galbraith.  Many  of  the  citi- 
zens fled  from  the  village  during  the  epidemic. 

The  church  and  school  history  of  Paint  township  is  given  in  another 
chapter. 

The  factors  going  toward  making  up  the  present  business  of  Mount 
Eaton  are  as  follows,  the  same  having  been  furnished  in  October,  1909. 
General  merchandise,  A.  N.  Roth,  E.  F.  Graber;  hardware,  S.  A.  Schlafly; 
boots,  shoes  and  rubbers,  William  Willard ; C.  N.  Clark,  physician  and 
surgeon. 

WEST  LEBANON. 

West  Lebanon  is  situated  in  the  extreme  northeast  part  of  the  township, 
three  miles  northeast  from  Mount  Eaton.  It  was  platted  in  1833  by  Philip 
Groff  and  Rev.  William  S.  Butt.  Frederick  Bysell,  it  is  believed,  built  the 
first  house,  run  the  first  hotel  and  was  postmaster.  Another  theory  is  that 
Isaac  Stine  built  the  first  cdbin  and  that  the  first  postmaster  was  Adam  Zar- 
ing.  One  of  the  founders  of  this  place,  Philip  Groff,  was  a native  of  West 
Lebanon,  Lebanon  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  memory  of  his  native  town 
called  this  village  by  that  name. 

Michael  Hawn,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  born  in  1741,  died  in  1844, 
aged  one  hundred  and  three  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  graveyard 
at  West  Lebanon. 


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CHAPTER  XX. 


Miscellaneous  Subjects. 

EARLY-DAY  MARKET  PRICES l8l8. 

From  the  diaries  and  memory  of  John  Larwill,  a pioneer  merchant  of 
Wooster,  the  following  table  of  market  prices  is  given  the  reader : 

Coffee,  per  pound,  sixty-two  and  a half  cents;  tea,  per  pound,  three  dol- 
lars; common  keg  tobacco,  per  pound,  fifty  cents;  coarse  muslin,  per  yard, 
fifty  cents;  nails  (forged),  eighteen  to  twenty  cents  per  pound;  iron,  per 
pound,  sixteen  cents;  salt,  per  bushel,  four  dollars;  indigo,  per  ounce,  one 
dollar;  powder,  per  pound,  one  dollar. 

• Other  commodities  were  in  proportion.  Transportation  was  ten  dollars 
per  hundred  weight  from  Philadelphia,  and  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents  from 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  brought  in  freighting  wagons.  It  took  thirty-five 
days  to  make  a trip  to  Wooster  to  Philadelphia.  A teamster  received  one- 
half  of  his  pay  before  he  left  here  and  the  remainder  in  that  city.  To  that 
city  he  carried  furs  and  skins  of  beaver,  bears,  otters,  coons,  deer,  together 
with  dried  venison-hams,  and  such  other  commodities  as  were  staples  of  ex- 
change, and  then  brought  back  with  him  goods  and  wares  for  the  Wooster 
merchants.  At  that  time  a saddle  of  mutton  could  be  purchased  from  the 
Indians  for  a quarter  of  a pound  of  gunpowder. 

MARKET  QUOTATIONS  FOR  I909. 

The  following  prices  prevailed  in  this  county  in  1909:  Coffee,  twenty- 
five  cents;  tea,  fifty  to  seventy-five  cents;  tobacco,  sixty  cents;  muslin,  per 
yard,  ten  cents  for  best;  nails,  per  pound,  four  cents  (common);  iron,  per 
pound,  four  cents;  salt,  per  bushel,  eighty  cents;  indigo,  per  ounce,  fifteen 
cents;  gunpowder,  fifty  cents;  hogs  (live  weight),  six  to  seven  dollars;  cattle 
(beef),  six  to  eight  dollars  per  hundred.  This  will  show  the  great  contrast 
in  many  household  articles  w ith  the  passing  of  years,  but  it  should  be  under- 
stood that  during  the  Civil  war  period  prices  of  most  all  the  articles  herein 
named  were  much  in  advance  of  those  of  today. 


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FIRST  WHITE  MAN  TO  DIE  IN  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  first  white  man  to  die  in  Wayne 
county,  as  chronicled  by  Ben  Douglas,  in  1878: 

The  first  white  man  to  die  in  this  county  was  Alexander  Crawford,  a 
brother  of  Josiah  Crawford,  who  later  in  the  county’s  history  owned  the 
Bahl’s  Mill.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Wooster  his  horse  was  stolen  by 
an  Indian.  He  immediately  started  in  pursuit  of  the  savage  thieves,  going 
on  foot,  which  was  at  that  time  a popular  method  to  travel.  He  persevered 
in  his  search  as  far  as  Upper  Sandusky,  but  failing  to  overtake  or  capture 
them,  he  abandoned  his  pursuit.  On  his  return  he  could  obtain  no  water  to 
drink,  save  what  lay  in  the  pools  in  the  woods  and  by  the  roots  of  fallen 
timber,  and  being  very  dry,  was  compelled  to  slake  his  thirst  with  this  green- 
scummed  and  poisoned  water.  This  was  in  1808,  and  his  pathway  was  amid 
the  solitudes  and  stolid  gloom  of  dense  and  dreary  woods.  On  his  return  to 
Wooster,  he  was  burning  with  a violent  fever,  when  he  found  a stopping 
place  under  the  protecting  roof  of  William  Larwill,  which  proved  to  be  his 
last  abode  on  earth.  He  was  sick  but  a few  days,  and  died  in  the  small  office 
of  Mr.  Larwill’s  store,  which  was  situated  on  the  grounds  known  now  as  No. 
4,  Emporium  block.  Mr.  Larwill  described  his  sufferings  as  being  terrible. 
He  had  no  medical  aid. 

Near  the  present  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  the  town  site  pro- 
prietors had  laid  out  a cemetery  and  donated  it  to  the  town.  It  was  called 
the  “public  graveyard.”  Here  Crawford’s  remains  were  interred.  John 
Larwill,  Benjamin  Miller,  William  Larwill,  Abraham  Miller  and  one  or  two 
more  dug  his  grave  and  buried  him.  His  coffin  was  made  of  rough  boards 
by  Benjamin  Miller  and  his  son  Abraham,  and  he  was  carried  to  his  final 
resting  place  upon  spikes  of  wood  on  which  his  coffin  rested.  Later  his  grave 
could  not  be  identified  by  anyone.  The  sombre  years  have  swept  over  it  and 
it  casts  no  shadow  unless  upon  some  stricken  heart.  The  deathground  holds 
him  and  his  sleep  is  as  sweet  as  if  under  the  granite  shaft. 

TWO  NOTED  CHARACTERS,  DRISKEL  AND  BRAWDY. 

Among  the  noted  characters  who  caused  much  trouble  at  a very  early 
time  in  Wayne  and  adjoining  counties  may  be  cited  the  names  of  the  Driskels 
and  Brawdys. 

The  Driskels  were  settlers  of  Wayne  county  prior  to  1812,  but  how  much 
earlier  than  this  they  came  to  Wooster  and  its  vicinity  is  not  known.  John 


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Driskel  was  one  of  the  first  supervisors  of  Wooster  we  have  any  record  of, 
and  was  acting  in  that  capacity  in  the  last  named  year.  He  had  three  broth- 
ers, Dennis,  William  and  Phenix,  and  a sister  Sally,  who  married  Bill  Gib- 
son. His  family  consisted  of  four  children,  Bill,  Pearce.  Dave  and  Reasin. 
They  emigrated  from  Columbiana  county  to  Wayne  county  and  for  a time 
lived  on  Apple  creek,  near  the  old  Sibbs  mill. 

For  a number  of  years  after  their  settlement  in  Wayne  county,  old  John 
Driskel  was  regarded  as  an  honorable  old  man,  though  much  addicted  to 
intemperance  and  inclined  when  drunk  to  be  quarrelsome.  Dennis,  his 
brother,  was  a temperate,  enterprising  citizen,  and  bore  that  name  wherever 
known  in  this  county.  He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  Plain  township,  in  com- 
pany with  John  McBride  and  Abraham  Runyon,  and  in  1829  ovVned  and  con- 
ducted the  old  grist  mill  at  Springville,  in  Plain  township,  which  he  sold  in 
1832. 

For  some  years  after  he  came  to  Wooster,  John  Driskel  owned  farms 
and  made  realty  exchanges.  The  first  suspicion  of  crookedness  upon  him 
occurred  when  Horace  Howard  was  keeping  the  hotel  called  Eagle  House,  on 
West  Liberty  street.  A party  had  gathered  in  the  bar-room  one  evening, 
among  whom  was  John  Driskel,  and  the  excitement  becoming  too  boisterous, 
the  proprietor  ejected  the  inmates  from  the  premises.  As  Driskel  went  out 
of  the  bar-room,  he  picked  up  a candlestick  and  carried  it  out  of  doors  with 
him,  but  it  seems  he  immediately  threw  it  over  into  Mr.  Howard’s  garden, 
who,  not  knowing  this,  caused  Driskel  to  be  arrested  next  morning.  Mich- 
ael Totten  was  one  of  the  jurors  in  the  case.  The  evidence  was  not  of  that 
character  to  evince  an  act  of  theft  on  the  part  of  Driskel,  and  he  was  ac- 
quitted. This  was  about  eleven  years  after  Driskel  came  to  Wayne  county, 
and  this  was  the  first  suspicion  upon  him  and  the  first  arrest. 

Steve  Brawdy,  a brother-in-law  of  William,  a brother  of  John  Driskel, 
was  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  from  Wooster  for  stealing  a heifer  from 
Jacob  Shellbarger,  at  Naftzger’s  mill.  The  warrant  for  his  arrest  was  issued 
by  Squire  Bristow,  and  Jacob  Crawford,  constable  of  Congress  township, 
assisted  by  Michael  Totten  and  Moses  Loudon,  arrested  him.  Brawdy  was 
a strong  and  powerful  man  and  in  the  melee  a knife  was  plunged  into  Loud- 
on’s thigh  the  full  length  of  its  blade,  but  which  only  made  Loudon  the  more 
determined  and  Mr.  Totten  and  the  constable  the  more  resolute.  He  was 
taken  before  Squire  Bristow,  had  a hearing,  was  bound  over,  received  his 
trial  at  Wooster,  and  was  sentenced  to  three  years’  confinement  in  the  Ohio 
penitentiary.  The  fact  of  Brawdy’s  relationship  to  the  Driskels  induced  many 


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suspicions  and  the  vigilance  of  the  citizens  and  the  officers  soon  led  to  the 
discovery  of  a gang  in  which  John  Driskel  was  the  central  actor. 

About  this  time  General  Beall  had  a yoke  of  oxen  stolen  and  taken  to 
Cleveland  and  sold.  A young  man,  Ben  Worthington,  was  arrested  and 
tried  for  this  offense  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary.  The  revelations  of  this 
trial  established  the  complicity  of  Driskel  and  Brawdy  with  the  Worthington 
theft. 

John  Driskel  was  finally  arrested  for  stealing  horses  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  and  brought  back  from  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  caught,  and  was  tried  and  found  guilty  and  sentenced  from  New  Lisbon 
to  the  penitentiary.  This  was  along  about  1829-30.  He,  however,  managed 
to  make  his  escape,  the  particulars  of  the  same  being  as  follows:  Convicts 
were  at  that  date  permitted  to  labor,  under  guard,  on  the  public  works  at 
Columbus.  Driskel,  with  a chain  and  a fifty-six  pound  weight  fastened  to 
his  leg,  had  charge  of  a wheelbarrow  and  was  conveying  dirt  on  the  Ohio 
canal.  He  concluded  he  would  make  an  effort  to  escape,  and,  picking  up  the 
ball  in  his  hand,  started  to  run  and  was  immediately  fired  upon  by  six  guards, 
who  unfortunately  missed  him.  He  had  shrewdly  selected  a period  well  on 
toward  night  for  his  escape.  Arriving  at  a farm  residence,  he  sought  the 
wood  pile  and  there  finding  an  ax,  severed  the  ball  from  the  chain.  Having 
dispensed  with  the  ball  and  chain,  he  leisurely  made  his  way  back  to  Wayne 
county,  to  where  his  family  lived,  near  Burbank,  where  he  filed  the  clasp  of  the 
chain  from  his  leg. 

Mr.  Totten  afterward  said  he  frequently  heard  him  relate  how  he  effected 
his  escape.  The  cutting  off  of  the  iron  ball  by  the  farmer’s  ax,  and  the  filing 
of  the  chain,  etc.,  Driskel  would  tell  of  it  and  laugh  over  it  until  his  voice 
might  be  heard  a half  mile. 

The  authorities  hearing  of  his  appearance  in  Wayne  county,  an  effort 
was  made  to  recapture  him,  when,  to  elude  his  pursuers,  he  led  for  a time  a 
roving  life,  stealing  horses,  concealing  them  in  thickets,  burning  barns,  houses 
and  other  things,  finally  leaving  the  county.  Shortly  after  this  he  was  cap- 
tured in  Mohican  township,  Ashland  county,  and  committed  to  the  charge  of 
two  men.  named  Peterson,  to  take  him  back  to  the  Columbus  penitentiary  to 
serve  out  his  sentence,  but  when  stopping  over  night  at  Sunbury,  Delaware 
county,  the  old  man  by  shrewdness  and  force  effected  his  escape  and  never 
again  appeared  in  Ohio.  He  was  next  heard  of  in  the  West,  where  his  fam- 
ily and  confederates  joined  him  and  continued  their  criminal  pursuits  for 
some  years.  In  time,  the  “Regulators”  of  northern  Illinois  rose  upon  them. 


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captured  old  John,  his  son  William  and  others  of  the  gang.  These  were  im- 
mediately shot  and  his  youngest  son  David  was  soon  afterward  caught  and 
hanged  to  a tree  by  judge  “Lynch.” 

It  is  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Totten  that  this  band  of  outlaws  composed  of 
the  Driskels,  Brawdys  and  others  originated  in  Wayne  county  and  this  is  like- 
wise corroborated  by  the  statement  of  Hon.  L.  O'Dell,  of  Clinton  township, 
one  of  the  most  intelligent  of  the  early  settlers  of  Wayne  county.  They  had 
no  long  or  settled  residence  at  any  point  in  the  county,  living  at  different  times 
in  Wooster,  Wayne,  Chester,  Congress  and  Plain  townships.  They  were  a 
gang  of  bad,  bold  and  dangerous  men  and  desperadoes,  a terror  to  peaceful 
and  law-abiding  citizens,  whom  even-handed  justice  pursued  slowly,  but 
finally  visited  with  most  fearful  retribution.  They  were  men  of  invincible 
courage,  of  powerful  physical  strength,  and  enjoyed  nothing  so  well  as  a 
carouse  and  a knock-down.  Their  leading  crimes  consisted  in  burglaries, 
incendiarisms  and  horse  stealing.  They  concealed  their  stolen  horses  in  the 
dense  thickets  of  the  woods,  stole  corn  from  the  farmers  to  feed  them,  and  at 
a suitable  opportunity  run  them  out  of  the  county. 

Old  John  Driskel  was  a blustering,  swaggering,  bullying  character,  and 
when  drunk  was  constantly  provoking  disturbances  and  putting  society  into  a 
ferment  of  alarm  and  apprehension.  Few  men  whom  he  encountered  were 
his  equals  in  the  brutal  conflicts  which  he  induced.  On  the  occasion  of  a 
public  muster  in  Lisbon,  Columbiana  county,  he  became  terribly  boisterous  and 
flung  his  banter  to  the  assembled  crowd.  Like  Caleb  Quoten  in  the  “Wags 
of  Windsor,”  he  was  bound  to  have  a place  in  the  reviews.  Timid  men  feared 
him  and  stouter  desired  to  avoid  collision  with  him.  Driskel's  rule  was  if 
he  could  not  provoke  a quarrel  by  general  boasting  and  threats,  to  select  a 
large  musclar  man  and  challenge  him  to  a fight.  And  if  he  refused  to  accept, 
to  hit  him  at  the  time  or  watch  for  another  chance  and  deliver  a blow  upon 
him. 

On  this  occasion,  Driskel  selected  Isaac  Pew,  a large,  bony  specimen  of  a 
man,  and  after  offering  him  sundry  indignities,  and  without  any  warning, 
hit  him  a terrible  blow.  Springing  instantly  upon  him,  he  bit  off  Pew's  ear. 
This  occurred  at  the  tavern  at  Lisbon,  then  kept  by  Christian  Smith,  one  of 
the  associate  judges  of  Wayne  county  at  one  time.  Pew  was  a man  who  kept 
his  own  secrets  and  felt  amply  able  to  defend  himself  against  Driskel,  or  any- 
body else,  if  he  had  a fair  showing.  When  next  general  muster  came  around, 
Driskel  was  present,  as  was  also  Pew,  the  latter  having  remarked,  “He  has 
my  ear  and  now  I will  have  his  nose.”  Seeing  Driskel.  he  approached  him. 


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but  suspecting  his  intentions,  Driskel  retreated  and  Pew  followed  him  closely. 
He  was  interrupted  by  Bill  Driskel,  John’s  brother,  but  rushing  past  Bill  and 
John,  seeing  he  was  about  to  be  caught,  turned  about,  when  Pew  instantly 
sprang  at  old  John  and  bit  his  nose  off. 

On  a certain  occasion,  old  John  was  parading  the  streets  of  Wooster, 
talking  boisterously  and  bragging  that  he  weighed  two  hundred  and  eight 
pounds  and  that  no  man  could  whip  him.  Smith  Mclntire,  who  was  clearing 
off  some  land  on  the  Robison  farm,  south  of  Wooster,  came  to  town  in  his 
shirt  sleeves  to  procure  tobacco.  Being  a very  muscular  looking  man.  Gen- 
eral Spink  and  Mr.  McComb  approached  him  and  asked  him  if  the  thought 
he  could  whip  that  man,  pointing  to  Driskel.  Mclntire  said,  “I  can  whip 
anybody,  but  I don’t  know  that  man  and  I am  a stranger  here  and,  more  than 
that,  I am  a peaceful  man.”  Whereupon  he  started  back  to  his  work,  when 
Spink  and  McComb  called  to  him  to  return.  He  obeyed  and  after  some  en- 
treaty consented  to  whip  Driskey,  upon  the  consideration  of  preserving  quiet 
and  establishing  order.  Spink  remarked  to  Driskel  pointing  to  Mclntire, 
that  he  had  not  yet  whipped  him,  when  Driskel  rapidly  advanced  toward  him 
and  said,  “You  think  you  can  handle  me,”  to  which  Mclntire  responded,  “I 
do.”  Driskel  said,  “Well,  let  us  take  a drink  and  then  to  business.”  Mclntire 
responded,  “I  want  nothing  to  drink.”  Driskel  took  his  drink  and  faced 
Mclntire  and  when  the  word  “Ready”  was  given,  Mclntire  hit  one  blow  that 
knocked  him  insensible  and  so  serious  was  the  result  that  Doctor  Bissell  had 
to  be  called  and  it  was  several  hours  before  he  rallied  from  the  prostration. 
Not  satisfied  with  this  encounter,  in  a short  time  afterwards  he  challenged 
Mclntire  to  a second  test,  which  the  latter  accepted,  having  General  Spink 
and  Col.  James  Hindman  for  his  seconds,  Driskel  choosing  for  his  backers 
one  of  his  sons  and  his  son-in-law,  Brawdy.  The  contestants  met  and  with 
a similar  result.  Mclntire.  after  his  adversary  was  on  the  floor,  picked  him 
up  like  a toy  and  started  with  him  toward  the  fireplace,  exclaiming.  “I  will 
make  a burnt  offering  of  him,”  but  his  rash  purpose  was  prevented.  This 
fight  occurred  in  the  bar  room  of  Nailor’s  tavern. 

WEATHER  AND  CROPS  YEARS  AGO. 

In  1 8 1 6 the  pioneers  of  Wayne  county  gathered  their  wheat  in  July, 
the  weather  being  exceedingly  cool  for  summer. 

1817. — A frost  visited  Ohio  June  1st,  completely  destroying  the  fruit 
and  killing  the  verdure  of  the  orchards  and  forest  trees. 


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1825. — May  1 8th  the  terrific  “Burlington  storm”  swept  over  Delaware, 
Licking.  Knox  and  Coshocton  counties,  the  most  violent  tornado  that  ever 
visited  Ohio. 

183$- — November  13th  of  this  year,  the  “stars  fell.”  It  was  a copious 
shower  and  meteoric  tramps  tumbled  through  the  heavens  and  popped  earth- 
ward in  prodigal  confusion. 

1834.  — A frost  occurred  on  May  nth,  materially  injuring  the  wheat 

crop. 

1835.  — Heavy  rains  fell  during  the  summer,  submerging  the  bottoms  and 
rendering  tillage  impossible.  Hay  crops  were  seriously  damaged  and  cat- 
tle died  from  eating  it.  A comet  was  observed  this  year. 

1841. — An  unusually  violent  snow  storm  May  2d. 

1843. — July  2 1 st,  severe  frosts. 

1845. — Frosts  appeared  May  7th  and  25th,  destroying  the  wheat  crop 
of  that  year. 

1854-55. — The  winter  of  these  years  will  long  be  remembered.  Snow 
covered  the  ground  thirteen  weeks  in  succession.  The  month  of  May,  1855, 
was  remarkably  dry,  but  from  the  10th  to  the  17th  of  June  of  this  year  will 
not  be  forgotten  in  history  for  its  remarkable  floods. 

1855. — On  December  24th  it  began  to  snow  and  from  this  date  until  the 
last  of  March  the  sleighing  remained  excellent,  the  snow  covering  the  earth 
until  about  the  20th  of  April.  Forest  and  fruit  trees  were  killed,  and  since 
the  first  settlement  of  the  country  no  winter  presented  so  grim  wrinkled  a 
front. 

1859. — What  is  known  as  the  “June  frost”  of  this  year  was  a sad  visi- 
tation upon  northern  Ohio.  June  5,  1859,  on  Sunday  morning,  the  face  of 
the  earth  looked  as  though  a sheet  of  living  flame  had  smitten  the  vegetation 
that  covered  its  hills  and  valleys. 

1873-74. — The  winter  of  these  years  is  worthy  of  special  mention.  On 
January  6 and  7,  1874,  occurred  the  “great  ice  storm,”  which  must  be  dis- 
tinguished for  its  destructive  effects  upon  the  forests  of  the  country. 

1877. — The  mercury  stood  at  Christmas  time  eighty  to  one  hundred  de- 
grees in  the  sun.  The  nights  were  balmy  and  frostless. 

ADAM  POE,  THE  INDIAN  FIGHTER. 

The  terrible  encounter  of  the  Poe  brothers — Andrew  and  Adam — with 
the  stalwart  chief,  Bigfoot.  occupies  a conspicuous  page  in  the  annals  of  our 
border  strifes.  It  should  contribute  a most  interesting  feature  to  the  history 


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of  Wavne  county,  that  we  are  able  to  furnish  with  accuracy  the  brief  sketch  of 
the  brother  Adam,  who  for  over  twelve  years  was  a citizen  of  this  county. 
His  sons  were  among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  band  in  Congress  township 
and  made  the  first  improvements  in  that  section,  as  well  as  having  been  a 
pioneer  of  1813  in  the  town  of  Wooster. 

The  following  narrative  of  this  incident  was  written  up  and  published 
many  years  since  by  that  most  accurate  historian,  Ben  Douglas,  and  he  gained 
his  knowledge  from  Mrs.  Kuffel,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Adam  Poe,  who 
was  in  the  encounter  with  Bigfoot,  and  reads  as  follows : 

A body  of  seven  Wyandots  made  a raid  upon  the  settlement  of  whites 
on  the  Ohio  river,  near  Fort  Pitt,  and,  finding  an  old  man  in  a cabin,  killed 
him,  stole  all  they  could  and  withdrew.  The  news  of  the  murder  spread 
rapidly  and  my  father,  Adam  Poe,  and  Uncle  Andrew,  together  with  half  a 
dozen  neighbors,  began  pursuit  of  them,  determined  to  visit  sudden  death 
upon  them.  They  followed  the  Indians  all  night,  but  not  until  morning  did 
they  get  close  upon  them,  when  they  discovered  a path  or  trail  leading  to  the 
river. 

My  uncle  Andrew,  who,  like  my  father,  was  a strong  man  and  always 
on  the  lookout,  did  not  directly  advance  to  the  river,  but  left  his  comrades 
and  stealthily  crept  through  the  thicket,  to  avoid  any  ruse  of  the  Indians  and 
if  possible  surprise  them.  He  at  once  detected  evidences  of  their  presence  at 
the  river,  but  not  seeing  them  he  crept  quietly  down  to  its  bank,  with  his  gun 
fixed  to  fire.  He  had  not  far  descended  when  he  espied  Bigfoot  and  a little 
Indian  with  him,  both  of  whom  had  guns  and  stood  watching  along  the  river 
in  the  direction  whence  the  remainder  of  the  party  were.  He  (Andrew)  now 
concluded  to  shoot  Bigfoot,  and  fired  at  him,  but  his  gun  did  not  discharge 
its  contents.  The  situation  instantly  became  terrific. 

The  snapping  of  the  gun  alarmed  the  Indians,  who,  looking  around,  dis- 
covered Andrew.  It  was  too  late  for  him  to  run  and  I doubt  if  he  would 
have  retreated  if  he  could,  for  he  was  a great  wrestler  and  coveted  conflict 
with  the  Indians.  So  he  dropped  his  gun  and  bounded  from  where  he  stood 
and  caught  both  the  Indians  and  thrust  them  upon  the  ground.  Though  he 
fell  uppermost  in  the  struggle,  he  found  the  grip  of  Bigfoot  to  be  of  iron, 
and  as  a consequence  the  little  Indian  soon  extricated  himself  and  instantly 
seized  his  tomahawk  and  advanced  with  fatal  purpose  toward  Andrew.  To 
better  assist  the  little  Indian,  who  had  the  tomahawk  aimed  at  the  head  of 
Andrew,  Bigfoot  hugged  and  held  him  with  a giant’s  grasp,  but  Andrew 
threw  up  his  foot  and  kicked  the  tomahawk  out  of  the  Indian’s  hand.  This 


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made  Bigfoot  indignant  at  the  little  savage,  who  soon  repeated  his  experi- 
ment with  the  tomahawk,  indulging  in  numerous  feints,  before  he  delivered 
the  main  blow,  which  Andrew  parried  from  his  head  and  received  upon  his 
wrist. 

Andrew  now,  by  a desperate  endeavor,  wrenched  himself  from  the 
clutches  of  Bigfoot  and,  seizing  the  gun  from  one  of  the  savages,  shot  the 
little  Indian.  Bigfoot,  regaining  his  upright  position,  got  Andrew  in  his 
grasp  and  hurled  him  down  upon  the  bank,  but  instantly  he  arose,  when  the 
second  encounter  occurred,  the  issue  of  which  threw  them  both  into  the  water 
and  the  struggle  now  was  for  the  one  to  drown  the  other.  Andrew  finally 
caught  Bigfoot  by  the  hair  and  plunged  him  in  the  water,  holding  him  there 
until  he  imagined  he  was  drowned,  a conclusion  in  which  he  was  sadly  mis- 
taken. Bigfoot  was  only  playing  off  and  soon  recovered  and  was  ready  for  a 
second  encounter.  The  current  of  the  river  had  by  this  time  borne  them  into 
the  deeper  water,  when  it  became  necessary  to  disengage  themselves  and  seek 
to  escape  immediate  destruction. 

A mutual  effort  was  at  once  made  to  reach  the  shore  and  get  possession 
of  a gun  and  close  the  struggle  with  powder  and  lead.  Bigfoot  was  a glib 
swimmer  and  was  first  to  reach  the  bank.  In  this  contingency,  Andrew 
wheeled  about  and  swam  farther  out  into  the  river  to  avoid  if  possible  being 
shot,  by  diving  strategies.  The  big  chief,  lucklessly  to  him,  seized  the  un- 
loaded gun  with  which  Andrew  had  shot  the  little  Indian.  Meantime  Adam 
Poe,  having  missed  his  brother  and  hearing  his  shot,  inferred  he  was  either 
killed  or  in  a fight  with  the  Indians  and  hastened  toward  him.  Adam  now  be- 
ing discovered  by  Andrew,  the  latter  called  to  the  former  to  shoot  Bigfoot. 
Unfortunately  Ad?m’s  gun  was  empty,  as  was  the  big  Indian’s.  The  strife 
was  now  between  the  two  as  to  who  could  load  the  quickest,  but  Bigfoot,  in  his 
haste,  drew  his  ramrod  too  violently  from  his  gun  thimbles,  wThen  it  was 
thrown  from  his  hands  and  was  sent  some  distance.  He  rapidly  recovered, 
but  the  accident  gave  Adam  the  advantage,  when  he  shot  Bigfoot  as  he  was 
in  the  act  of  drawing  his  gun  upon  him. 

Having  disposed  of  Bigfoot  and  seeing  his  brother,  who  was  wounded, 
floating  in  the  river,  he  instantly  sprang  into  the  water  to  assist  him,  but 
Andrew,  desiring  the  scalp  of  the  great  chief,  called  to  Adam  to  scalp  him, 
that  he  could  save  himself  and  reach  the  shore.  Adam’s  anxiety  for  his 
brother  was  too  intense  to  obey  the  mandate  and  Bigfoot,  determined  not  to 
let  his  scalp  be  counted  among  the  trophies  of  his  antagonist,  in  the  horrid 
pangs  of  death,  rolled  into  the  river  and  his  carcass  was  swrept  from  the  eye 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  man  forever.  Andrew,  however,  when  in  the  stream  made  another  nar- 
row escape  from  death,  for  just  as  Adam  arrived  at  the  bank  for  his  pro- 
tection, one  of  the  number  who  came  after  him  mistook  Andrew  for  an  Indian 
and  shot  at  him,  the  bullet  striking  him  in  the  shoulder,  causing  a severe 
wound,  from  which  in  course  of  time  he  recovered. 

So  that  it  was  my  Uncle  Andrew  that  had  the  wrestle  on  the  bank  with 
Bigfoot  and  the  struggle  in  the  river  with  him,  and  it  was  my  father,  Adam 
Poe,  who  shot  Bigfoot  when  he  came  ashore.  The  wound  that  my  father 
received  he  got  in  the  fight  with  the  body  of  six  Indians  who  were  over- 
taken, five  of  whom  were  killed,  with  a loss  of  three  of  their  pursuers  and 
the  hurt  done  to  my  father. 

The  locality  on  the  Ohio  river  where  the  struggle  occurred  is  in  Vir- 
ginia, almost  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  Little  Yellow  creek. 

POE  WHIPS  FIVE  INDIANS. 

While  living  on  this  side  of  the  Ohio,  two  Indians  crossed  the  river, 
both  of  whom  were  intoxicated,  and  came  to  Adam  Poe’s  house.  After 
various  noisy  demonstrations,  but  without  doing  any  one  harm,  they  re- 
tired a short  distance  and  under  the  shade  of  a tree  sat  down  and  finally 
went  to  sleep.  In  the  course  of  two  hours,  after  they  awoke  from  their 
drunken  slumbers,  they  discovered  that  their  rifles  were  missing,  when  they 
immediately  returned  to  Poe’s  house  and,  after  inquiring  for  their  guns 
and  being  told  they  knew  nothing  about  them,  they  boldly  accused  him  of 
stealing  them  and  insolently  demanded  them.  Poe  was  apprehensive  of 
trouble  and,  turning  his  eyes  in  the  direction  whence  they  came,  discovered 
three  more  Indians  approaching. 

Without  manifesting  any  symptoms  of  surprise  or  alarm,  Poe  coolly 
withdrew  to  his  house  and,  saying  to  his  wife,  “There  is  fight  and  more  fun 
ahead,”  told  her  to  hasten  to  the  cornfield  near  by  with  the  children  and 
there  hide.  This  being  accomplished,  he  seized  his  gun  and  confronted  the 
five  Indians,  who  were  then  in  the  yards  surrounding  the  house  and  trying 
to  force  open  the  door.  He  at  once  discovered  that  the  two  Indians  who 
came  first  had  not  found  their  guns,  and  that  the  other  three  were  unarmed. 
So  he  dropped  his  gun,  as  he  did  not  want  to  kill  any  of  them,  unless  he  had 
to,  and  then  attacked  them  with  his  fists.  After  a hand-to-hand  encounter, 
lasting  ten  minutes,  he  crushed  them  to  the  earth  in  one  promiscuous  heap, 
and,  having  thus  vanquished  and  subdued  them,  seized  them  one  at  a time 
and  threw  them  over  the  fence  and  out  of  the  yard. 


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CONCERNING  ADAM  POE'S  DEATH. 

After  leaving  Pennsylvania,  Adam  Poe  removed  to  the  West  Fork  of 
Little  Beaver,  in  Wayne  township,  Columbiana  county,  where  he  entered 
several  quarters  of  land.  From  that  county  he  removed  to  Wayne  county, 
in  1813,  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  youngest  son  David  and  his  daugh- 
ter Catherine.  He  first  settled  in  Wooster,  on  North  Market  street,  and 
he  followed  the  business  of  shoemaking  for  three  years.  He  was  then  nearly 
seventy  years  of  age.  He  was  by  trade  a tanner  and  an  excellent  shoemaker. 
He  then  removed  to  Congress  township  and  there  bought  sixty  acres  of  land 
from  his  son,  George  Poe,  and  there  he  resided  for  almost  twelve  years, 
when,  growing  old  and  infirm,  he  removed  to  Stark  county,  where,  with  his 
son  Andrew  he  died.  He  was  a member  of  the  old  Lutheran  church. 

Mrs.  Kuffel  relates  this  concerning  his  death:  A great  and  enthu- 

siastic political  meeting  was  being  held  in  Massillon.  The  crowd,  hearing 
Adam  Poe,  who  had  killed  the  celebrated  Indian,  Bigfoot,  lived  but  a few 
miles  distant,  dispatched  a delegation  after  him.  When  he  appeared  on 
the  ground  he  was  wonderfully  lionized  and  made  the  hero  of  the  day.  He 
was  caught  and  carried  through  the  crowd  on  the  shoulders  of  the  excited 
multitude.  As  old  as  he  was.  being  past  ninety,  he  had  as  much  pluck  as  any 
of  the  boys. 

That  day  of  excitement,  however,  sounded  the  death  knell  of  the  mighty 
borderer,  the  iron-nerved,  heroic  Adam  Poe.  He  returned  from  the  political 
meeting  prostrated,  enfeebled  and  sick  and  soon  thereafter  died.  A son 
of  Andrew  Poe,  at  whose  house  Adam  died,  hurried  to  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Kuffel,  at  Congress,  to  inform  her  of  the  dangerous  illness  of  her  father.  She 
received  the  news  about  nine  o’clock  and,  being  then  forty-seven  years  of  age, 
mounted  a horse  and  rode  through  the  darkness  and  over  uncertain  roads, 
reaching  her  father’s  only  in  time  to  see  him,  to  whom  this  w orld  had  no  ter- 
rors, succumb  to  the  king  of  terrors  and  the  terror  of  kings. 

WAYNE  COUNTY  MAN  HUNG  LINCOLN  CONSPIRATORS. 

Gen.  Thomas  T.  Dill,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1842, 
and  who  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war  for  a term  of  five 
years,  had  charge  of  the  troops  who  were  detailed  to  execute  President  Lin- 
coln’s assassins,  in  the  prison  yard  in  Washington.  District  of  Columbia,  on 
July  9,  1865.  Three  details  of  men  had  to  be  selected  before  any  could  be 

(26) 


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secured  who  would  cut  down  the  body  of  Mrs.  Serratt,  which  woman  har- 
bored Booth  in  her  home  the  day  before  Lincoln  was  shot  by  him.  Dill  was 
also  present  when  Booth’s  body  was  placed  under  the  corner  of  the  Arsenal, 
beneath  the  floor.  Later  it  was  moved  to  the  family  burial  place  of  the  Booth 
family. 

General  Dill  died  in  November,  1905. 

SALT  WORKS  ON  THE  KILLBUCK  IN  1815. 

At  an  early  day  in  Wayne  county  and  all  northern  Ohio  the  most  coveted 
commodity  sought  for  among  all  classes  was  salt.  Prices  ran  from  sixteen 
dollars  to  twenty  dollars  per  barrel.  This  could  not  long  be  endured,  so  with 
the  genuine  enterprise  and  pluck  of  pioneers  a project  was  set  on  foot  to 
obviate  freighting  salt  so  long  a distance  as  from  Pittsburg  and  some  of  it 
was  carried  from  points  on  the  Ohio  to  Coshocton,  at  the  head  of  the  Muskin- 
gum, thence  to  Walhonding,  and  tugging  it  up  the  Killbuck  in  dug-outs  and 
pirogues,  as  did  Benjamin  Jones  and  the  triple-nerved  William  Totten.  To 
bore  for  salt  in  this  county  was  the  scheme  sought  out  and  carried  forth  to  a 
successful  completion. 

March  5,  1815,  Joseph  Eichar  commenced  this  task.  He  went  down 
with  a chisel-shaped  auger  to  the  depth  of  four  hundred  and  sixty-five  feet 
and  salt  water  was  obtained  and  the  product  of  salt  was  sought  in  great 
quantities  at  first,  but  the  flow  did  not  last  long  and  the  works  were  aban- 
doned. We  draw  the  following  from  an  old  letter  furnished  by  Mrs.  Joseph 
Lake,  of  New  York,  daughter  of  Joseph  Eichar: 

“One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  they  met  with  in  boring  was  the  striking 
of  a strong  vein  of  oil,  a spontaneous  outburst,  which  shot  up  as  high  as  the 
tops  of  the  surrounding  tree-tops.  One  of  the  workmen  dropped  a coal  of  fire 
into  it  and  in  less  than  a minute  everything  was  a roaring  blaze.  The  men 
became  terribly  frightened  and  Jim  McClarran  struck  a bee-line  for  Wooster, 
without  hat  or  coat,  for,  said  he,  ‘we  have  struck  through  to  the  lower  regions, 
and  it  looks  as  though  we  had  set  the  world  on  fire.'  “ 

The  fire  was  later  extinguished  and  a bottle  of  the  oil  sent  to  Dr. 
Townsend,  who  pronounced  it  a “wonderful  phenomena” — it  was  doubtless 
petroleum  oil,  but  that  article  was  then  unknown  to  the  world.  The  whole 
surface  of  Killbuck  creek  was  covered  with  the  oil.  This  mixture  of  oil  and 
salt  was  not  what  the  people  wanted  and  soon  the  new-found  salt  works  on 
Killbuck  were  abandoned  for  all  time. 


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POPULATION  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

Herewith  is  the  census  enumeration  for  Wayne  county,  by  decades,  and 
its  population  by  townships  and  precincts,  towns  and  cities,  according  to  the 
last  United  States  census,  1900: 


BY  DECADES. 

In  1810  the  population  was  332;  1820,  11,993;  1830,  23,327;  1840, 
36,015;  1850,  32,681;  i860,  32,438;  1870,  35,116;  1880,  40,036;  1890, 
39>oo5;  1900,  37,870. 

POPULATION  BY  TOWNSHIPS  AND  CITIES,  I9OO. 


Chippewa  Township 2,93 7 

Canaan  Township 2,401 

Congress  Township  2,407 

Chester  Township 1,648 

Clinton  Township  2,028 

Baughman  Township 2,497 

Greene  Township  3,3 1 8 

East  Union  Township 1,805 

City  of  Wooster 6,063 


Franklin  Township 1,201 

Paint  Township  1,276 

Plain  Township  1,666 

Wayne  Township 1,711 

Salt  Creek  Township  1,556 

Sugar  Creek  Township 2,274 

Wooster  Township 7, 160 

Milton  Township  1,978 


CITY,  TOWN  AND  VILLAGE  POPULATION. 


Applecreek  

• 357 

Burbank  

325  Mount  Eaton  . . . 

...  232 

Congress  

198  Orrville  

. . .1,901 

Creston  

• . .1.043 

Dalton  

666  Smithville  

• ...  4 

•••  473 

Fredericksburg 

, ...  650 

Doylestown  

. . .6,063 

CITY  OF  WOOSTER  BY  WARDS. 

First  ward,  1,102;  second  ward,  2,227;  third  ward,  1,211;  fourth  ward, 
839;  fifth  ward,  684. 


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VILLAGE  PLATS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

There  have  been  almost  fifty  villages  platted  within  Wayne  county 
since  its  organization.  The  following  is  a list  of  a large  per  cent,  of  the 
plattings : 

Aukerman,  in  Congress  township,  platted. 

Amwell  (Sterling),  in  Milton  township,  platted  January,  1880. 

Apple  Creek  Station.  East  Union  township,  April  n,  1854. 

Austen,  “Hamlet,' ” Plain  township,  December  7,  1894. 

Burbank  (Bridgeport),  Canaan  township,  December  3,  1868. 

Burton  City  (Fairview),  Baughman  township,  December  14,  1850. 
Blachleyville,  Plain  township,  December  16,  1833. 

Bloomington  (near  Wooster),  Wayne  township.  July  3,  1907. 

Canaan,  Canaan  township. 

Chippewa,  Chippewa  township.  May,  1816. 

Congress  ( Waynesburg),  Congress  township,  March  6,  1827. 

Creston.  Canaan  township,  June  30,  1881  (known  as  Saville  Station  in 

i865}- 

Cedar  Valley,  Chester  township. 

Centerville,  Clinton  township,  March  5,  1851. 

Dalton  (Dover),  Sugar  Creek  township,  October  16,  1817. 

Doylestown,  Chippewa  township,  December  9,  1827. 

Edinburg,  East  Union  township,  August  16,  1822. 

Fairview,  Baughman  township,  December  14,  1850. 

Fredericksburg,  Salt  Creek  township,  1843. 

Jefferson,  Plain  township,  June  30,  1829. 

Lattasburg  (West  Union),  Chester  township,  February,  1851. 

Milton  Station  (Rittman),  Milton  township.  1869. 

Millbrook.  Plain  and  Clinton  townships.  August  10,  1829. 

Moscow,  Sugar  Creek  township,  1815,  vacated  1878. 

Madison  (first  county  seat),  Wooster  township,  vacated  1814. 
Marshallville.  Baughman  and  Chippewa  townships,  February  7,  1817. 
Mount  Eaton  (Paintville),  Paint  township.  1813. 

Moreland,  Franklin  township,  January  t 7.  1829. 

Madisonburg,  Wayne  township.  1873. 

New  Pittsburg.  Chester  township.  May  6,  1829. 

Overton,  Chester  township. 

Orville.  Greene  and  Baughman  townships.  September  9.  1864. 

Pleasant  Home.  Congress  township. 

Rittman  Station,  Milton  township.  1869. 


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Reedsburg,  Plain  township,  December  23,  1835. 

Seville,  May,  1865. 

Slankersville,  Chippewa  township,  February  24,  1843. 

Springville,  Plain  township,  December  16,  1844. 

Shreve,  Clinton  township,  1853. 

Smithville,  Greene  township,  1831. 

Sterling  (Russell),  Milton  township,  January  21,  1880. 

Wooster  (original),  Wooster  township,  September  7,  1816. 

West  Lebanon,  Paint  township,  1833. 

West  Salem,  Congress  township,  June  13,  1834. 

West  Union  (Lattasburg),  Chester  township,  1854. 

INDIANS  CAUSE  POWDER  EXPLOSION. 

Howe  in  his  “Historic  Collections’’  mentions  a singular  incident  as 
having  occurred  in  a small  building  near  or  adjoining  the  old  Stibbs  mills, 
built  in  1809  near  Wooster.  This  building  had  been  fitted  up  for  a small 
general  store,  such  as  would  accommodate  the  settlers  and  the  few  remain- 
ing bands  of  Indians.  It  was  managed  by  Michael  Switzer.  In  this  store 
were  William  Smith,  Hugh  Moore,  Jesse  Richards,  J.  H.  Larwill  and  five  or 
six  Indians.  Switzer  was  in  the  act  of  weighing  out  some  gunpowder  from 
an  eighteen-pound  keg,  while  the  Indians  were  quietly  smoking  their  pipes, 
filled  with  a mixture  of  tobacco,  sumach  leaves  and  kinnikinnick,  or  yellow 
willow  bark,  when  a puff  of  wind  coming  in  at  the  open  window  blew  a spark 
of  fire  from  one  of  their  pipes  into  the  powder.  A terrific  explosion  occurred. 
The  roof  of  the  building  was  blown  off  and  carried  a long  distance,  the 
sides  fell  out,  the  joists  came  to  the  floor  and  the  door  and  chimney  alone 
were  left.  Switzer  died  in  a few  minutes;  Smith  was  blown  through  the 
mill  and  badly  injured;  Richards  and  the  Indians  were  also  badly  hurt  and 
seriously  burned.  Larwill,  who  happened  to  be  standing  against  the  chimney, 
escaped  with  little  or  no  harm,  except,  like  all  the  rest,  his  face  was  well 
blackened  and  he  was  knocked  down  by  the  shock. 

The  Indians,  fearful  of  being  accused  of  causing  the  accident  intention- 
ally, some  days  later  called  a council  of  citizens  for  an  investigation,  which 
was  held  on  the  bottom,  on  Christmas  run,  west  of  Wooster. 

THE  FULLER  SISTERS. 

Among  the  literary  characters  produced  in  Wayne  county  should  not  be 
forgotten  the  names  of  two  sisters — Frances  and  Metta  Fuller — whose  com- 
bined poems  were  compiled  within  one  joint  volume.  The  former  was  a 


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native  of  Rome,  New  York,  while  the  latter  was  born  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania. 
In  1839  the  family  removed  to  Wooster,  when  Metta  was  but  a babe  of  but 
a few  months  old.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  Frances  was  supplying  the  local 
press  with  gems  of  poetry  and  prose.  She  rose  rapidly  and  soon  established 
a reputation  in  the  literary  world.  Willis  and  Morris,  of  the  Home  Journal, 
a popular  literary  paper  of  New  York  city,  containing  sweet  stanzas  of  her 
writings,  pronounced  her  as  among  the  most  brilliant  of  women  writers. 
Edgar  Allen  Poe,  famous  as  author  of  the  “Raven,”  classed  her  with  the 
most  imaginative  of  American  poets.  In  1853  she  married  Jackson  Barrett, 
of  Pontiac,  Michigan,  to  which  state  she  removed.  Later  she  moved  to  the 
Pacific  coast  where  “rolls  the  Oregon.”  She  did  not  live  happily  and  was 
divorced  and  later  married  a Mr.  Victor,  brother  to  the  husband  of  her  sister 
Metta.  In  that  far-away  clime  she  improved  in  her  literary  tastes  and  did 
most  excellent  work. 

Metta,  like  her  sister,  attended  the  schools  of  Wooster,  and  at  fifteen 
years  of  age  composed  a romance  founded  upon  the  supposed  history  of  the 
dead  cities  of  Yucatan,  entitled  “The  Last  Days  of  Tul.”  Metta’s  nom  de 
plume  was  the  “Singing  Sybil.”  She  grew  to  be  a woman  of  charming 
graces  and  wonderful  endowments  highly  improved  upon.  “The  Senator’s 
Son,”  a plea  for  the  Maine  law,  written  at  the  age  of  twenty,  had  an  ex- 
tensive sale  both  at  home  and  in  foreign  lands.  She  married,  in  July,  1856, 
O.  J.  Victor  and  removed  to  New  York  city  where  for  many  years  she  fol- 
lowed literary  work  with  success.  One  of  her  poems  was  “Body  and  Soul,” 
one  stanza  of  which  reads : 

“A  living  soul  came  to  the  world — 

Whence  came  it?  Who  can  tell? 

Of  where  that  soul  went  forth  again. 

When  it  bade  the  earth  farewell? 

A body  it  had  this  spirit  knew 

And  the  body  was  given  a name.” 

No  less  authority  than  the  celebrated  N.  P.  Willis  wrote  concerning  this 
Wooster  girl  after  this  fashion : 

“We  suppose  ourselves  to  be  throwing  no  shade  of  disparagement  upon 
anyone  in  declaring  that  in  the  ‘Singing  Sybil,'  her  not  less  gifted  sister,  we 
discern  more  unquestionable  marks  of  true  genius,  and  a greater  portion  of 
the  unmistakable  inspiration  of  true  poetic  art  than  in  any  of  the  lady  min- 
strels— delightful  and  splendid  as  some  of  them  have  been — that  we  have 
heretofore  ushered  to  the  applause  of  the  public.  One  in  spirit,  and  equal  in 


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genius,  the  most  interesting  and  brilliant  ladies — both  still  in  their  youth — 
are  undoubtedly  destined  to  occupy  a very  distinguished  and  permanent  place 
among  the  native  authors  of  this  land.” 

AN  AMERICAN  “OLE  BULL.” 

Wooster  produced  Alf  Howard  and  he  became  the  American  violinist 
— named  “America’s  Ole  Bull.”  He  was  the  son  of  Horace  Howard  and 
brother  to  Harvey,  Charles  and  William  Howard,  of  Wooster.  He  died  aged 
fifty  years,  in  February,  1873,  a*  Prophetstown,  Illinois.  He  was  a man  of 
a phenomenal  musical  genius.  Early  in  life,  even  before  his  tenth  summer 
had  passed,  he  developed  a peculiar  fondness  for  instrumental  music.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  engaged  as  a dry-goods  clerk, 
but  soon  repaired  to  Niles,  Michigan,  where  he  conceived  his  niche  in  life 
and  at  once  set  about  developing  his  talents.  He  organized  a troupe  and 
appeared  before  many  western  audiences  beyond  the  Mississippi  river.  In 
1841  he  joined  the  June,  Turner  & Company  circus,  with  which  he  traveled 
one  season,  then  returned  to  Wooster.  Here  he  formed  a minstrel  company, 
traveled  throughout  the  entire  West  and  finally,  like  a shining  star,  appeared 
suddenly  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  first  known  as  the  “Ole  Bull”  of  this 
continent.  After  1844  he  was  connected  with  Barnum’s  show  of  New  York, 
where,  with  his  single  violin,  he  drew  immense  throngs  of  music-loving  peo- 
ple. He  next  went  to  the  Old  World,  where  he  sought  and  won  great  musical 
fame  as  a violinist.  After  coming  home,  he  traveled  and  played  in  almost 
every  state  in  this  country.  He  made  money  fast,  but  this  was  not  his  aim — 
it  being  rather  to  entertain  and  excel  in  his  chosen  profession. 

“johnny  appleseed.” 

Jonathan  Chapman,  better  known  as  “Johnny  Appleseed,”  was  bom  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  about  1775,  and  become  somewhat  of  a noted  char- 
acter in  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  As  a fruit  grower  and  early-day  nurseryman, 
he  was  celebrated.  Hon.  John  H.  James,  of  Urbana,  Ohio,  in  an  address 
before  the  Cincinnati  Horticultural  Society  many  years  ago,  had  this  to  re- 
late of  him : 

“I  saw  him  first  in  1826,  and  have  since  learned  something  of  his  history. 
He  came  to  my  office  in  Urbana,  bearing  a letter  from  Alexander  Kimmont. 
The  letter  spoke  of  him  as  a man  generally  styled  ‘J°hnny  Appleseed’  and 


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that  he  might  desire  some  counsel  about  a nursery  he  had  in  Champaign 
county.  His  case  was  this : Some  years  after  he  had  planted  a nursery  on 
the  land  of  a person  who  gave  him  leave  to  do  so,  he  was  told  the  land 
had  been  sold,  and  was  now  in  other  hands,  and  that  the  present  owner  might 
not  recognize  his  right  to  the  trees.  He  did  not  seem  to  be  very  anxious 
about  it,  and  continued  walking  to  and  fro  as  he  talked,  and  at  the  same  time 
continued  eating  nuts.  Having  advised  him  to  go  and  see  the  person  that 
he  might  have  no  difficulty,  the  conversation  turned.  I asked  him  about 
the  nursery,  and  whether  the  trees  were  grafted.  He  answered  ‘no’  rather 
decidedly,  and  said  that  the  proper  and  natural  mode  was  to  raise  fruit  trees 
from  the  seed. 

“In  1801  he  came  into  the  Territory  with  a horse  load  of  appleseeds, 
gathered  from  cider  presses  in  western  Pennsylvania.  The  seeds  were  con- 
tained in  leather  bags,  which  were  better  suited  for  his  journey  than  linen 
sacks.  He  came  first  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where  he  planted  his  seeds.  I 
am  able  to  say  that  it  was  on  the  farm  of  Isaac  Stadden.  In  this  instance,  as 
in  others  afterwards,  he  would  clear  a spot  for  the  purpose  and  make  some 
light  enclosures.  He  would  then  return  for  more  seeds  and  select  other  sites 
for  new  nurseries.  When  the  trees  were  ready  for  sale,  he  left  them  in 
charge  of  some  one  to  sell  for  him.  at  a low  price,  which  was  seldom  if  ever 
paid  in  money.  If  persons  were  too  poor  to  pay  they  received  the  trees  free. 
Nearly  all  of  the  nurseries  in  Licking  county  were  planted  from  his  nursery. 
He  also  had  numerous  nurseries  in  Knox,  Richland  and  Wayne  counties. 

“It  is  claimed  that  on  the  remote  borders  of  Chester  and  Congress  town- 
ships he  scattered  seeds,  and  that  some  of  the  earliest  orchards  of  that  settle- 
ment were  produced  from  his  nurseries.  One  thing  is  certain,  that  his  nurser- 
ies in  Wayne  county  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  county  of  Ashland 
supplied  the  pioneers  of  that  and  adjacent  counties  with  the  settings  of  their 
future  orchards.  In  East  Union  township  there  is  no  doubt  that  this  fanatical 
wanderer  located  one  of  the  nurseries.  On  Little  Sugar  creek,  near  the  resi- 
dence of  David  Carr,  he  selected  the  site,  which  a hundred  years  ago,  in  the 
primal  silence  of  its  wild  environments,  must  have  been  poetically  picturesque. 

“On  account  of  superstition  among  the  Indians,  and  as  he  dressed  in 
a fantastic  manner  and  seemed  to  interpret  their  strange  dreams  for  them, 
they  were  all  his  fast  friends.  They  looked  upon  him  as  a great  white  medi- 
cine man.  During  the  war  of  1812,  when  the  other  settlers  on  the  frontier 
were  harassed  and  butchered  by  the  Indians,  he  pursued  the  even  tenor  of 
his  ways,  undisturbed  by  the  brutal  savages.  He,  being  in  their  confidence, 
gained  many  points  which  benefited  the  whites,  whom  he  warned  to  flee  when 


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danger  seemed  lurking  near.  At  the  time  of  Hull's  surrender,  Johnny  Chap- 
man rode  day  and  night  to  herald  the  disaster  and  admonish  the  people  to 
flee  for  safety  and  life.  Indeed  he  was  an  odd,  but  humane  man.  He  dis- 
liked to  injure  or  kill  even  the  least  insect,  or  reptile,  or  bird  of  the  forest. 
Kind,  true  to  man  and  beast,  endowed  with  genius  and  intellect  far  above  the 
average  person,  it  is  no  wonder  that  newspapers  and  state  historians  have 
ever  kept  publishing  details  of  his  half  nomadic,  half  civilized  life.  He  died 
in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1847,  aged  seventy-two  years,  forty- 
six  of  which  had  been  consecrated  to  his  self-imposed  mission,  of  giving  out 
apple  seeds  and  doing  self-sacrificing  deeds  for  his  fellow  pioneers.  Peace 
to  his  ashes!" 


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CHAPTER  XXI. 


THE  CITY  OF  WOOSTER. 

Wooster,  the  county  seat  of  Wayne  county,  so  named  by  Hon.  Joseph 
H.  Larwill  in  honor  of  Major-Gen.  David  Wooster,  of  Revolutionary  war 
fame  and  a member  of  a celebrated  colonial  family,  is  situated  at  neatly  the 
center  of  the  county,  within  Wooster  township,  and  is  three  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  feet  above  Lake  Erie.  It  was  made  the  seat  of  justice  May 
30,  1811,  having  been  platted  by  John  Bever,  William  Henry  and  Joseph 
H.  Larwill  in  the  autumn  of  1808. 

Wooster  was  not  the  original  county  seat  of  Wayne  county.  The 
place  designated  as  such  by  the  first  commissioners  was  on  the  elevated  land 
lying  southeast  of  the  city  of  today  and  on  lands  owned  then  by  Bazaleel 
Wells  & Company,  and  was  called  Madison.  This  not  suiting  a majority 
of  the  citizens,  the  Legislature  appointed  new  commissioners,  when  the 
present  Wooster  was  selected  for  the  county  seat.  Only  a single  log  cabin 
had  been  erected  on  the  site  of  Madison.  The  toWnsite  proprietors  had 
sold  some  few  town  lots  in  Madison,  but  after  the  change  was  made  they 
at  once  refunded  the  money  paid  for  same  to  the  purchasers.  John  Good- 
enow,  their  attorney,  applied  to  the  court  on  February  21,  1814,  to  legally 
vacate  Madison,  which  was  done  in  April,  1814. 

Wooster  is  forty-two  miles  south  of  Cleveland  and  is  within  one  of  the 
richest,  most  fertile  portions  of  Ohio.  It  is  the  seat  of  Wooster  University 
and  the  Ohio  State  Experimental  Station.  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  is  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  miles  to  the  east,  and  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-five  miles  to  the  west,  while  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  is  two  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  miles  south  and  Chicago  Illinois,  is  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  miles  to  the  west. 

The  earliest  settlers  in  Wooster  were  brothers,  William,  Joseph  and 
John  Larwill,  who  came  in  1808. 

The  first  house  erected  in  the  town,  and  Wayne  county  as  well,  was  a 
log  cabin  on  East  Liberty  street,  directly  west  of  what  was  later  designated 
as  the  William  Larwill  property.  The  tools  employed  in  the  construction 


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of  this  pioneer  “temple”  were  a broad-ax  and  drawing-knife.  It  was  raised 
at  the  time  the  town  was  being  laid  out,  and  its  first  occupants  were  William 
Larwill  and  a young  man  named  Abraham  Miller,  whose  father,  Benjamin 
Miller,  removed  in  the  spring  of  1809  from  Stark  county,  with  his  wife 
and  family,  and  opened  a house  of  entertainment. 

The  first  married  man  who  settled  in  Wayne  county,  or  Wooster,  was 
Benjamin  Miller,  who  also  kept  the  first  tavern  in  the  county,  on  land  where 
later  stood  the  J.  B.  Power  dry  goods  store.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  were  also 
honored  by  being  the  parents  of  the  first  white  child  born  in  town  and 
county.  It  was  a daughter  and  was  christened  Tillie  Miller,  the  honor  of 
naming  her  being  bestowed  upon  Hon.  John  Bever.  She  attained  woman- 
hood and  married  John  Lawrence,  father-in-law  of  the  pioneer  editor,  Joseph 
Clingan,  by  which  union  there  resulted  seven  children,  one  of  whom  became  a 
distinguished  Disciple  minister. 

The  first  attempt  at  merchandise  in  Wooster  was  the  opening  of  a gen- 
eral store  by  William  Larwill. 

The  first  brick  house  in  town  was  built  in  1810  by  John  Bever,  on  the 
corner  subsequently  occupied  by  J.  S.  Bissell  & Brother,  dry  goods  mer- 
chants. This  was  also  the  first  brick  structure  of  Wayne  county. 

The  first  wagon  road  cut  through  the  dense  timber  in  this  county  was 
the  one  from  Wooster  to  Massillon  in  1808. 

The  first  state  road  running  through  the  county,  from  Canton  to 
Wooster,  was  laid  out  by  the  commissioners  in  1810. 

The  first  mill  for  grinding  purposes  in  the  vicinity  was  built  at  Wooster 
in  1809  by  Joseph  Stibbs,  then  a resident  of  Canton. 

In  1811  Hon.  Benjamin  Jones  left  Youngstown,  Ohio,  passed  through 
Wooster  and  on  to  Mansfield,  in  search  of  a location  for  “Priest”  Jones.  He 
finally  selected  Wooster  and  so  reported  to  the  “Priest.”  The  following 
year  the  Priest  Jones  family  came  on,  bringing  with  them  goods,  and  started 
a store  in  a rough  wooden  building  erected  by  Robert  McClarran. 

The  first  carpenter  of  the  town  was  Robert  McClarran,  who  was  also 
the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town  and  county. 

It  is  believed  that  the  first  white  man  to  die  in  Wooster  was  Alex. 
Crawford,  in  1808. 

The  first  resident  lawyer,  who  died  in  Wooster,  was  a Mr.  Raymond. 

The  first  physician  in  Wooster  was  Thomas  Townsend,  as  early  as 
1813.  The  first  in  Wayne  county  was  Dr.  Ezekiel  Wells,  of  East  Union. 

The  first  minister  of  the  gospel  was  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Jones — “Priest” 
Jones — who  was  a Baptist  and  arrived  in  1812,  and  this  denomination  erected 
the  first  church  building.  The  date  was  1814. 


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The  first  school  teacher  was  Carlos  Mather,  a young  lawyer  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  who  taught  in  1814. 

The  first  postmaster  in  Wooster  was  “Priest”  Jones. 

The  first  school  house — a brick — was  built  on  the  site  of  the  third  ward 
school  building  of  later  days. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  Wooster,  or  Wayne  county, 
was  west  of  town  on  Christmas's  run,  the  water  for  cooking  purposes  being 
procured  from  a spring  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  on  land  later  owned  by  Judge 
Downing.  The  dinner  was  under  the  supervision  of  William  Hughes;  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  read  by  James  Hindman,  and  ‘'Priest" 
Jones  made  the  oration. 

The  first  mail  from  Wooster,  New  Lisbon  and  Mansfield  was  carried  by 
Rensselaer  Curtis. 

The  first  will  on  record  in  the  county  recorder's  office  was  made  by 
Frederick  Brown,  of  East  Union  township. 

The  first  real  estate  transfer  recorded  at  Wooster  is  from  Oliver  Day 
to  Elam  Day,  of  East  Union  township. 

The  first  court  of  common  pleas  was  held  in  Wooster  in  1812. 

The  first  election  held  in  Wooster  was  on  the  first  Monday  in  April, 
1810.  The  subjoined  is  a list  of  the  electors:  Josiah  Crawford,  Jesse 

Cornelius,  Jacob  Matthews,  William  Larwill,  Addy  Chest,  Robert  Carn, 
Benjamin  Miller,  Jacob  Wetzel,  Luke  Miller,  Samuel  Martin,  Matthew  Riley, 
John  Driskel,  William  Smith,  John  Rodgers,  John  Wright,  Christian  Smith, 
Joseph  Hughes  and  William  Riter. 

The  first  fire  company  in  Wooster  was  established  in  1827. 

The  first  town  watchman  was  Frederick  Kauke,  assisted  by  Joseph  Ber- 
gen, in  1829,  at  a salary  of  eleven  dollars  per  month. 

When  Wooster  was  first  settled  there  were  no  white  inhabitants  between 
it  and  the  Great  Lakes;  on  the  west  none  nearer  than  Maumee,  Fort  Wayne 
and  Vincennes;  on  the  south,  none  until  within  a few  miles  of  Coshocton. 

WOOSTER  INCORPORATED. 

Six  years  after  Wooster  was  platted  and  made  the  county  seat,  it  began 
to  put  on  "city  airs"  and  was  incorporated,  October  13,  1817,  and  char- 
tered as  a city  of  the  second  class  and  divided  into  four  wards  February 
9,  1869,  having  been  made  a second-class  city  in  September,  1868.  The 
at  the  house  of  Joseph  McGugen  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a president,  re- 
first  election  after  the  incorporation  as  a town,  in  March,  1818.  was  held 


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corder  and  five  trustees  for  the  incorporation.  Isaiah  Jones  was  elected  presi- 
dent, John  Patton,  recorder,  T.  G.  Jones.  Thomas  Taylor,  Joseph  Eichar, 
Thomas  Robison  and  Benjamin  Jones,  trustees.  These  officers  were  duly 
sworn  into  office  on  March  12,  1818,  agreeing  under  oath  to  support  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  that  of  the  state  of  Ohio.  At  their 
first  regular  business  meeting,  in  the  same  month  and  year,  they  proceeded 
to  appoint  a marshal,  treasurer  and  collector,  when  David  Hoyt  was  elected 
marshal,  Thomas  R.  Knight,  treasurer,  and  Henry  St.  John,  collector. 

April  3,  1818,  the  board  met,  and  on  motion  it  was  resolved  to  appoint 
a committee  of  two  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a bill  for  the  prevention  of 
immoral  practices.  At  the  next  meeting  a bill  for  the  abatement  of  nuisances, 
introduced  by  John  Patton,  with  some  amendments,  became  a law,  and  as 
such  is  the  first  on  record  in  Wooster. 

ELECTION  OF  MARCH  29,  1 824. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  the  election  held  for  incorporation  officers 
at  the  above  date: 

“President,  Samuel  Quimby,  Edward  Avery,  Thomas  Robinson,  candi- 
dates. Recorder,  Cyrus  Spink,  John  Patton,  William  Larwill,  candidates. 
Trustees,  Edward  Jones,  David  McConahay,  Francis  H.  Foltz,  Matthew 
Johnston,  William  McFall,  Joseph  H.  Larwill,  John  Christmas.  John  Patton, 
William  McComb,  Moses  Culbertson.  Cyrus  Spink,  Charles  Hobert.  David 
Robison,  Thomas  Robison,  Thomas  Townsend,  Horace  Howard,  William 
Nailer,  Samuel  H.  Hand,  Edward  Avery,  Benjamin  Jones,  Col.  John  Hem- 
perly,  all  candidates. 

“We  do  hereby  certify  that  Samuel  Quimby  had  fifty-three  votes  for 
president,  and  William  Larwill  had  thirty  votes  for  recorder,  and  Edward 
Avery  had  fifty-two  votes  for  trustee,  Thomas  Robison  had  thirty-seven  votes 
for  trustee,  William  McCombs  had  thirty  votes  for  trustee,  William  Nailer 
had  twenty  votes  for  trustee,  and  Thomas  Townsend  and  John  Patton  had 
each  nineteen  votes  for  trustee. 

(Signed)  “Matthew  Johnston, 
“William  McFall, 

“Attest:  John  Larwill.  Clerk  of  Election.  Judges.” 

entries  in  board’s  journal. 

Ordered,  That  Joseph  Alexander  be  allowed  twenty-five  dollars  for  serv- 
ices rendered  by  digging  up  stumps  in  the  public  square,  in  July,  1816. 


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Ordered,  That  Cyrus  Spink  be  allowed  two  dollars  for  attending  on 
David  Wolgamot,  a state’s  prisoner,  as  guard,  in  July,  1816. 

Ordered,  That  Joseph  H.  Larwill  be  allowed  the  sum  of  five  dollars  and 
twenty  cents  for  digging  a drain  to  the  court  house,  October,  1817. 

Ordered,  That  Thomas  Robison  be  allowed  twelve  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  for  making  six  poll  boxes  for  the  use  of  the  county,  1817. 

Ordered,  That  Joseph  Alexander  be  allowed  two  dollars  for  waiting  on 
grand  jury,  at  October  term,  1816. 

Ordered,  That  Benjamin  Franks  be  allowed  two  dollars  for  blazing  a 
road  from  Paintville  in  a north  direction. 

Ordered,  That  Nathan  Warner  be  allowed  to  spend  two  hundred  dollars 
of  the  three  per  cent,  fund  allotted  to  this  county,  on  the  state  road  west  of 
Wooster,  for  which  he  shall  receive  eight  dollars. 

Ordered,  That  Benjamin  Thompson  and  Ezekiel  Kelly,  trustees  of  the 
Baptist  church  of  Wooster,  be  allowed  fifty  dollars  for  use  of  same,  to 
hold  court  and  transact  other  public  business  in,  for  the  term  of  two  years, 
ending  June,  1831. 

Ordered,  That  David  Wooley,  deputy  assessor,  be  allowed  twenty-four 
dollars  and  seventy-five  cents  for  assessing  the  townships  of  Sugarcreek, 
Baughman  and  Chippewa,  June,  1830. 

A contract  will  be  sold  at  the  auditor’s  office,  November  17,  1830,  to 
the  lowest  bidder,  for  the  safe  keeping  and  providing  for  of  an  idiot  called 
“Crazy  Sam.” 

TOWN  PRESIDENTS. 


1818 — Isaiah  Jones 
1820 — William  Nailer 
1822 — Samuel  Quimby 

1825 —  Thomas  Wilson 

1826 —  John  Smith 

1827 —  Thomas  Wilson 

1828 —  J.  M.  Cooper 

1829 —  Benjamin  Jones 

1831 —  Thomas  Wilson 

1 832 —  Thomas  Wilson 

1833 —  Matthew  Johnston 

1834 —  Mr.  McConnahay 

1835 —  John  Larwill 

1836 —  Lindol  Sprague 


1837 —  Lindol  Sprague 

1838 —  H.  Lehman 

1839 —  J.  W.  Shuckles 

1840 —  John  H.  Harris 

1841 —  E.  Eyster 

1842 —  Kimball  Porter 

1843 —  Christian  Eyster 

1844 —  Charles  E.  Graeter 

1845 —  Henry  Lehman 

1846 —  Evans  Parker 

1847 —  Thomas  Wilson 

1848 —  Samuel  L.  Lorah 

1849 —  Everett  Howard 

1850 —  A.  McDonald 


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1851 —  Christian  Eyster 

1852 —  Jacob  Vanhouton 

1853 —  S.  R.  Bonewitz 

1854 —  S.  R.  Bonewitz 

1855 —  William  Childs 

1856 —  I.  N.  Jones 

1857 —  Neal  McCoy 

1858 —  Neal  McCoy 

1859 —  A.  Seybolt 

MAYORS  OF 

1869 — Charles  S.  Frost 
1871 — Charles  C.  Plumer 
1873 — James  Henry 
1875 — Owen  A.  Wilhelm 
1877 — H.  B.  Swartz 
1879 — H.  B.  Swartz 
1881 — Dennis  W.  Kimber 
1883 — Dennis  W.  Kimber 
1885 — Lemuel  Jeffries 
1887 — James  R.  Woodworth 
1889 — James  R.  Woodworth 


i860 — J.  H.  Kauke 
!86i— J.  H.  Kauke 

1862 —  George  Rex 

1863 —  R.  R.  Donnelly 

1864 —  J.  H.  Downing 

1865 —  G.  W.  Henshaw 

1866 —  James  Curry 

1867 —  A.  Wright 

1868—  R.  B.  Spink 

WOOSTER. 

1891 — James  R.  Woodworth 
1893 — Lemuel  Jeffries 
1895 — Lemuel  Jeffries 
1897 — Lemuel  Jeffries 
1899 — Robert  J.  Smith 
1901 — Robert  J.  Smith 
I9°3 — Robert  J.  Smith 
1905 — W.  M.  VanNest 
1907 — W.  M.  VanNest 
!909 — W.  M.  VanNest 


PRESENT  CITY  OFFICERS. 

The  city  officials  for  1908-09  are  as  follows:  Mayor,  W.  M.  VanNest; 
solicitor,  Benton  G.  Hay  ; auditor,  James  B.  Minier;  treasurer,  Crosley  M. 
Tawney;  board  of  public  safety,  William  A.  Lott,  Emett  Lee,  N.  F.  Rob- 
erts, Henry  Leiner,  Charles  F.  Kingsley. 

City  Council — Charles  A.  Weiser,  president;  Harley  H.  Franks,  clerk; 
members-at-large.  Max  Bloomberg,  Charles  Lautenschlager,  Charles  F. 
Schopf;  first  ward,  John  M.  Russell;  second  ward,  Wellington  Matz;  third 
ward,  P.  U.  Rice;  fourth  ward,  Samuel  Kready. 

Health  officer,  Dr.  J.  W.  Lehr ; tax  commissioners,  George  J.  Schwartz, 
John  McSweeney,  Alvin  Rich,  W.  D.  Tyler,  James  B.  Minier.  Library 
trustees,  James  Mullins,  A.  D.  Metz,  James  A.  Shamp,  Rev.  Frank  Heil- 
man, D.  L.  Thompson,  John  N.  McSweeney. 

In  1905.  under  a new  state  law,  cities  of  the  class  of  Wooster  were 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


put  under  a new  “municipal  accounting  system,”  and  the  office  of  city 
auditor  created.  It  is  one  of  the  most  important  offices  in  the  municipality, 
involving  as  it  does  a large  amount  of  especially  particular  accounting  for 
the  various  funds  of  the  city.  Prior  to  this  modern  system,  the  bonds, 
refunding  bonds,  and  many  accounts  were  lumped  together  and  were  hard 
to  understand  or  get  information  from,  but  with  the  new  way  all  is  clear 
and  understandable.  However,  it  requires  more  than  an  ordinary  account- 
ant or  bookkeeper  to  form  and  run  the  various  series  of  blanks  and  different 
books  required  in  conformity  to  the  new  state  law.  James  B.  Minier  was 
the  first  city  auditor  of  this  class,  and  has  made  an  enviable  and  state-wide 
reputation  as  an  expert  in  his  office. 

THE  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  first  fire  company  organized  in  the  city  of  Wooster  was,  according 
to  the  minute-book  of  the  company,  organized  between  1825  and  1827. 
One  entry  reads  that:  “At  a meeting  of  the  Wooster  Fire  Company  No.  1. 

convened  at  the  house  of  William  Nailer,  Esq.,  on  Saturday,  the  20th  of 
January,  1827,  Capt.  John  Smith  called  the  company  to  order  and  Samuel 
Quinby  was  appointed  secretary. 

“On  motion  it  was  resolved,  that  said  company  appoint  two  persons  to 
act  as  engineers:  six  persons  to  act  as  ladder-men;  two  persons  to  act  as 
ax-men  and  two  as  pike-men  for  said  company. 

“Thereupon,  William  Goodin  and  D.  O.  Hoyt  were  elected  engineers; 
Samuel  Barkdull,  David  Lozier,  James  Nailer,  John  McKracken,  Calvin 
Hobert  and  Benjamin  Jones  were  appointed  ladder-men ; William  H.  Sloane 

and  C.  H.  Streby  were  appointed  ax-men,  and  I.  E.  Harriott  and  , 

pike-men.” 

By-laws  were  drafted  in  1827  anc^  approved  at  the  monthly  meeting  for 
January  of  that  year. 

From  that  small  beginning  away  back  in  1827  has  come  the  efficient 
department  of  the  twentieth  century.  The  present  department,  under  city 
control,  has  a paid  chief  and  two  drivers,  but  the  twenty  men  who  respond 
to  the  fire  alarm  are  men-about-town,  who  work  at  other  employment  days 
and  sleep  in  the  City  Hall  in  rooms  prepared  for  them  especially,  and  for 
their  services  they  get  forty  cents  per  hour  when  at  fires.  The  engine  house 
is  within  the  municipal  building,  occupying  two  floors  for  the  men  and  appa- 
ratus. A Gamewell  system  of  alarms  is  in  operation  here.  The  apparatus 
includes  a light  hose  wagon  and  modem  ladders,  with  a chemical  engine 


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for  certain  places,  and  also  there  is  in  readiness  a fire  engine,  but  ordinary 
fires  are  extinguished  by  the  direct  pressure  of  the  pumping  station  at  the 
city  water  works. 


WOOSTER  OPERA  HOUSES. 

The  first  public  hall  of  much  consequence  in  Wooster  was  known  as 
Arcadome  Hall,  that  was  built  so  as  to  be  dedicated  December  18,  1857. 
Its  proprietors  were  Jo  H.  Baumgardner  and  Samuel  Woods.  The  name 
Arcadome  was  coined  in  the  poetical  fancy  of  E.  G.  Clingan.  It  stood 
on  East  Liberty  street  near  the  present  postoffice,  and  was  destroyed  by 
fire  March  23,  1874.  Another  hall  or  opera  house  in  the  city  was  Quinby 
Opera  House,  located  on  the  corner  of  Buckeye  and  Larwill  streets.  It 
was  formally  opened  February  1,  1877,  at  which  time  “As  You  Like  It” 
was  presented  to  an  overflowing  house.  This  building  was  the  enterprise 
of  the  Quinbv  Opera  House  Association,  composed  of  Messrs.  E.  Quinby, 
Jr.,  president;  E.  P.  Bates,  secretary;  J.  H.  Kauke,  D.  Q.  Liggett,  Ira  H. 
Bates  and  D.  C.  Curry.  Its  dimensions  were  seventy  by  one  hundred  and 
four  feet;  the  auditorium  was  sixty  by  seventy  feet,  encircled  on  three  sides 
by  roomy  balconies,  the  whole  having  a capacity  of  one  thousand  persons. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Quinby  against  his  protest.  This  served 
many  years  and  was  finally  razed  to  the  ground  and  the  lot  used  for  other 
purposes.  The  next  provision  for  an  opera  house  was  in  1887  when  the 
city  of  Wooster  planned  the  erection  of  its  magnificent  brick  city  building, 
when  a portion  of  it  was  built  for  opera  hall  purposes,  and  is  still  the 
pride  and  comfort  of  the  theater-loving  people.  It  is  modern  and  has  all 
the  conveniences  of  a well-regulated  theater.  It  is  in  all  appointments  a mod- 
ern hall  and  has  the  latest  fire-proof  appliances,  exits,  screens,  etc.  It  is 
managed  by  a local  man  and  leased  to  him  by  the  city,  on  the  per  cent.  plan. 
This  building  was  built  in  1887  and  is  spoken  of  under  head  of  City 
Buildings. 

What  is  known  as  the  Academy  of  Music,  on  West  Liberty  street,  was 
erected  originally  in  1870  by  John  B.  France,  on  the  lot  where  stood  the 
first  banking  institution  of  Wooster,  the  old  German  Bank.  This  was  a 
profitable  enterprise  and  in  1883  was  raised  one  story  higher,  making  a 
very  large  stage  room  and  increasing  the  seating  capacity.  This  is  per- 
haps the  largest  hall  in  Wooster  today.  All  of  these  opera  houses  have 
from  time  to  time  been  the  merry  scene  of  gay  theatrical  troupes. 


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THE  CITY  HALL. 

The  present  City  Building  was  erected  in  1887  and  is  a massive,  beau- 
tiful building.  It  has  office  rooms  for  the  various  city  offices,  in  front,  on 
the  first  floor;  an  engine  house  and  upper  story  rooms  for  the  use  of  the 
department,  and  the  central  portion  of  the  first  floor  is  an  excellent  opera 
house,  which  has  all  modern  conveniences.  This  is  leased  out  to  local  men 
of  the  city,  who  have  charge  of  it.  The  building  is  an  ideal,  imposing  struc- 
ture, on  East  Liberty  street,  and  great  care  is  taken  to  make  its  front  very 
attractive  by  the  cultivation  of  rare  and  common  flowers  and  plants,  with 
vines  covering  almost  the  entire  front  in  summertime.  The  cost  of  this 
municipal  building  was  ninety  thousand  dollars,  including  ground  and  all 
furnishings. 

PAVING,  SIDEWALKS,  AND  SEWERS. 

The  city  is  well  supplied  with  sidewalks,  having,  in  1909,  twenty-three 
miles,  the  same  being  constructed  of  either  cement,  flag-stones  or  hard  brick. 

Of  sewerage,  the  city  boasts  at  present  of  ten  miles,  while  in  paved 
(brick)  streets  it  has  an  even  six  miles. 

CITY  WATER  WORKS. 

The  following  was  written  by  Ben  Douglas,  in  his  1878  county  history, 
concerning  the  water-works  system : 

The  first  water  works  established  in  Wooster  were  constructed  under 
a contract  negotiated  between  the  original  proprietors  of  the  town  and  the 
county  commissioners,  bearing  date  May  13,  1811.  The  conditions  of  the 
contract  were  that  the  county  seat  should  be  permanently  located  at  Woos- 
ter, and  among  other  specifications,  it  was  agreed  that  the  proprietors  were 
to  bring  “water  of  the  run,  which  at  present  runs  through  the  town,  in 
pipes  of  sound  white  oak  timber  of  a proper  size,  well  bored  and  laid,  and 
raise  the  water  ten  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  center  of  the  town.” 

The  contract  was  complied  with  by  the  proprietors,  and  water  was 
delivered  to  the  town  of  Wooster,  conducted  through  pipes,  from  1815  to 
1829.  When  the  authorities  of  the  town  undertook  to  repair  the  pipes 
conveying  the  water  one  of  the  lot  owners  through  whose  premises  the 
pipes  were  laid,  prohibited  them  from  so  doing  by  an  injunction  of  the 
court,  and  from  that  time  no  further  attention  or  effort  was  made  to  sustain 
the  enterprise. 


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Subsequently  the  subject  of  supplying  the  city  with  water  from  springs 
of  Mr.  Reddick  to  the  north  of  the  city  became  a matter  of  grave  con- 
sideration. May  14,  1874,  G.  Gow  and  John  Brinkerhoff,  civil  engineers, 
gauged  the  stream  and  found  it  sufficient  to  protect  the  city  against  fire. 
The  work  being  inaugurated,  the  reservoir  was  constructed  under  the  super- 
vision of  Mr.  Gow,  during  the  summer  of  1875,  by  throwing  a dam  across 
the  ravine  immediately  below  the  springs,  thus  raising  the  water  to  the 
depth  of  eighteen  feet.  No  further  labor  was  performed  until  the  spring 
of  1876,  when  the  works  were  commenced  and  conducted  through  the  sum- 
mer of  1876,  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  John  Brinkerhoff,  civil 
engineer. 

In  the  construction  of  the  system  the  pipes  used  amounted  to  3,980 
feet  of  twelve-inch  piping,  4,988  feet  of  ten-inch  pipe,  6,432  feet  of  eight- 
inch  pipe,  20,023  feet  of  six-inch  pipe  and  4,404  feet  of  four-inch  pipe,  in  all 
46,277  feet,  or  over  eight  miles. 

The  total  cost  of  pipe  and  special  castings  was  $36,390,  the  entire  cost 
of  the  works  being  $76,256,  and  with  later  additions  made  it  amount  to 
$86,000.  The  surface  of  the  water  at  the  reservoirs  is  128  feet  above  the 
public  square.  The  water  from  eighty-eight  fire  plugs  located  on  the  line  of 
the  streets  can  be  projected  to  various  heights,  ranging  from  forty  to  one 
hundred  feet  above  the  surface,  by  force  of  gravity  alone.  Gravity  being 
the  agent  iri  the  propulsion  of  the  water,  the  expense  of  running  it  to  the 
works  was  merely  nominal.  The  supply  of  water  is  sufficient  for  all  wants 
of  the  present  city,  and  under  improvements  introduced  by  M.  M.  Smith, 
superintendent,  during  the  summer  of  1877,  the  water  delivered  in  the 
city  was  as  pure  as  spring  water. 

This  system,  with  its  additions  and  changes,  served  until,  in  1907,  the 
Applecreek  pumping  station  was  placed  in  operation,  to  the  east  of  the 
city.  Here  two  model  gas  engines  pump  the  water  from  Applecreek.  A 
brick  pumping  station  is  maintained  there;  the  entire  bonded  indebtedness 
for  this  improvement  to  the  water-works  was  nine  thousand  dollars.  This 
supplies  a great  abundance  of  water  for  all  fire  and  city  street  purposes,  but 
is  not  of  good  enough  quality  to  be  used  by  the  people  for  cooking  purposes. 
The  city  is  at  this  date  (summer  of  1909)  making  an  experimental  well 
north  of  town,  with  the  view  of  obtaining  a good  supply  of  pure  water, 
which  the  city  badly  needs. 

WOOSTER  GAS  LIGHT  COMPANY. 

June  18,  1856,  the  village  of  Wooster  passed  an  ordinance:  ‘To  pro- 

vide for  gas  in  the  incorporated  village  of  Wooster,”  by  which  it  provided 


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that  William  Stephenson,  of  the  city  of  Cleveland,  and  his  associates,  should 
use  the  streets,  lanes,  alleys  and  other  public  grounds  of  said  village  for 
the  purpose  of  laying  down  and  maintaining  of  their  pipes  for  the  con- 
veyance of  gas  in  and  through  the  same  for  the  use  of  the  village  and  the 
inhabitants  thereof.  The  ordinance  granted  the  right  for  a period  of  ten 
years,  and  restricted  the  company  to  three  dollars  per  thousand  cubic  feet 
for  gas  to  citizens,  and  two  dollars  for  city,  except  lamp  posts,  three  dollars, 
whilst  the  company  owns  the  posts  and  lights  and  extinguishes  them. 

June  20,  1856,  J.  H.  Kauke,  J.  H.  Baumgardner,  Isaac  N.  Jones,  D. 
Robison,  Jr.,  H.  R.  Harrison,  John  P.  Jeffries  and  C.  C.  Parsons,  Sr.,  duly 
incorporated,  under  the  laws  of  Ohio  the  Wooster  Gas  Light  Company,  with 
a perpetual  charter,  and  said  company  was  duly  organized  January  14, 
1857,  by  electing  J.  H.  Kauke,  Daniel  Black,  J.  H.  Baumgardner,  I.  N. 
Jones  and  J.  P.  Winebrenner  directors,  and  by-laws  were  enacted  for  its 
government.  The  capital  stock  was  twenty  thousand  dollars,  divided  into 
eight  hundred  shares  of  twenty-five  dollars  each.  The  gas  works  were 
erected  in  1856  and  1857,  and  the  village  of  Wooster  was  lighted  with 
artificial  gas  in  February,  1857,  there  being  then  one  hundred  and  five 
consumers  and  twenty  street  lamps.  In  1859  the  capital  stock  was  in- 
creased to  twenty-three  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  The  demand  for 
gas  was  so  great  that  in  1864  the  company  pulled  down  the  old  arches  or 
ovens  and  erected  larger  ones,  and  greatly  increased  the  gas-producing  ca- 
pacity of  the  plant. 

In  1867  the  company  extended  the  pipes  and  increased  the  capital  to 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  In  1871  the  old  works  becoming  entirely  too  small 
to  supply  the  demand,  the  directors  resolved  to  erect  a new  plant.  They 
purchased  the  old  oil  well  on  East  Henry  street,  from  the  heirs  of  William 
Henry,  and  four  lots  adjoining  from  E.  Quinbv,  Jr.,  giving  them  a frontage 
on  Henry  street  of  three  hundred  and  ten  feet,  on  which  they  erected  new 
gas  works  with  all  modern  improvements  then  known  and  of  sufficient 
capacity  to  supply  a city  of  fifteen  thousand  population. 

This  gas  company  thrived  well  until  about  the  date  that  natural  gas 
was  first  introduced  in  Wooster  in  1905,  when  it  was  soon  abandoned. 

ELECTRIC  LIGHT  PLANT. 

The  first  ordinance  looking  toward  the  establishment  of  electric  lights 
in  the  city  of  Wooster  was  dated  March  5,  1886,  and  was  granted  to  the 
Schuyler  Electric  Lighting  Company  of  New  York  city.  Tt  has  alwavs 


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been  conducted  by  private  corporations  and  in  later  days  was  reorganized, 
and  recently  a central  heating  (hot  water)  plant  was  connected  therewith. 
The  stock  is  largely  held  abroad.  The  heating  plant  will  furnish  heat  to 
residences  and  public  buildings  at  the  lowest  possible  cost  to  consumers, 
and  guarantees  to  give  any  desired  temperature  in  rooms,  by  use  of  an 
automatic  device.  The  cost  is  little  or  no  more  than  the  ordinary  methods 
of  heating  houses. 

The  city  has  the  advantage  of  using  either  artificial  gas,  electricity, 
natural  gas  (which  was  first  piped  to  the  city  from  Knox  county  in  1905), 
or  the  less  expensive  methods  employed  by  using  gasoline  or  kerosene  oil. 

WOOSTER  POSTOFFICE. 

The  first  postoffice  established  in  the  county  of  Wayne  was  at  the  point 
where  Wooster  now  stands.  The  date  was  December  8,  1812,  when  Thomas 
G.  Jones  was  appointed  postmaster.  Just  where  the  office  was  kept  is  not 
certain,  but  likely  at  the  log  residence  of  the  postmaster,  who  was  also  the 
first  Baptist  minister  and  conducted  a small  general  store.  Following  him 
came:  John  Patton,  commissioned  November  20,  1818;  Ezra  Dean,  April 

14,  1829;  Bezaleel  L.  Crawford,  March  26,  1841;  Jacob  M.  Cooper,  July 
22,  1845;  Thomas  T.  Eckert,  April  26,  1849;  George  W.  Allison,  November 
24,  1852;  Jacob  A.  Marchand,  November  17,  1853  ; reappointed  April  2,  1856; 
James  Johnson,  January  10,  i860;  Enos  Foreman,  April  17,  1861;  re-ap- 
pointed March  17,  1865;  Reason  B.  Spink,  November  13,  1866;  Addison  S. 
McClure,  April  19,  1867:  re-appointed  March  28,  1871,  and  also  March  10, 
1875  ’>  P«  C.  Given  was  next  postmaster  and  served  until  L.  P.  Oblinger  was 
appointed  and  he  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  the  following  postmasters : Sam- 

uel Metzler,  John  F.  Marchand,  T.  L.  Flattery  and  the  present  postmaster, 
W.  B.  Bryson. 

The  postoffice  took  its  present  quarters  in  1892,  having  been  moved  from 
the  Frick  Memorial  building  on  West  Liberty  street. 

The  first  rural  free  delivery  route  was  started  out  from  this  city  April  i, 
1899,  and  it  has  been  increased  in  number  to  eleven  routes  with  a total  mileage 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  miles.  Wooster  first  had  free  delivery  carriers 
in  the  city  July  1,  1887,  and  at  this  time  has  six  city  carriers.  The  number 
of  mails  received  daily  by  mail  trains  is  twelve. 

WOOSTER  BOARD  OF  TRADE. 

There  have  been  various  organizations  for  the  development  and  further 
commercial  and  industrial  improvement  of  the  city  of  Wooster,  but  that 
which  took  on  the  most  important  and  tangible  form  was  the  Board  of  Trade, 


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organized  August  3,  1900,  and  which  was  duly  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  state  of  Ohio  December  14,  1908.  This  organization  has  been  instru- 
mental in  obtaining  several  additions  to  the  city’s  industries  and  is  still 
energetic  in  working  for  more.  It  now  enjoys  a membership  of  almost  three 
hundred  representative  citizens.  Its  1909  officers  are:  President,  Walter 

D.  Foss;  first  vice-president,  John  C.  Schultz;  second  vice-president,  M.  M. 
Van  Nest;  secretary,  Albert  Dix;  treasurer,  Chas.  M.  Gray;  directors:  Nick 
Amster,  Win.  Annat,  \V.  R.  Barnhart,  \V.  G.  Christy,  Albert  Dix,  Walter 
D.  Foss,  H.  Freedlander,  G.  Gerstenslager,  Chas.  M.  Gray,  E.  S.  Landes,  J. 

C.  Schultz,  Geo.  J.  Schwartz,  E.  W.  Thompson,  M.  M.  Van  Nest,  John  M. 
Criley. 

It  has  committees  appointed  to  look  after  the  following  matters:  Pub- 

lic improvements,  railroads  and  transportation,  new  enterprises  and  indus- 
tries, finance  and  location  of  office,  local  mercantile  interests,  real  estate  and 
insurance,  statistics  and  advertising,  legislation,  produce  and  grain,  manu- 
factures, membership,  lumber  and  coal,  taxation,  streets  and  pavements. 

WOOSTER  PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 

The  early-day  library  was  a small  affair  and  was  carried  on  by  the 
efforts  of  a few  of  the  more  thoughtful  and  educated  citizens  who  saw  the 
need  of  such  a place  in  the  city.  Soon  after  the  beginning  of  this  decade  the 
matter  of  further  increasing  Wooster’s  library  facilities  was  advocated,  and 
as  a result  the  old  library  association  was  re-organized  as  a city  institution  in 
fact,  and  a new'  board  of  officers  elected.  In  1905  the  present  beautiful  brick 
library,  on  the  corner  of  Ouinby  and  Bowman  streets,  was  completed  and 
first  occupied.  It  cost,  grounds  and  building,  thirty  thousand  dollars,  of 
which  amount  the  philanthropist,  Andrew'  Carnegie,  donated  fifteen  thousand, 
with  the  provision  that  the  city  of  Wooster  w'as  to  annually  raise  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  five  hundred  to  be  used  for  maintenance  of  the  same.  It  is  a 
modern  structure,  having  two  stories,  the  upper  one  being  used  for  museum 
purposes,  and  in  which  they  are  now  already  many  rare  specimens  and  articles 
of  interest.  The  library  also  has  in  connection  with  it  a fine  reading  room  de- 
partment. The  present  year’s  report  shows  the  number  of  volumes  in  the 
library  to  be  five  thousand,  to  which  are  being  made  frequent  additions.  The 
board  of  trustees  is:  James  Mullins,  president;  A.  D.  Metz,  vice-president 

and  treasurer;  James  Schamp,  secretary  ; Frank  W.  Miller.  John  McSweeney, 

D.  L.  Thompson,  Rev.  Frank  Heilman. 


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OLD  MARKET-HOUSE  DESTROYED  BY  A MOB. 

The  first  market-house  Wooster  had,  and  the  last  as  well,  was  built  in 
1833  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  public  square,  under  direction  of  the  town 
council,  of  which  Thomas  Wilson  was  the  president  and  J.  H.  Harris,  re- 
corder. The  building  was  about  forty  by  seventy-five  feet  in  dimension,  one 
story  high,  paved  with  brick,  with  ceilings  arched  and  plastered.  It  was 
supported  by  fourteen  columns  of  brick- wrork  about  two  feet  square,  twelve 
feet  high,  firmly  set  on  stone  corners,  eight  to  ten  feet  apart,  between  which 
the  stalls  were  situated  and  each  numbered. 

It  was  not  many  years  before  the  men  doing  business  near  the  square 
declared  this  market  a nuisance  that  ought  to  be  abated ; but  the  town  author- 
ities refused  to  remove  it.  As  a result  it  narrowly  escaped  “purification  as  by 
fire”  at  the  hands  of  an  incendiary.  Finally,  on  August  9,  1847,  a number 
of  men,  disguised  beyond  recognition,  went  at  night  time  and,  assembling 
about  the  building,  armed  wTith  axes,  hooks,  ropes  and  tackle,  and  a horse 
strong  in  pulling  qualities,  they  pulled  dowm  the  offensive  building,  which  at 
daylight  lay  a heap  of  smouldering  embers.  The  destroyers  were  termed  a 
“mob”  and  excitement  ran  high  for  a time.  The  mayor  offered  a reward  for 
the  detection  of  the  vandals  who  had  profaned  the  “temple  of  mutton  and 
soup  bones,”  but  without  resulting  in  anybody  being  arrested;  yet  many  of 
the  “culprits”  wrere  well  known,  but  praised  for  their  public  improvement 
spirit.  Perhaps  some  are  still  honored  residents  of  Wooster — at  least  a num- 
ber were  living  a fewr  years  since.  This  was  the  first  and  last  market-house 
Wooster  has  ever  had. 


OAK  HILL  CEMETERY. 

The  care  which  the  living  exercise  over  the  “silent  cities” — the  church- 
yards and  cemeteries — is  always  an  index  of  the  refinement  and  Christian 
grace  and  sentiment  of  any  given  community.  Prior  to  1852  the  dead  of 
Wooster  were  buried  in  churchyards  of  the  various  denominations;  also  many 
from  the  near-by  communities,  and  there  today  many  of  the  first  fathers  and 
mothers  of  Wooster  “sleep  and  heed  it  not.” 

July  12,  1852,  a number  of  Wooster’s  citizens,  prominent  among  wrhom 
were  Levi  Cox,  John  Larwill,  Cyrus  Spink,  E.  Quinby.  Jr.,  Constant  Lake. 
R.  B.  Stibbs,  K.  Porter,  James  Johnson,  Harvey  Howard  and  others,  agreed 
to  form  themselves  into  a cemetery  association,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of 


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the  Wooster  Cemetery  Association,  and  for  that  purpose  signed  and  published 
.a  notice.  In  pursuance  to  the  publication  of  the  notice,  and  at  the  time 
named  therein,  a majority  of  the  association  met  at  the  court  house  and 
there  resolved  to  elect,  by  ballot  from  their  number  five  persons  to  serve  as 
trustees  and  one  as  clerk  of  the  association.  The  trustees  chosen  were  Henry 
Lehman,  James  Johnson,  Constant  Lake,  R.  B.  Stibbs  and  E.  Quinby,  Jr. 

The  original  grounds  consisted  of  thirty-two  acres  and  a fractional  part 
of  an  acre,  purchased  of  Joseph  H.  Larwill,  the  price  to  be  paid  being  one 
hundred  dollars  per  acre.  Five  promissory  notes  were  executed  and  the  fol- 
lowing persons  agreed  to  assume  their  respective  proportions  of  the  notes  the 
same  as  if  they  had  been  the  original  signers  to  them:  Samuel  Woods.  John 

H.  Harris,  J.  M.  Robison,  E.  Avery,  J.  A.  Anderson,  E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  John 
McSweeney,  Samuel  L.  Lorah,  Thomas  Stibbs,  William  Spear,  William 
Henry,  John  P.  Jeffries,  J.  N.  Jones,  J.  S.  Spink,  J.  H.  Kaube,  William 
Belnap,  Benjamin  Eason,  Enos  Foreman,  E.  Dean. 

Superintendents  were  then  appointed  and  the  grounds  surveyed  and 
graded.  November  13,  1853,  it  was  ordered  that  a public  sale  of  lots  be 
had  in  the  cemetery  on  the  25th  of  said  month. 

From  1852,  when  the  original  by-laws  were  adopted,  there  was  but 
little  change  in  the  instrument  with  the  passing  years,  but  in  1904  there  was 
a revision,  but  only  on  minor  points. 

The  office  of  superintendent  being  in  many  ways  of  most  importance  of 
any  of  the  officials,  the  list  is  given  for  the  years  since  organization : Henry 

Lehman,  1853-54;  Lucas  Flattery,  for  same  term;  James  Jacobs,  1854-63; 
Lucas  Flattery,  1863-77;  Isaac  Bechtel,  1877-93;  John  F.  Barrett,  1893  to 
April,  1909.  The  first  president  of  the  association  was  Reasin  B.  Stibbs, 
who  served  from  1858  to  1875. 

When  the  “old  part  of  the  ground”  was  purchased  it  was  in  its  primeval 
woodland  state  and  glory.  Since  that  time  additional  purchases  have  been 
made,  materially  increasing  the  holdings ; many  avenues,  drives  and  allot- 
ments have  been  laid  out  with  artistic  skill;  buildings  have  been  erected  in 
conformity  to  the  requirements  of  the  association;  public  vaults  have  been 
constructed:  a complete  water  system  established  to  provide  all  parts  of  the 
grounds  with  a good  supply  of  water;  much  grading  to  bring  in  closer 
harmony  the  various  sections  of  the  cemetery,  without  the  least  sacrifice  of 
natural  beauty  and  effect.  In  all  there  have  been  purchased  ten  different  lots 
of  land,  making  in  all  at  this  date  eighty  acres,  which  land  has  cost  on  an 
average  of  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents  per  acre. 


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In  the  summer  of  1874  a residence  for  the  sexton  was  built,  the  original 
cost  of  which  was  two  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars.  Later  five  hundred 
dollars  was  expended  on  the  place.  Stables,  tool  houses  and  other  buildings 
have  been  added.  In  1884  a public  receiving  vault  was  made  at  a cost  of 
three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars.  In  1895,  after  mature 
consideration,  a complete  water-works  system  was  planned.  A two-thousand- 
barrel  reservoir  was  constructed  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  premises,  and 
water  pipes  radiate  therefrom  throughout  the  cemetery.  This  cost  one 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  In  1904  improvements  were  made,  including 
the  better  heating  facilities  for  the  main  house,  near  the  entrance  to  the 
grounds  and  the  erection  of  tool  houses,  etc.,  at  a cost  of  one  thousand 
dollars. 

Among  the  many  rules  and  regulations  of  the  association,  are  these 
provisions:  This  organization  is  for  mutual  benefit;  the  purchaser  of  a lot 

becomes  and  is  a member  of  the  association;  the  trustees  are  elected  by  the 
lot  owners  and  receive  no  compensation;  all  monies  received  are  expended 
on  or  for  the  grounds. 

From  1853  to  r88o  there  were  two  thousand  and  thirty-one  burials 
within  this  cemetery.  Since  1880  the  average  number  of  burials  here  has 
been  one  hundred  and  sixteen,  making  (up  to  1904)  a total  of  five  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifteen  interments. 

This  beautiful  cemetery  is  near  the  city  to  the  southeast,  and  is  one  of 
the  charming  spots  of  this  section.  The  landscape  work  of  nature,  together 
with  the  embellishments  made  by  the  various  superintendents,  makes  this  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  cemeteries  in  all  this  portion  of  northern  Ohio. 

In  the  northeast  corner  of  this  cemetery  is  to  be  seen  a bronze  fluted 
shaft,  or  column,  about  twenty-five  feet  high,  surmounted  by  a life-sized 
bronze  volunteer  infantryman,  with  knapsack  and  musket.  The  monument 
is  situated  on  a very  conspicuous  part  of  the  grounds.  Its  west  face  has  the 
following  inscription : ‘‘Presented  by  James  Mullins  to  Given  Post,  No. 

133,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  Department  of  Ohio.”  On  the  eastern 
face  of  the  base  is  this:  “To  the  Heroes  of  Wayne  County — 1895.”  On  the 
south  is  the  badge  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  while  on  the  north 
side  is  a Union  shield.  The  column  is  planted  as  a pedestal  on  four  huge 
base  stones.  By  its  side  is  an  old  cannon,  mounted  on  caisson  which  saw 
service  in  one  of  the  early  wars,  and  the  woodwork  at  present  is  rapidly  going 
to  decay. 

Within  this  sacred  enclosure — the  city  cemetery — lie  buried  more  than 


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three  hundred  and  forty  soldiers  of  the  various  American  wars,  the  larger 
part  of  whom  are  from  out  the  ranks  of  the  Union  soldiers  of  the  great  Civil 
war. 

SOLDIERS''  MONUMENT. 

On  the  southwest  corner  of  the  public  square  stands  a beautiful  granite 
monument,  with  a drinking  fountain  attached.  The  whole  is  within  a tasty 
iron  enclosure,  in  which  are  placed  two  large  sized  Parrott  guns  (small  cannon) 
with  a pyramid  of  cannon-balls.  In  the  center  of  the  ground  fenced  in  is  a 
sixty-foot  metal  flag  staff,  made  of  tubing  and  painted  white,  from  which  on 
appropriate  occasions  is  seen  streaming  to  the  breeze,  “Old  Glory." 

On  the  north  side  of  the  base  of  the  monument  is  this  inscription: 
“Erected  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Frick  in  honor  of  the  Union  soldiers  of 
Wayne  county  and  presented  to  the  City  of  Wooster,  May  5,  1892."  Sur- 
mounting the  monument  is  a life-sized  statue  of  a United  States  volunteer 
soldier  in  the  uniform  of  an  infantryman. 

THE  METAL  BAND-STAND. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  public  square  is  a metal 
band-stand  of  rare  beauty  and  it  is  surmounted  with  a flag-staff.  The  whole 
structure  is  made  of  iron  and  steel,  even  the  canopied  roof  and  the  posts 
which  support  the  main  stand.  It  is  octagonal  in  form  and  here  of  evenings, 
during  the  summer  months,  the  Wooster  Band  discourses  music  to  the  edi- 
fication of  the  throngs  who  there  assemble. 

THE  WOOSTER  BRUSH  WORKS. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  factory  in  the  city  of  Wooster  is  the  brush 
factory,  established  in  1851  by  Adam  Foss  in  a small  room  on  the  third  floor 
of  the  building  now  occupied  by  Brandt’s  book  store  on  the  east  side  of  the 
public  square.  The  founder  was  succeeded  by  Walter  D.  Foss,  a son  of 
Adam  Foss,  and  George  J.  Swartz,  in  1876,  who  carried  on  the  business  of 
brush-making  in  the  two-story  frame  building  at  No.  35  South  Market  street. 
On  the  night  of  January  29,  1880,  the  plant  was  almost  totally  destroyed  by 
the  torch  of  an  incendiary,  but  within  a week  the  business  had  been  re-opened 
in  a frame  building  adjoining  Wilhelm’s  carriage  factory,  now  Clapper’s 
block  and  bag  factory.  In  the  summer  of  t88o  it  was  removed  to  the  three- 


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story  brick  building  on  South  Market  street,  and  later  an  addition  was  found 
necessary.  In  July,  1904,  the  partnership  of  W.  D.  Foss  and  G.  J.  Swartz, 
after  twenty-eight  years’  duration,  was  mutually  dissolved,  Mr.  Swartz  re- 
tiring and  Walter  D.  Foss  & Sons’  Company  continuing  as  the  Wooster 
Brush  Works.  In  February,  1907,  W.  D.  Foss  purchased  the  south  half  of 
the  three-story  building  known  as  the  Foss  & Lee  block,  at  No.  56  South 
Market  street,  and  a portion  of  their  plant  was  then  moved  there.  In  1909 
it  was  decided  to  have  a whole  new  and  complete  factory  and  accordingly 
they  now  occupy  the  immense  factory  at  the  intersection  of  Madison  avenue 
and  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  property.  The  building  is  seventy  by  two 
hundred  feet,  with  a heating  and  power  plant  attached.  This  building  has 
three  times  more  floor  space  than  both  the  old  factories  had.  It  is  surmounted 
by  a huge  wooden  tank  holding  twenty-five  thousand  gallons  of  water,  for 
use  in  the  factory  and  as  a fire  protection.  Goods  are  received  and  shipped 
on  a special  spur  of  the  railroad.  The  building  was  first  occupied  in  August, 

l9°9. 

Almost  every  variety  of  brushes  extant  are  here  made.  Their  trade  is 
almost  world-wide  and  the  quality  of  goods  made  is  very  superior.  Scores 
of  men  and  women  find  constant  and  profitable  employment  at  these  works. 
This  in  brief  is  the  history  of  a business  that  has  been  in  the  hands  of  one 
family  for  over  a half  century. 

WOOSTER  NURSERY  COMPANY. 

Among  the  industries  of  modern  days  in  Wooster  is  the  nursery  of  the 
Wooster  Nursery  Company,  which  was  incorporated  in  June,  1906,  with  a 
capital  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  with  the  following  officers  and  directors : T. 
E.  Ewing,  president  and  manager;  Calvin  Fry,  vice-president;  Stephen  N. 
Green,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  directors  are  T.  E.  Ewing,  Carey  Eelty, 
W.  J.  Griffin  and  William  King. 

It  should  be  stated,  however,  that  this  nursery  had  been  established  as  a 
private  concern  by  T.  E.  Ewing  in  1902  and  that  it  had  developed  into  a good 
paying  business  by  the  date  it  was  incorporated.  The  land  now  cultivated  and 
owned  by  this  company  is  near  the  Experimental  Station,  near  Wooster,  and 
consists  of  thirty-one  acres.  Besides  this  fertile  tract,  the  company  also 
leases  land  near  the  high  school  building.  They  carry  on.  a general  nursery 
business  and  sell  their  trees  and  numerous  plants,  both  locally  and  through- 
out the  entire  country,  employing  agents,  and  do  an  extensive  mail  order 


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business.  They  reach  out  to  many  sections  of  the  United  States  by  catalogs. 
In  the  busy  season  of  the  year  many  men  find  steady  employment,  besides 
many  more  agents. 

In  connection  with  their  general  nursery  business,  this  company  also 
operates  a large  line  of  greenhouses  and  a seed  and  plant  house  in  Wooster 
occupying  two  floors  and  a basement  of  a business  house  near  the  public 
square,  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  in  depth,  in  which  they  carry  a full  line 
of  bulbs,  plants  and  farm  and  garden  seeds,  sold  in  both  wholesale  and  retail. 
This  trade  is  carried  to  all  parts  of  the  globe,  including  Asia  and  far-away 
countries. 

In  the  spring  of  1908  this  company  purchased  the  J.  B.  Notestein  nur- 
series at  Jackson,  a concern  of  more  than  a quarter  of  a century  growth;  also 
the  following  season  bought  the  stock  of  the  E.  C.  Green  & Son  nursery  of 
Medina  county,  which  added  greatly  to  their  business. 

The  benefits  of  the  nearness  to  the  Ohio  Experimental  Station  can 
hardly  be  calculated,  as  their  exhaustive  and  practical  investigations  and  ex- 
periments enable  the  nursery  to  arrive  at  positive  conclusions  in  regard  to 
varieties  best  suited  to  customers. 

THE  PIONEER  MILL  OF  WAYNE  COUNTY. 

Around  the  first  and  all  early  mills  of  almost  any  county  there  ever  rests 
a wonderful  amount  of  true  history,  tragedy  and  interesting  legend.  This 
is  true  indeed  with  the  old  Stibbs  mills,  near  the  present  site  of  Wooster. 
This  flouring-mill  is  now  known,  as  it  has  been  many  years,  as  the  Naftzger 
or  Empire  mills.  It  dates  its  building  from  an  even  century  ago,  built  as  it 
was  in  1809  by  Joseph  Stibbs,  who  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  in  1803 
and  from  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1813,  having  been  here 
four  years  before  and  erected  a small  flouring-mill  and  a log  cabin. 
After  his  return  he  took  personal  charge  of  the  mill  and  soon  it  drew  custom 
from  far  and  near,  as  it  was  the  only  mill  within  Wayne  county  and  a large 
radius  around  depended  upon  its  mill-stones  to  grind  out  breadstuff’s  for 
many  a family.  It  derives  its  power  from  a race,  drawing  water  from  Apple- 
creek.  the  length  of  this  mill-race  being  about  a mile.  In  the  history  of  the 
mill  there  have  been  three  different  races  dug.  The  first  two  were  just  to 
the  east  of  the  present  race  and  were  not  so  deep.  The  present  lace  is  sufficient 
to  give  speed  to  an  eighteen-foot  overshot  waterwheel.  The  stage  of  water 
is  fairly  good  most  of  the  year,  but  at  times  it  is  too  low,  hence  steam  power 


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was  applied  in  connection  with  the  water  power  a few  years  ago  and  now  it 
is  contemplated  putting  in  a gas  engine  (possibly  electric)  and  using  the  flow 
of  natural  gas  that  is  now  piped  to  a point  a few  rods  from  the  mill.  The 
capacity  of  this  pioneer  mill  (that  long  years  ago  was  converted  into  a roller- 
process  mill)  is  forty-eight  barrels  per  day.  It  is  now  the  property  of  the 
Empire  Milling  Company,  made  up  of  local  men,  and  is  managed  by  Otto 
Riffle.  It  was  purchased  by  J.  R.  Naftzger  in  1866  from  D.  D.  Miller  and  he 
bought  the  property  from  Jacob  Kramer. 

Could  this  old  mill  but  talk,  a wonderful  history  it  might  reveal  of  the 
early  day  toils  and  journeys  made  by  pioneers  from  a long  distance.  It  was 
here  that  occurred  the  powder  explosion  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
and  in  which  accident  one  man  was  killed,  including  Indians.  A carding-mill 
was  added  to  the  mill  soon  after  its  erection  by  Stibbs.  James  Miles,  the  first 
carder,  paid  six  and  a quarter  cents  for  packages  of  wild  thorns  with  which 
to  pin  up  the  rolls  of  wool  when  carded.  Still  later  a woolen  factory  was 
built  on  the  site  of  the  carding  mills,  by  the  son,  Thomas  Stibbs.  Still  later 
a linseed  oil  mill  was  put  in.  This  was,  indeed,  the  busiest  place  for  the 
whirl  of  spindle  and  hum  of  machinery  in  all  this  section. 

Mr.  Stibbs,  the  founder,  died  August  9.  1841,  owner  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  Apple  creek,  mostly  in  Wayne  township.  After 
his  death  and  with  the  passing  of  several  years,  a distillery  was  built  and 
operated  at  the  same  site,  along  the  mill-race.  The  natural  successor  to  this 
was  the  present  brewery  and  artificial  ice  plant  located  near  the  mill  property 
and  which  is  among  the  paying  plants  of  this  section.  At  the  old  mill  used  to 
be  carried  on  an  extensive  natural  ice  business.  A large  pond  was  made  and 
the  water  run  from  the  race  was  allowed  to  freeze,  thus  producing  a fine  grade 
of  ice,  which  was  packed  in  two  large  ice  houses  near  the  pond. 

Thus  has  been  kept  intact  one  of  Wayne  county’s  oldest  landmarks.  The 
waters  of  Apple  creek  have  thus  found  their  way  to  the  far-away  ocean  and 
back  through  cloud  and  rivulet  to  again  turn  the  “old  water  mill”  for  more 
than  a hundred  years.  Four  generations  have  been  supplied  with  bread  from 
the  bolting  chest  of  this  mill,  which  has  kept  pace  with  modern  flour-making 
improvements  and  today  sends  forth  an  excellent  brand  of  family  flour  that 
finds  a ready  sale  within  Wayne  county,  where  it  is  nearly  all  consumed. 

SNOWFLAKE  FLOURING-MILLS. 

These  flouring-mills.  on  the  corner  of  Bever  and  East  Liberty  streets, 
were  established  as  the  old-fashioned  buhr-stone  mills  in  the  fifties.  With 
the  passing  of  the  decades,  and  the  improvement  in  the  manufacture  of  flour. 


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the  machinery  was  gradually  changed  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  times 
and  in  1879  they  were  the  property  of  Plank  Brothers,  who  continued  until 
it  became  known  as  Plank  & Gray's  mills.  In  April,  1909,  it  changed  to 
Gray  & Smith,  the  present  owners,  Charles  M.  Gray  and  A.  G.  Smith.  These 
modern  process-roller  mills  have  a daily  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  barrels,  which  is  all  sold  within  one  hundred  miles  of  Wooster.  The 
sales  of  “Snowflake”  run  about  six  thousand  fifty-pound  sacks  per  week.  The 
steam  power  was  superseded  in  1907  by  natural  gas  engines  as  a propelling 
power.  These  mills  have  the  best  local  trade  of  any  mills  in  northern  Ohio. 

OTHER  INDUSTRIES. 

The  printing  art  and  industry  is  well  represented  at  Wooster.  The  two 
daily  newspapers  both  do  an  excellent  job  printing  business,  besides  the  Col- 
lier Printing  Company,  on  Bever  and  Xorth  streets,  and  the  George  A.  Clapper 
printing  establishment,  on  East  Liberty  street.  The  latter  was  founded 
in  1879  as  a straight  printery,  but  in  about  1898  added  another  department, 
that  of  manufacturing  and  printing  salt  pockets  or  bags,  the  whole  of  which 
monthly  output  is  sold  in  advance  to  the  Wadsworth  Salt  Company,  of  Wads- 
worth, Ohio.  This  has  come  to  be  a very  extensive  business. 

Wooster  Artificial  Ice  and  Brewing  Company;  Wooster  Brick  and  Shale 
Works ; the  Gerstenslager  Carriage  and  W agon  Company ; Dishwasher  fac- 
tory; Wooster  Preserving  Company;  overall  factory  and  numerous  other 
lesser  industries  are  all  found  doing  an  extensive  business  in  their  special  lines 
at  this  date. 

From  the  first  settlement  of  Wooster,  the  chief  industries  up  to  about 
1840  were  the  numerous  tanneries  and  distilleries  located  in  and  near  to  the 
town.  Liquor  then  had  no  internal  revenue  upon  it  and  was  sold  at  low  fig- 
ures— as  low  as  seventeen  cents  per  gallon.  Tanning  skins  and  hides  was 
almost  indispensable,  for  leather  had  to  be  made,  as  transportation  was  high 
and  markets  far  away.  These  tanneries  have  long  since  gone  out  of  business 
and  leather  is  made  under  the  “trust”  system  largely,  in  the  great  leather 
centers  of  the  country,  as  well  as  the  shoes  and  harness  made  from  it. 

“widow  blockhouse”  gets  married. 

Among  the  stories  handed  down  from  “ancient  days”  in  W'ooster  is 
this:  At  the  north  end  of  town  stood  the  old  block  house,  in  which  at  the 

time  narrated  about  there  lived  an  old  lady  the  men  had  nicknamed  “Widow 


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Blockhouse.”  Suddenly  she  surprised  the  community  by  announcing  that 
she  had  concluded  to  doff  her  mourning  and  take  to  herself  another  hus- 
band in  the  person  of  an  old  fellow  who  had  neither  money  nor  home.  This 
was  “fun  for  the  boys”  of  that  period,  and  they  made  Widow  Blockhouse's 
marriage  an  extra  occasion,  which  event  must  here  pass  into  the  history 
of  Wooster  and  Wayne  county.  All  the  jovial  spirits  of  the  settlement 
were  present  on  the  evening  of  the  wedding.  It  was  a lively  occasion. 
Squire  McClarran,  an  inveterate  joker,  performed  the  ceremony  with  the 
greatest  solemnity.  In  the  beginning,  after  a few  remarks  on  matrimony 
in  general  and  this  case  in  particular,  he  asked  if  there  was  any  one  present 
who  had  objections  to  this  lovely  couple  “renewing  their  hearts”  in  mar- 
riage, whereupon  a gentleman  impressively  arose  and  in  a most  compli- 
mentary manner  withdrew  all  of  his  claims  upon  the  affections  of  the  bride. 
Then  another  arose,  and  another,  until  all  had  made  remarks  and  given  his 
consent  to  the  marriage,  it  being  very  evident  from  their  words  that  they 
all  felt  they  had  a sort  of  personal  claim  upon  the  affianced  charming ( ?) 
widow,  but  felt  forced  to  give  way  to  a more  favored  suitor.  The  ceremony 
concluded,  the  Squire  ordered  every  man  in  the  room  to  kiss  the  bride.  This 
was  complied  with  by  all  until  it  came  to  the  last  man,  who  resided  in 
Wooster  many  long  years  after  that  laughable  event,  and  who  emphatically 
refused,  saying,  “I  will  be  d d if  that  is  not  asking  too  much!” 

BIOGRAPHIES  OF  WOOSTER  S FOUNDERS. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  of  this  volume  is  respectfully  called  to  the 
two  biographical  sketches  of  the  founders  of  Wooster,  John  Bever  and 
William  Henry,  which  occur  in  the  biographical  part  of  this  work.  That  of 
Mr.  Larwill  is  not  in  the  possession  of  the  historian,  as  he  failed  to  supply 
the  proper  material  in  his  lifetime. 

BANKS  OF  WOOSTER. 

With  the  settlement  of  every  new  country,  the  matter  of  banks  has 
always  been  of  much  importance  to  the  citizens.  While  they  at  first  had 
but  little  money  to  deposit,  if  indeed  any,  yet  at  times  the  bank  was  a neces- 
sary adjunct  to  the  settlement  and  development  of  the  country.  Here  in 
Wayne  county  at  first  all  kinds  of  commodities  went  current  for  money. 
Barter  was  the  currency  of  the  times — pelts,  skins,  furs,  grain,  produce,  and 
even  whisky  was  as  good  to  the  settler  who  chanced  to  possess  it  as  money 
is  today. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


The  first  banking  house  of  the  county  was  established  in  1816  and 
known  as  the  German  Bank  of  Wooster.  T.  J.  Jones  was  its  president  and 
W.  Larwill  cashier.  For  a time  it  operated  without  a charter  and  its  ex- 
istence was  of  short  duration. 

In  1834  the  Bank  of  Wooster  was  established,  'with  J.  S.  Lake  as  presi- 
dent and  Benjamin  Bentley  as  cashier.  This  bank  suspended  in  the  month 
of  March,  1848. 

The  Wayne  County  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  of  Ohio  was  organized 
in  February,  1848.  D.  Robison,  Sr.,  was  president  until  January,  1858,  and 
Isaac  Steese  from  1858  until  the  expiration  of  its  charter  in  1865,  F. 
Ouinby,  Jr.,  being  cashier  from  its  organization  until  its  close  in  1865. 

The  Wayne  County  National  Bank  was  organized  in  January,  1865, 
with  R.  R.  Donnelly,  president,  and  E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  cashier.  In  January, 
1874,  Harrison  Armstrong  was  made  president  and  held  the  position  until 
his  death,  in  1876:  E.  Quinby,  Jr.,  serving  as  cashier.  The  original  cap- 
ital was  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  with  the  option  of  enlarging  to  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  At  present  this  banking  house  is  among 
the  solid  institutions  of  Wayne  county  and  operates  under  a capital  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  It  occupies  a massive  brick  bank  build- 
ing on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square,  the  same  having  been  erected  in 
1905.  The  present  officers  of  this  bank  are:  J.  S.  R.  Overholt,  president; 
Frank  Taggart,  vice-president;  John  M.  Criley,  cashier.  Its  deposits  are 
four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  new  bank  building  stands  on  the  old 
site  of  the  bank  as  originally  organized  in  1848,  and  includes  twenty  feet 
front,  purchased  when  the  new  structure  was  built,  making  the  banking 
rooms  spacious  and  up-to-date  in  every  particular. 

The  Exchange  Bank  began  business  in  April,  1854,  under  the  style  of 
Sturges,  Stibbs  & Company,  as  a private  banking  house,  and  in  1863  it  was 
changed  to  Stibbs.  Hanna  & Company.  I^ater  it  was  changed  to  J.  H. 
Kauke  & C.  S.  Frost.  This  bank  is  not  now  in  business. 

The  National  Bank  of  Wooster  was  brought  into  existence  as  follows: 
The  private  banking  company  of  Bonewitz,  Emrich  & Company  was  organ- 
ized in  the  spring  of  1865,  by  S.  R.  Bonewitz,  T.  S.  Johnson,  M.  W.  Pink- 
erton, G.  P.  Emrich,  John  Bechtel  and  C.  H.  Brown,  with  a cash  capital  of 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  In  April,  1865,  it  opened  its  doors  for  banking 
business  and  operated  successfully  until  1868.  when  it  was  reorganized  as  the 
Commercial  Bank  of  W'ooster.  with  a capital  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars. 
Its  officers  then  were:  President,  T.  S.  Johnson:  cashier,  S.  R.  Bonewitz: 

teller.  C.  V.  Hard:  directors,  T.  S.  Johnson.  S.  R.  Bonewitz.  G.  P.  Emrich. 


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D.  Robison,  Jr.,  M.  W.  Pinkerton.  Mr.  Johnson  resigned  April  io,  1868, 
and  Mr.  Emrich  was  chosen,  and  continued  president  until  the  bank  ceased 
to  exist.  July  22,  1869,  Mr.  Bonewitz,  cashier,  resigned  and  C.  V.  Hard 
was  appointed  assistant  cashier,  retaining  such  position  during  the  life  of 
the  institution.  In  November,  1871,  the  shareholders  of  the  Commercial 
Bank  were  granted  a charter  for  the  National  Bank  of  Wooster  with  a 
capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  November  29th  the  books  were 
opened  for  subscriptions,  and  the  same  day  the  amount  of  capital  stock  was 
taken.  G.  P.  Emrich,  D.  Robison,  Jr.,  M.  Welker,  J.  Zimmerman,  G.  B. 
Smith,  J.  S.  Hollowed  and  W.  Barton  were  chosen  directors,  to  serve  until 
January  2,  1872,  the  day  the  bank  began  business.  The  officers  were:  Presi- 
dent, David  Robison,  Jr.;  vice-president,  G.  P.  Emrich;  cashier,  C.  V.  Hard; 
teller,  Will  Emrich,  a position  vacated  in  1876  by  T.  E.  Peckinpaugh,  to 
become  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Wayne  County  Democrat. 

In  the  panicky  days  of  finance  in  1904,  and  because  of  suspicious  actions 
on  the  part  of  some  of  the  bank’s  officials,  the  government  sent  an  inspector 
on  from  Washington,  examined  the  accounts,  appointed  a receiver  and  finally 
closed  up  this  banking  house  permanently.  The  president  and  cashier,  who 
were  also  interested  in  a large  drug  store  in  Wooster,  and  which  had  much 
to  do  with  the  closing  of  the  bank,  were  finally  tried  and  sentenced  to  sev- 
eral years  in  the  penitentiary  of  Ohio.  One  is  still  in  that  institution.  The 
stockholders  made  good  the  loss  of  money  to  the  depositors,  which  act 
ruined  some  of  the  stockholders  financially.  Had  the  bank  inspector  waited 
a reasonable  length  of  time,  it  is  believed  that  the  matter  might  have  been 
adjusted  and  the  bank’s  doors  not  closed  for  all  time.  But  the  majesty 
of  the  law  must  be  upheld,  and  some  one  had  to  lie  the  loser.  The  bank 
was  closed  for  business  November  23,  1904. 

AN  EARLIER  BANK  FAILURE. 

“September  2,  1868/’  says  Ben  Douglas  in  his  1878  history  of  Wayne 
county,  “T.  S.  Johnson  started  a bank,  too,  which  the  same  was  of  discount 

and  deposit,  with  a capital  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  in  1875  it , 

when  there  was  wailing  among  the  depositors  to  the  amount  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.” 

BUILDING  AND  LOAN  COMPANIES. 

Besides  these  regular  banking  houses,  Wooster  today  has  the  benefit  of 
the  following  building  and  loan  institutions,  all  doing  an  excellent  business. 
The  Wayne  Building  and  Loan  Companv,  C.  E.  Thorne,  president:  J.  (i. 

(28) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Sanborn,  cashier.  It  has  assets  amounting  to  six  hundred  and  eighty  thou- 
sand, three  hundred  and  forty-three  dollars.  It  was  organized  July  i,  1909. 

Wooster  Building  and  Loan  Company,  incorporated  in  1892;  the  assets 
are  four  hundred  and  forty-two  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  forty-six 
dollars;  president,  Charles  M.  Gray;  J.  W.  Hooke,  secretary. 

The  Home  Building  and  Loan  Company  was  incorporated  September 
1,  *905*  with  an  authorized  capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars;  officers, 
David  W.  Musselman,  president;  William  M.  Linn,  vice-president;  Weston 
T.  Peckinpaugh,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  assets,  on  June  30,  1908, 
were  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  forty-seven 
dollars. 

PRESENT  BANKS  OF  WOOSTER. 

In  the  year  1909  the  banking  concerns  of  the  city  of  Wooster  were  as 
follows : 

Wayne  County  National  Bank,  following  the  old  Wooster  branch  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Ohio.  It  has  a capital  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  with  deposits  of  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  bank  has 
been  mentioned  at  length  heretofore. 

The  Citizens’  National  Bank,  organized  in  1905,  has  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  capital  and  its  officers  are  as  follows:  L.  E.  Yocum,  president; 

Charles  M.  Gray,  vice-president;  E.  M.  Thompson,  cashier.  Cash  capital, 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars;  deposits,  six  hundred  and  forty  thousand 
dollars. 

Commercial  Bank,  organized  in  1896.  Present  officers,  Albert  Shupe. 
president;  W.  R.  Barnhart,  vice-president;  E.  P.  Shupe,  cashier;  cash  capital, 
fifty  thousand  dollars. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  OF  WOOSTER. 

The  first  school  house  was  a brick  building  erected  where  afterward 
stood  the  third  ward  building.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  a young  sprig 
of  a lawyer,  Carlos  Mather,  from  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  in  1814.  I11 

1 853  and  1854  each  of  the  wards  of  the  city  built  a school  house  of  its  own, 
and  for  a few  years  thereafter  each  had  a school  independent  of  the  others. 
Then  they  were  finally  put  under  one  management,  with  John  BrinkerhofT 
as  their  general  superintendent,  a position  he  held  until  1870. 

By  1867  the  school  accommodations  became  insufficient  and  voluntarily 


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the  citizens  taxed  themselves  to  erect  the  best  school  house  in  northern 
Ohio.  This  was  completed  in  1870  and,  with  its  grounds  and  furnishings, 
cost  one  hundred  and  thirteen  thousand  dollars.  This  is  a part  of  the  present 
high  school  building,  to  which,  in  1909,  was  added  a large  section,  all  being 
complete  and  modern  in  its  appointments.  For  many  years  it  has  stood  out 
as  the  most  attractive  building  in  Wooster.  Its  architectural  beauty  has 
been  the  comment  of  thousands  of  strangers  who  from  year  to  year  have 
visited  the  city.  It  stands  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Bowman 
streets.  Within  this  structure  is  now  held  the  high  school  of  Wooster.  A 
library  of  three  hundred  volumes,  a geological  cabinet,  chemical  apparatus, 
etc.,  were  placed  in  the  building  as  early  as  1876.  In  1874  vocal  music  was 
introduced  into  the  schools  as  a regular  branch  of  study  in  all  the  grades. 
In  1877  drawing  was  introduced  and  a special  teacher  employed  for  this 
study.  The  superintendent  has  for  many  years  held  monthly  meetings  of 
all  his  instructors.  By  state  school  reports  it  is  learned  that  in  1877  the 
Wooster  schools  were  among  the  best  in  Ohio.  A large  number  have  al- 
ways sought  this  city  from  remote  parts  of  the  county  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining a higher  education  than  it  was  possible  to  gain  at  home. 

The  ward  school  buildings  above  referred  to  served  well  the  purpose 
for  which  they  were  erected  until  the  city  had  outgrown  them.  In  1891 
what  is  known  as  Pittsburg  Avenue  building  was  erected,  a two-story,  two- 
room  building,  still  in  use.  Bealle  Avenue  building  was  erected  in  1901  at 
a cost  of  twenty-seven  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a fine  modern  two-story  brick 
building,  containing  six  rooms.  South  Walnut  Street  building  was  erected 
in  1902,  at  a cost  of  thirty-one  thousand  dollars.  It  contains  eight  rooms  and  is 
thoroughly  modern  in  all  its  appointments.  The  annex  to  the  high  school 
building  was  erected  in  1908-09  at  a cost  of  more  than  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars. It,  together  with  the  original  building  erected  in  1868-70,  is  now 
styled  Central  High  School  building  and  is  an  imposing  structure. 

The  present  school  board  is  made  up  as  follows : President,  George  W. 
Ryall;  clerk,  J.  T.  Keister,  John  A.  Myers  (1909)  ; D.  L.  Thompson,  superin- 
tendent; C.  M.  Tawney,  treasurer;  city  school  examiners,  C.  M.  Tawney, 
James  M.  Schamp  and  D.  L.  Thompson. 

J.  E.  Fitzgerald  became  superintendent  of  the  city  schools  in  the  autumn 
of  1909.  At  that  date  the  number  of  teachers  in  the  various  city  schools 
was  thirty-three.  Of  this  number,  ten  were  employed  in  the  high  school. 
The  total  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  Wooster  schools  in  1909  was  nineteen 
hundred  and  sixty-six. 


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EIGHTH  OF  JANUARY  CELEBRATIONS JACKSONIAN. 

Since  early  in  the  fifties,  Wooster  has  always  had  a very  interesting 
celebration  in  the  way  of  observing  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans  and  the  great  achievements  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  and  his  gallant 
army.  It  has  come  to  be  a ‘'fixed  institution”  in  Wooster.  It  is  annually 
observed  as  a grand  jubilee  day.  and  to  it  men  of  state  and  national  renown 
come  each  year  to  share  in  the  interesting  program.  Usually  members  of 
Congress  are  invited  and  come  and  deliver  eloquent  and  historic  speeches  to 
a large  assemblage.  Banquets  are  served  and  the  rising  young  are  fired 
with  the  true  spirit  of  patriotism  and  love  of  country  and  a higher  respect 
is  inculcated  into  them,  by  the  observance,  with  the  return  of  each  January 
8th,  of  this  anniversary. 

WAYNE  COUNTY’S  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

On  August  ii,  12,  13,  14  and  15,  1896,  at  Wooster  occurred  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  forming  of  Wavne  county  by  order  of  the 
then  governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair,  who 
had  the  honor  of  establishing  original  Wayne  county,  the  date  of  its  establish- 
ment being  August  15,  1796.  Indeed  it  would  fill  a good  sized  volume  to 
detail  all  there  was  of  interest  at  that  celebration — Wayne  county’s  centen- 
nial. But  the  following  description  must  suffice  in  this  connection : 

On  the  1 1 tli  day  of  August,  1896,  commenced  a series  of  brilliant  exer- 
cises, which  culminated  on  the  great  day  of  the  real  anniversary,  August 
15th.  The  decorations  throughout  the  city  were  never  half  so  brilliant  and 
bewitching.  The  public  square  was  truly  a mass  of  bunting.  The  court 
house,  from  tower  to  base,  was  literally  clothed  in  rich  festoons  and  flags. 
North  Market  street  had  an  entrance  archway  with  the  figures,  “1796,” 
bold  and  sightly : over  South  Market  street  “1896”  appeared  conspicuous; 
over  West  Liberty  -street,  at  the  court  house,  hung  a beautiful  portrait  of  Gen- 
eral Wooster,  and  over  East  Liberty  street  was  to  be  seen  that  of  Gen. 
Anthony  Wayne.  These  pictures  were  executed  and  presented  to  the  com- 
mittee bv  M.  S.  Nachtrieb.  In  the  center  of  the  square  there  stood  a white- 
canopied  grand  stand:  just  to  the  north  was  a real  log  cabin,  built  by  a pio- 
neer of  ninety-eight  years  before.  Its  interior  and  exterior  were  furnished 
with  primitive  furniture  of  pioneer  days,  not  forgetting  the  coon  .skin  at  the 
door  and  the  draw-well.  The  decorations  by  the  merchants  on  the  public 
square  were  lavish  and  gay.  The  program  of  the  centennial  was  as  follows. 


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in  brief:  Inaugural  day,  Tuesday,  August  nth;  Educational  day,  Wednes- 

day, August  12th;  Soldiers'  day,  Thursday,  August  13th;  Church  day,  Fri- 
day, August  14th;  Pioneer  day,  Saturday,  August  15th.  The  last  day 
surpassed  all ; the  procession  was  the  longest  ever  seen  within  Wayne  county, 
being  two  miles  long.  All  the  arts  and  sciences  and  business  industries  of 
Wooster  made  it  at  once  a complete,  impressive  and  instructive  scene.  Mu- 
sic and  bands  from  far  and  near  enlivened  the  day.  Ten  thousand  people 
participated  in  the  march.  At  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square  a speaker's 
stand  had  been  provided,  and  from  it  many  eloquent  and  witty  speeches 
were  made. 

Of  educational  day  it  may  be  stated  that  the  exercises  were  held  at  the 
opera  house  and  later  bicycle  races  were  in  order.  In  the  evening,  at  the 
opera  house  was  ‘‘Woman’s  Evening,"  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Ben  Douglas 
and  prayer  was  offered  up  by  Mrs.  Kirkwood. 

Soldiers’  day  was  observed  at  the  park.  Captain  Lybarger  first  spoke, 
and  was  followed  by  Hon.  John  Sherman,  who  delivered  a masterly  address 
in  which  he  brought  out  the  point  plainly  that  the  Indian  was  rightfully 
driven  from  this  fair  section  in  order  to  make  room  for  a better  type  of  civil- 
ization. 

Church  and  Sunday  school  day  found  twenty-five  thousand  people  in 
Wooster;  eight  thousand  were  at  the  tents  at  the  park  at  opening  time.  Later 
fifteen  thousand  were  on  the  grounds.  Rev.  W.  O.  Thompson,  president 
of  the  Miami  University,  spoke,  as  did  Rev.  George  W.  Peppard,  and  Rev. 
T.  K.  Davis  spoke  at  the  Lutheran  church. 

Pioneer  day,  day  of  all  days,  under  the  charge  of  the  Pioneer  Picnic 
Association,  was  a great  gathering — a genuine  love  feast  of  pioneers  and  the 
younger  generations.  Judge  L.  R.  Critchfield  made  a masterly  oration, 
which  was  printed  in  full.  It  was  replete  with  all  that  was  noble,  good  and 
inspiring,  and  was  a valuable  historic  contribution,  being  reprinted  elsewhere 
in  this  work. 


DAYS  OF  MOURNING  IN  WOOSTER. 

In  April,  1865,  upon  the  death  of  President  Lincoln,  Wooster  was  in 
sorrow,  in  common  with  all  the  country.  The  body  of  the  martyred  Presi- 
dent was  viewed  by  many  from  Wooster  as  the  train  stopped  at  Cleveland, 
en  route  to  Illinois.  The  news  of  his  death  was  received  at  11  o’clock  the 
day  of  his  death  and  immediately  the  stores  and  business  houses  were 
closed,  bells  tolled  mournfully,  the  people  assembled  in  groups  and  every 


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one  seemed  surrounded  by  a deep  gloom.  The  town  was  filled  with  people 
from  outside,  and  all  bore  evidence  of  deep  grief.  On  the  following  Sabbath 
people  greeted  one  another  in  subdued  tones,  and  tears  coursed  down  many  a 
strong  man's  cheeks.  The  churches  all  observed  the  day  in  sorrow  and  held 
appropriate  memorial  services,  alluding  especially  to  the  great  Emancipator 
in  the  sermons  that  were  delivered. 

DEATHS  OF  GARFIELD  AND  M'KINLEY. 

In  1881,  when  President  Garfield  was  stricken  down,  the  people  again 
put  on  mourning  in  Wayne  county.  Then,  at  the  death  of  President  William 
McKinley,  the  heart  strings  of  all  were  almost  snapped  asunder.  Regardless 
of  political  lines,  all  were  his  friends,  and  at  this  time  became  his  mourners 
in  fact.  The  city  of  Wooster  was  for  the  third  time  within  twenty-six  years 
draped  in  deep  mourning  for  the  assassination  of  a President — all  three 
noble  specimens  of  American  manhood.  A committee  was  appointed  from 
the  Wayne  county  bar  and  appropriate  resolutions  were  spread  on  the  rec- 
ords, Mr.  McKinley  having  at  one  time  been  a member  of  the  bar  in  this 
county.  Memorial  services  were  held  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Luth- 
eran churches.  President  S.  F.  Scovel,  of  the  University  of  Wooster,  spoke 
to  a large  audience  at  the  Lutheran  church  on  “McKinley  as  a Statesman.” 
“Lead  Kindly  Light”  (the  President's  favorite  hymn)  was  tenderly  sung 
at  the  services.  The  church  was  appropriately  draped  and  had  a setting  of 
palms. 

At  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  flowers  and  drapings  of  black  and 
royal  purple  adorned  the  ceilings  and  walls.  Rev.  Neikirk  read  from  the 
Scriptures  and  Judge  L.  R.  Critchfield  delivered  the  address  on  behalf  of  the 
bar  of  Wayne  county.  It  need  not  be  added  that  it  was  a gem  of  oratory. 
Judge  Taggart  also  spoke  for  the  citizens  of  Wooster.  The  last  address  was 
by  President  Holden,  of  the  University  of  Wooster. 


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CHAPTER  XXII. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  WOOSTER. 

By  Sylvester  F.  Scovel. 

A university  is  an  affair  of  the  generations.  That  lends  a peculiar  sacred- 
ness to  all  which  concerns  its  origin  and  fundamental  principles,  for  by  the 
generations  God  creates  anew  the  heavens  and  the  earth  in  the  mental,  moral 
and  spiritual  worlds. 

Wooster  is  yet  young.  This  sketch  is  written  in  1910,  which  is  but 
sixty-three  years  from  1847,  when  the  first  faint  echo  of  the  agitation  for  a 
Presbyterian  college  reached  the  synods  of  Ohio.  It  is  but  forty-four  years 
since  the  charter  was  granted  in  1866,  but  forty-two  years  since  the  corner- 
stone was  laid  in  1868,  and  just  less  than  forty  years  since  the  main  building 
was  dedicated  and  actual  college-life  began  within  its  open  doors  in  Sep- 
tember, 1870. 

That  which  makes  it  easier  to  relate  Wooster’s  history  is  this  youthful- 
ness. Anything  less  than  a century  in  the  life  of  a university  is  but  an 
annual  ring  in  the  age-long  growth  of  a Calaveras  pine.  The  external  life 
of  a brief  period  can  be  more  easily  presented  and  the  internal  life  more  ad- 
equately penetrated  and  depicted.  It  is  also  true  that  Wooster’s  development 
has  followed  the  lines  of  its  original  projection  and  that  three  out  of  its  four 
decades  have  been  characterized  by  quiet  progress — the  startling  things  being 
reserved  for  the  fourth. 

On  the  other  hand,  within  a period  so  limited  and  so  recent  all  sorts 
of  historical  material  are  accessible  and  rigid  “selection”  is  rendered  com- 
pulsory, difficult  though  it  be,  and  this  becomes  the  more  imperative  in  a 
work  which  essays  to  discover  and  trace  all  the  lines  of  interest  which  legiti- 
mately belong  to  the  story  of  such  a county  as  Wayne.  Yet  these  limits  must 
not  be  too  rigidly  interpreted,  seeing  that  the  importance  of  the  university 
element  in  the  life  of  Wayne  county  is  becoming  steadily  more  perceptible 
and  perceived.  The  life  and  meaning,  the  ideals  and  realizations  of  our 
central  educational  institution  should  be  carefully  restated  from  time  to  time 
in  ampler  and  more  consecutive  form  than  the  transient  publications  provide 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


for.  This  has  not  been  done  since  the  admirable  contribution  by  the  second 
president  (Dr.  Taylor)  to  the  highly  esteemed  history  of  Wayne  county, 
edited  by  that  remarkable  man,  Benjamin  Douglas.  That  communication  was 
written  in  1877  (published  in  1878)  and  represents  the  University's  first  thir- 
teen years.  It  is,  perhaps,  appropriate  that  after  the  interval  of  thirty-three 
years.  Dr.  Taylor's  successor  in  office  should  succeed  to  his  task  as  historian. 

Period  I may  be  called 

THE  PERIOD  OF  INCEPTION  AND  PREPARATION. 

We  might  press  the  beginning  of  this  period,  constructively,  clear  away  to 
the  atrocities  on  both  sides,  which  ended  in  stripping  the  north  of  Ireland  of 
its  proper  possessors  by  Cromwell  and  the  insertion  there  of  the  elements  out 
of  which  time  created  that  peculiarly  hardy  and  intelligent  and  aggressive 
folk  popularly  known  as  the  “Scotch-Irish."  They  came  to  western  Penn- 
sylvania and  thence  into  central  Ohio,  and  reached  the  st°te  also  from  Ken- 
tucky and -North  Carolina.  They  planted  the  “Scotch-Irish  seeds  in  American 
soil"  (see  Dr.  Craighead's  interesting  volume  with  this  title).  And  the  har- 
vest was  not  only  political  freedom  but  an  intellectual  intensity  that  could  not 
be  content  without  making  the  speediest  possible  provision  for  the  education 
of  their  children.  The  home  missionaries  of  the  Presbyterian  church  were 
generally  men  of  education  and  they  never  ceased  to  foster  the  conviction  that 
education  must  follow  the  attainment  of  any  satisfaction  of  “existence 
wants,"  because  it  was  emphatically  the  first  of  the  “culture  wants."  Other 
denominations  succeeded  in  planting  colleges  under  pressure  of  the  two  great 
motives  common  to  all — the  sacredness  of  education  in  its  moral  and  religious 
aspects,  and  the  provision  of  a ministry  for  the  edification  of  the  church  and 
die  ultimately  world-wide  conversion  of  men.  This  essentially  religious  and 
only  formally  denominational  pressure,  more  than  any  other  force,  determined 
the  diffusive  college  policy  which  did  so  much  to  make  the  state  the  new  Mother 
of  Presidents.  Its  results  are  manifest,  if  one  stands  besides  the  group  of 
statues  in  the  Capitol's  park,  and  traces  the  touch  of  the  denominational  col- 
leges upon  that  rare  collection  of  Ohio's  “jewels."  [The  writer  had  the  privi- 
lege of  defending  this  policy  before  the  Ohio  Society  of  Xew  York  on  an 
occasion  in  which  the  then  Governor  McKinley  made  the  principal  address, 
and  had  subsequently  the  satisfaction  of  the  Governor's  approval  of  the  posi- 
tion taken.] 

The  Presbyterians  of  the  state  did  not  at  first  establish  their  own  insti- 
tution. but  co-operated  with  those  under  state  patronage,  as  in  the  case  of 


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Miami  University,  or  in  partnership  with  another  denomination,  as  at  Marietta 
and  with  Western  Reserve  and  in  lesser  degree  with  Oberlin.  All  believed  in 
the  just  combination  of  the  spiritual  with  the  mental  and  moral  elements  in 
training  and  developing  the  whole  man,  as  necessary  to  a complete  and 
symmetrical  education.  But  as  other  denominations  entered  the  field  and  as 
no  one  of  the  arrangements  tried  seemed  thoroughly  satisfactory;  as  many  of 
the  sons  of  their  own  families  were  sent  to  Eastern  institutions;  the  Presby- 
terians continued  to  discuss  the  propriety  and  finally  the  necessity  for  an  in- 
stitution of  their  own. 

We  have  the  most  direct  and  reliable  account  of  this  period  of  genesis 
in  the  various  addresses  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Robinson,  of  which  there  are 
now  extant  but  rare  copies,  and  especially  in  the  ample  and  careful  statements 
made  at  the  inauguration  of  the  first  president  (Dr.  Lord).  And  just  here 
it  must  be  noted  that  while  Dr.  James  Hoge  (so  long  pastor  at  Columbus) 
and  Dr.  John  Robinson  appear  together  as  joint  promoters  of  this  great  inter- 
est from  the  beginning,  it  is  to  the  latter  we  are  indebted  for  many  years  of 
most  valuable  service  (after  the  death  of  the  former)  both  as  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  as  the  historian  of  the  first  period  in  the  University's 
life.  He  was  spared  to  state  and  preserve  for  record  the  circumstances  and 
convictions  accompanying  the  conception  and  birth  of  the  enterprise,  to  make 
plain  its  meaning  and  motives,  and  to  impress  these  in  clear  and  unmistak- 
able terms  at  the  inaugurations  of  the  first,  second  and  third  presidents.  ‘The 
idea  we  realize  in  part  to-day,"  he  said  on  the  first  occasion,  “arose  simul- 
taneously a quarter  of  a century  since  [i.  e.,  about  1845]  m the  minds  of 
earnest  members  of  the  synods  of  Cincinnati  and  Ohio.  It  sprang  naturally 
from  the  fact  that  the  church  had  just  then  entered  upon  the  plan  of  doing 
ecclesiastically,  in  her  organic  capacity,  her  proper  work  for  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  our  race.  Foreign  and  domestic  missions,  ministerial  education  and 
publication  she  was  carrying  on  under  her  own  supervision.  Nor  could  it  be 
seen  why  her  efforts  in  the  direction  of  collegiate  education  should  be  less 
effective  than  those  of  voluntary  associations  or  individuals,  or  why  she 
should  leave  the  important  work  of  moulding  the  ruling  minds  of  successive 
generations  to  other  hands.  This  work  seemed  fundamental  if  not  to  her 
existence  at  least  to  her  prosperity,  her  success  not  only  in  multiplying  an 
evangelical  ministry,  but  in  ramifying  every  department  of  society  with  her 
earnest  piety  and  her  sturdy  theology.  To  neglect  this  seemed  suicidal. 
* * * There  seemed  no  alternative  left  but  to  prove  derelict  to 

duty  or  pursue  this  course  [i.  e.  to  create  their  own  institution].  In  this  they 
heard  the  voice  of  God  ” 


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Then  the  president  of  the  board  emphasized  the  call  to  evangelization  of 
the  world,  which  the  church  was  beginning  to  hear  with  a new  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility. To  secure  the  laborers  for  the  great  white  harvest  no  other 
way  appeared  except  “an  institution  where  she  could  bring  her  religious  in- 
fluences to  bear  in  her  own  way,  most  intensely,  where  she  could  infuse  an 
intense  missionary  spirit,  give  a biblical  cast  to  the  whole  course  of  study  and 
inculcate  her  very  ‘ism;  not  offensively  nor  with  bigotry,  or  for  mere  sec- 
tarian ends,  but  with  the  energy  which  a conviction  of  its  divinity  gives,  and 
where  she  might  do  all  this  without  being  trammeled  by  the  fear  of  a lack  of 
candor,  or  wounding  the  denominational  sensibilities  of  any,  or  lessening 
patronage/’ 

In  addition  to  this  dominant  religious  motive  there  was  also  the  per- 
suasion that  there  did  not  then  exist  in  Ohio  “an  institution  possessing  the 
means  and  facilities  for  giving  that  broad  and  thorough  culture  which  the  age 
and  the  exigencies  of  the  church  demand.  Not,  therefore,  to  add  another  to 
the  many  colleges  of  Ohio  that  burlesque  the  name,  but  to  establish  an  institu- 
tion with  broad  foundations  and  with  facilities  equal  to  the  best  in  the  land, 
capable  of  preparing  men  for  every  department  of  life,  for  the  highest  walks 
of  science  in  all  its  forms,  enabling  them  to  wrench  from  the  hands  of  infidel 
sciolists  the  weapons  with  which  they  now  attack  the  Christian  religion,  was 
the  enterprise  undertaken.” 

Nor  was  it  enough  that  the  institution  should  be  frankly  Christian.  Its 
character  as  such,  as  well  as  its  support,  must  be  guaranteed  by  its  inherence  in 
and  not  simply  adherence  to  a definite  church  organization.  “Denominational 
institutions,  gathering  about  them,”  said  Dr.  Robinson,  “the  sympathies,  and 
calling  forth  the  prayers  and  benefactions  of  a large  and  homogeneous  Chris- 
tian constituency  who  look  to  them  for  leaders  after  their  own  heart,  in  civil 
and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  are  those  that  best  succeed.  Their  responsibility  is 
most  direct.  Their  unity  of  purpose  and  effort  is  best  assured.” 

Nor  was  there  any  fear  as  to  the  effective  management  of  an  educa- 
tional institution  so  expressing  the  life  of  an  organic  section  of  the  church 
of  Christ.  “For  surely,”  continues  the  same  authority,  “a  board  of  direction 
appointed  by  the  church  and  responsible  to  the  church  in  her  organic  capacity 
cannot  be  less  united,  less  wise  or  less  efficient  than  a self-appointed  board. 
And  living  pre-eminently  for  the  church  they  will  live  with  the  church.  As 
her  agencies  she  will  call  down  upon  them  the  blessing  of  God.  They  cannot, 
therefore,  but  live  and  prosper.  These  considerations,  accumulating  force 
year  by  year,  have  now  culminated  in  the  establishment  of  this  University.” 


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A rapid  sketch  of  the  steps  which  led  to  that  culmination  may  now  claim 
attention. 

Though  the  “idea”  dawned  about  1845,  no  formal  action  could  be 
taken,  “because  several  institutions  were  under  the  general  influence  of 
Presbyterians  and  these  were  deemed  by  many  sufficient. ” The  earliest  syn- 
odical action  was  that  of  the  synod  of  Ohio  (covering  the  central  portion  of 
the  state).  A committee  was  appointed  to  report  at  next  meeting  on  the 
whole  subject  of  education — embracing  particularly  the  topic  of  a synodical 
college.  This  committee  was  continued  in  1848  to  confer  with  a similar  com- 
mittee from  the  synod  of  Cincinnati,  to  receive  donations  and  propositions 
for  the  establishing  of  a college.  But  1849  finds  the  latter  body  “disinclined/’ 
and  the  former  did  not  think  it  expedient  to  engage  in  the  enterprise  alone. 
But  three  years  was  as  long  a period  as  these  earnest  men  could  check  their 
enthusiasm,  and  in  1852  a committee  of  Ohio  synod  was  appointed  to  consider 
the  expediency  of  endeavoring  to  establish  a Presbyterian  college  to  be  insti- 
tuted, endowed  and  managed  by  the  synods  of  Ohio  conjointly.  A similar 
committee  was  asked  from  the  synod  of  Cincinnati,  ten  men  in  each.  Being 
appointed,  the  twenty  were  to  be  authorized  to  “select  a location,  prepare  a 
plan  of  and  secure  means  for  sustaining  and  make  preparation  to  open  such 
an  institution,”  subject  to  future  action  of  synods.  The  committee  conferred 
in  1853,  but  only  with  the  result  that  in  1854  it  was  judged  “inexpedient  to 
engage  in  this  enterprise  at  the  present  time.”  In  the  same  year  the  noble  old 
institution  of  Washington  College,  “then  under  the  care  of  the  synod  of 
Wheeling,”  was  approved  by  the  synod  of  Ohio  and  the  way  opened  for  its 
agents.  The  next  year  it  was  arranged  that  funds  secured  for  Washington 
College  “were  to  be  returned  without  interest  after  a use  of  seven  years,  if  a 
synodical  college  shall  be  established  in  this  state.” 

But  that  very  year  (1855)  the  synod  of  Cincinnati  overtimed  the  synod 
of  Ohio  and’ that  synod  again  took  measures  “looking  toward  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  greatly  important  object.”  The  two  synods  authorized  the  joint 
committee  “to  devise  such  plans  and  perform  such  acts  as  may  be  necessary 
to  the  location,  endowment  and  government  of  such  an  institution.”  This 
1855  action  may  be  regarded  as.  in  an  important  sense,  the  starting  point.  It 
gives  us  about  five  years  before  the  war,  a five  years’  interim  during  the  war 
(except  a single  resolution  in  1864)  and  five  years  after  the  war  until  the 
opening  in  1870. 

At  this  synod  Bellefontaine  appeared  asking  the  location.  No  decisive 
action  was  taken,  but  in  1856  the  synod  of  Cincinnati  received  definite  pro- 
posals from  Bellefontaine,  Chillicothe  and  West  Liberty.  The  last-named  site 


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was  chosen.  Six  trustees  were  appointed  and  an  address  to  the  churches 
issued.  But  when  the  action  was  reported  to  the  synod  of  Ohio  it  was  dis- 
covered that  Chillicothe  was  favored  and  trustees  were  appointed  for  that 
locality.  Naturally  a convention  of  the  two  synods  was  called  to  meet  in 
Columbus.  There,  on  the  23 d of  December,  1856,  discussion  was  had,  and 
local  preferences  seemed  to  be  intensified.  Finally  West  Liberty  was  chosen. 
Trustees  reported  in  1857.  Satisfaction  was  expressed  with  progress  and 
the  time  extended  to  1858.  But  then  the  funds  needed  were  not  secured  and 
the  synod  of  Cincinnati  said  “the  body  of  the  churches  could  not  be  brought 
to  co-operate  in  building  at  West  Liberty."  The  synod  of  Ohio  reluctantly 
concurred,  but  declared  that  its  action  must  not  be  “misunderstood  as  aban- 
doning the  founding  at  an  early  day  of  such  an  institution  as  may  be  worthy 
of  the  church  and  the  country." 

It  was  a time  of  discouragement  and  the  “wiser  and  older  men  grew 
anxious.*’  [Dr.  Taylor.]  Attempts  to  unite  synods  and  churches  seemed  to 
fail  raid  without  such  united  action  success  was  impossible.  But  in  1839  a 
joint  committee  was  again  appointed,  as,  indeed,  even  in  1858  an  arrangement 
had  been  made  for  correspondence  and  conference.  The  joint  committee  of 
1859  reported  in  i860  on  what  had  seemed  an  admirable  movement  toward 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  a possible  purchase  of  Wittenberg  College.  Both 
synods  took  great  interest  in  this  possibility  (and  doubtless  the  location  would 
have  been  ideal),  but  the  negotiations  failed.  [The  writer  well  remembers 
meeting  Drs.  Hoge  and  Robinson  present  in  Springfield  about  this  enterprise 
in  November,  1859,  at  a prayer  meeting  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  to 
the  pastorate  of  which  church  he  was  called  a year  later]. 

Thus  we  reach  another  pause  in  Wooster’s  genesis,  which  was  to  be 
longer  than  any  since  the  beginning.  The  war  conditions  (1861-65)  were 
altogether  unfavorable.  A good  many  things  beside  the  “laws"  must  be 
“silent  in  war."  Only  in  1864  the  synod  of  Ohio  demonstrated  the  truth  of 
its  decision  of  1858  not  to  be  misunderstood  as  abandoning  the  projected  col- 
lege and  resolving  that  the  time  had  come  to  resume,  directed  the  trustees 
(formerly  appointed)  to  receive  offers  and  asked  the  other  synods  to  co-oper- 
ate. In  1865  nothing  effective  had  been  accomplished,  apparently,  yet  Lon- 
don citizens  and  those  of  Wooster  were  disposed  to  make  offers.  The  cur- 
rent is  on  again  and  incandescence  is  nigh.  Ohio  synod,  without  answer 
from  the  synods  of  Cincinnati  or  Sandusky  (lately  organized),  resolved  to 
go  on  alone  if  any  place  offered  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  it  “invited 
any  synod  of  the  New  School  Presbyterian  church  that  might  be  willing,  to 


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unite  with  it  in  this  work.”  The  other  synods  (O.  S.)  voted  to  co-operate. 
Thus  we  reach  1866  when  the  floating  project  was  to  be  anchored.  Yet  it 
was  odd  that  in  that  synod  the  experiment  of  establishing  professorships  in 
Miami  University  “to  be  held  and  controlled”  by  the  synods,  was  entered 
upon  by  Ohio  and  Cincinnati.  Trustees  were  appointed  for  this  purpose,  but 
nothing  resulted — as  might  have  been  anticipated.  Too  much  had  been  done 
in  the  main  channel  to  permit  any  deflection.  Just  now,  also,  all  doubts  were 
to  be  dispelled  by  the  Wooster  offer  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  (includ- 
ing the  cost  of  the  site)  with  the  two  very  proper  conditions:  ( 1 ) the  con- 

currence of  the  three  synods,  and  (2)  the  pledge  to  endow  the  institution  to 
the  amount  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  including  the  amount  offered 
by  Wayne  county.  The  synod  of  Ohio  was  in  session  at  Wooster  (and  it 
may  be  noted  that  the  synod  has  brought  a blessing  to  the  University  at  every 
occasion  of  its  meeting  here).  What  may  be  called  the  first  pecuniary  crisis 
now  occurs.  The  subscription  lacked  thirty-two  thousand  dollars  of  com- 
pletion. A committee  of  synod  was  appointed.  It  viewed  “the  landscape 
o'er”  from  the  charming  campus-site  and  accepted  it  as  representing  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  an  increased  but  fair  valuation.  This,  however,  left  a 
deficit  in  the  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  subscription  of  seventeen  thousand 
dollars.  That  the  whole  affair  might  be  closed,  Mr.  Ephraim  Ouinby,  Jr., 
and  others  came  promptly  forward  with  a guarantee  for  the  needed  sum, 
which  was  afterwards  contributed  and  the  guarantors  released.  The  offer 
in  this  form  was  promptly  and  gratefully  accepted  by  the  synod  of  Ohio, 
which  engaged  in  the  work  at  once  with  that  of  Sandusky.  The  synod  of 
Cincinnati  did  not  receive  the  proposal  in  time  for  intelligent  consideration, 
but  gave  in  the  following  year  the  same  pledge  and  co-operated  with  the 
trustees  appointed  by  the  other  synods.  These  trustees  “met  in  November, 
invited  members  of  the  synod  of  Cincinnati  to  meet  with  them,  appointed  the 
required  number  of  citizens  of  Wayne  county  as  members  of  the  board,  and 
with  prayer  for  divine  guidance  made  arrangements  to  secure  a charter.”  At 
the  same  meeting  they  declared  the  object  for  which  and  the  basis  upon  which 
the  University  should  be  founded.  They  initiated  efforts  both  to  secure  en- 
dowment and  to  erect  buildings.  “In  1867  the  three  synods  entered  into  cor- 
dial co-operation,  arranged  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  board  of  trustees  and 
entered  earnestly  into  the  work.” 

Turning  now  for  a moment  to  the  liberal  and  enterprising  citizens  of 
Wooster  and  Wayne  county,  whose  intelligence  and  wise-hearted  energy  and 
sacrifice  made  the  University  possible,  one  is  filled  with  admiration  for  them 
and  the  work  they  accomplished.  There  must  have  been  a fine  spirit  of 


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thoughtful  benevolence  to  lead  them  to  make  what  was  at  that  time  an  ex- 
traordinary offer.  The  enthusiasm  of  expectancy  was  also  well  developed. 
Denominational  lines  were  largely  ignored  in  giving  to  a frankly  denomina- 
tional institution.  The  name  of  Ephraim  Quinby,  Jr.,  heads  the  list  with 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  R.  B.  Stibbs  subscribed  three  thousand  dollars. 
There  are  nine  subscribers  of  one  thousand  dollars  each.  One  pledges  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  there  are  ten  down  for  five  hundred  dollars 
each.  More  money  was  needed  and  much  of  it  given,  for  furnishing  the 
central  portion  of  the  main  building.  S.  C.  Bragg's  donation  of  five  thousand 
dollars  (in  books ) and  the  Purdy  gift  from  Mansfield  came  in  this  first  period 
and  the  Mercer  and  Johnson  professorships,  twenty-five  thousand  dollars 
each,  followed  soon. 

While  the  people  had  a mind  to  the  work  in  raising  the  funds  and  the 
building,  the  trustees  were  busied  in  poising  the  institution  upon  its  true  basis, 
and  preparing  the  way  for  the  opening  of  its  doors.  No  part  in  the  control 
of  the  University  was  given  to  any  state  officials  nor  to  any  one  outside  of 
the  synods  concerned,  though  the  way  was  held  invitingly  open  for  any  like- 
minded  ecclesiastical  bodies  of  Presbyterian  lineage. 

Agents  were  appointed  at  once  and  began  their  work  with  the  dawn  of 
1867.  These  were  Doctor  J.  W.  Scott  (ex-president  of  Washington  College), 
Dr.  T.  K.  Davis  (pastor  at  Mansfield,  Ohio),  and  the  Rev.  Silas  Dunlap. 
Doctor  Scott  wearied  of  the  work  in  three  months  and  was  convinced  that 
the  churches  could  not  then  be  brought  to  such  unity  and  liberality  as  would 
secure  success.  The  others  persevered  and  were  successful.  In  1868  (June 
30th)  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  considerable  local  enthusiasm.  Ad- 
dresses were  delivered  by  the  Rev.  W.  P.  Marshall,  of  Columbus,  and  the  Rev. 
W.  M.  Baker,  of  Zanesville.  After  this  an  effort  was  made  to  attach  to  the 
nascent  University  the  Agricultural  College  of  the  state,  but  it  did  not  suc- 
ceed. In  1869  the  synods  heard  the  announcement  that  the  sum  below  which 
they  would  not  open  the  University  had  been  reached  and  passed.  Two  hun- 
dred fifty-one  thousand  six  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars  was  the  amount  re- 
ported. It  was  ‘‘secured  mainly  from  members  of  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tions” (Doctor  Taylor).  This  result  was  in  large  measure  owed  to  the  vear’s 
energetic  labor  of  Dr.  Oeorge  P.  Hays  and  the  wisely-planned  organization 
by  which  he  reached  the  churches.  On  the  very  last  day  conditioning  the 
subscription  a certain  large  donation  was  received  on  which  seemed  to  hang 
the  hopes  of  the  indefatigable  promoter.  The  writer  has  heard  him  relate 
the  drive  of  that  day  which  brought  him  into  communication  and  enabled 
him  to  announce  the  completion  of  the  great  effort.  It  has  been  suggested 


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that  Doctor  Hays  should  have  been  the  first  president  of  the  institution,  to 
which  he  was  so  largely  instrumental  in  giving  actuality.  Whether  this  be  so 
or  not,  it  is  a privilege  to  say  that,  judged  in  the  light  of  his  noble  and  success- 
ful subsequent  career  as  president  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  and  in  varied 
lines  of  Christian  work,  he  would  have  proven  exceedingly  well  adapted  to 
the  exigencies  of  the  institution’s  earlier  years.  Never  was  born,  perhaps,  a 
man  with  more  executive  talent,  more  purposeful  energy  or  more  real  con- 
secration to  the  work  in  hand. 

The  largeness  of  the  plans  of  the  founders  was  made  visible  in  the  pro- 
jected building,  the  pictured  presentation  of  which  went  into  so  many 
churches  and  homes  of  the  state.  Its  proportions  and  capacity,  its  adaptation 
for  a department  of  medicine  as  well  as  for  the  arts  and  sciences  were  marked. 
Its  massive  foundations  and  lofty  stories  and  complete  finish  from  cellar  to 
mansard  rooms  were  such  and  so  expensive  as  to  overgo  all  estimates  and 
make  the  construction  of  anything  beyond  the  central  section  impossible. 
But  there  it  stood,  conspicuous,  upright  and  downright,  provocative  of  many 
a quip  and  jest,  but  a solid  witness  to  the  intense  desire  of  the  founders  to  build 
an  institution  both  broad  and  deep  and  high.  The  year  1870  was  a busy  one 
for  all  concerned.  There  was  the  faculty  to  be  chosen,  the  curriculum  to  be 
planned,  the  building  to  be  finished,  the  students  to  be  secured.  But  each  was 
accomplished.  Doctors  Dickson  and  Goodrich  declined  the  presidency  and 
David  Swing  the  professorship  of  English  literature,  while  the  faculty  was 
being  sought.  Professors  Kirkwood  and  Stoddard,  who  accepted,  were  well- 
known  in  Ohio  as  educators,  and  their  names  gave  strength  to  the  selection, 
as  did  the  name  of  that  graceful  writer,  Thomas  Fullerton,  and  the  genial,  pol- 
ished and  profound  president.  Doctor  Lord.  The  plan  of  endowing  a pro- 
fessorship by  the  Sabbath  schools  of  the  state  (through  scholarships)  was 
admirable  in  theory  but  only  partially  successful.  During  the  previous  year 
Doctor  Hays  had  made  a characteristically  bold,  but  certain  to  be  unsuccess- 
ful attempt  to  carry  over  to  the  new  enterprise  the  venerable  Washington  and 
Jefferson  College,  that  institution  being  then  in  some  embarrassment  through 
the  infelicities  of  a union  of  the  two  colleges  as  yet  imperfectly  consummated. 
The  writer  well  remembers  the  energy  and  skill  displayed  by  the  irrepressible 
agent  of  Wooster,  as  he  unrolled  the  great  plan  of  the  new  Wooster  building 
and  plead  for  yet  larger  possibilities  if  all  could  be  induced  to  combine  at  the 
new  and  promising  centre.  But  the  result  only  proved  that  Presbyterian  col- 
leges never  die  or  resign. 

Here  endeth,  then,  the  story  of  the  period  of  inception  and  preparation. 
But  it  has  in  it  material  for  reflection.  The  founding  of  the  University 


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when  it  was  founded,  after  what  had  preceded  the  founding  and  all  the  cir- 
cumstances surrounding  the  founding,  may  well  be  counted  an  event  of  great 
significance  in  the  history  of  education  both  as  related  to  Ohio  and  to  general 
principles. 

i.  All  men  who  trace  this  history  must  be  struck  with  the  fact  that 
the  University  owes  its  origin  to  no  casual  impulse  nor  even  to  local  or  even 
denominational  pride,  though  both  these  motives  had  their  place,  no  doubt. 
The  founders  were  actuated  by  the  deepest  Christian  convictions,  as  well  as  by 
profound  attachment  to  their  own  faith  and  order.  They  felt  the  call  of 
Christ  and  His  kingdom  and  therefore  of  all  humanity.  The  original  trustees 
made  this  manifest  at  their  first  meeting  by  those  remarkable  and  unexampled 
resolutions,  fragments  of  which  are  so  constantly  quoted,  and  which,  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind,  have  become  our  fundamental  law,  because  they  present 
our  ultimate  object.  They  are  more  properly  to  be  denominated  constituent 
principles  than  anything  which  either  has  been  or  can  be  subsequently  written. 
They  must  be  quoted  here  in  full  as  they  occur  in  an  appeal  to  the  churches, 
issued  coincidently  with  the  organization  of  the  trustees. 

“Whereas.  We  are  deeply  convinced  that  education  is  a real  blessing  only 
when  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity  and  that  any  enterprise  may  hope 
for  success  only  as  it  enjoys  the  Divine  blessing  and  is  devoted  to  the  promo- 
tion of  the  Divine  glory;  therefore 

“Resolved:  That  we  enter  upon  the  work  of  establishing  the  University 
of  Wooster  with  the  single  purpose  of  glorifying  God.  in  promoting  sanctified 
education,  and  thus  furthering  the  interests  of  the  church,  and  its  extension 
over  the  whole  earth. 

“Resolved:  That  we  will  in  every  way  possible  strive  to  imbue  all  our 
operations  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity  and  bring  religious  influences  and 
instruction  to  hear  earnestly  upon  all  who  may  be  connected  with  the  Uni- 
versity. 

“Resolved:  That  in  addition  to  a thorough  literary  and  scientific  course 
of  study  we  will  aim  to  endow  a chair  for  instruction  in  the  evidences  of 
Christianity  and  the  relation  of  science  to  religion,  and  also  a chair  for  in- 
struction in  the  languages,  religions,  and  literature  of  the  modern  Fagan  na- 
tions with  special  reference  to  the  preparation  of  young  men  for  the  foreign 
missionary  field/* 

These  resolutions  deserve  to  stand  for  all  time,  not  only  as  descriptive  of 
a denominational  ideal  for  a single  institution  and  as  a prophecy  of  what  that 
institution  has  already  so  richly  and  specificallv  realized,  but  as  an  unassailable 


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definition  of  the  nobler  education,  a clear  index  to  the  path  of  the  largest  real 
success,  and  a stimulus  for  all  institutions  of  higher  learning  to  acknowledge 
as  their  final  reason  for  being,  the  winning  of  the  world  for  Him  who  is  King 
of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords. 

Thus  the  way  was  opened  to  the  building  of  an  institution  so  frankly 
Christian  and  churchlv  that  it  could  never  be  charged  with  any  “lack  of  can- 
dor,” or  questioned  as  to  the  “propriety  or  intensity”  of  its  measures  to  make 
religion  a vital  force  in  all  the  culture  it  could  ever  impart.  A real  necessity  was 
felt  and  only  a real  creation — even  almost  a new  type — could  meet  that  need. 
Xever  were  ideals  more  distinct,  more  intelligently  held,  or  more  pervasive  of 
the  efficient  body.  The  synod  of  Cincinnati  voiced  the  feeling  of  need  in 
1868  thus.  “Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  synod  the  cause  of  Pres- 
byterianism in  this  state  is  seriously  affected  by  our  want  of  educational  facil- 
ities for  the  young  men  of  our  communities,  and  it  behooves  us  to  take  the 
deepest  interest.  * * * In  the  early  history  of  our  church  our  fathers 

laid  special  stress  on  this  matter  and,  learning  from  their  wise  example,  other 
denominations  are  now  devoting  themselves  with  the  most  commendable 
zeal  to  this  great  cause/’  Equally  clear  and  earnest  the  words  of  the  same 
synod  in  October,  1869:  “The  synod  having  heard  of  the  prosperous  condi- 

tion of  the  University  of  Wooster  as  an  enterprise  closely  connected  with  our 
interests  as  a church  expresses  its  gratification  and  thanksgiving  to  the  head 
of  the  church  for  such  a cheering  result  of  effort  and  prayer  in  that  behalf.” 
Then  follows  the  commendation  of  the  institution  to  the  churches  for  patron- 
age, and  the  welcome  to  canvassing  agents.  The  denominationalism  of  the 
founders  was  frank,  but  it  was  not  narrow.  The  charter  is  often  referred 
to  as  providing  that  “any  synod  of  our  own,  or  of  any  other  ecclesiastical 
connection,  may  become  a participant  in  this  enterprise.”  said  participation  not 
to  be  limited  to  “patronage”  but  to  mean  real  “partnership.”  Trustees  of  any 
added  synod  would  vote  influence  and  control  with  those  originally  designated. 
Synods  were  asked  to  commission  the  board  to  act  ad  interim  in  place  of  the 
ecclesiastical  body  itself,  and  the  permission  was  readily  granted  so  that  ex- 
tension beyond  our  own  denomination  (but  not  interfering  with  other  insti- 
tutions) was  always  possible. 

The  deep  religious  spirit  of  the  enterprise  was  constantly  made  manifest. 
In  1868  the  synod  of  Ohio  commended  “this  interesting  and  all-important 
concern”  with  all  their  four]  hearts  to  the  favor  and  blessing  of  the  gracious 
God  of  the  covenant,  hoping  that  all  our  agents  will  remember  that  this  is  a 
religious  enterprise,  that  we  are  endeavoring  to  found  a truly  Christian  uni- 

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versity  for  all  our  people;  * * * and  that  many  of  God’s  dear  children,  out 
of  their  deep  poverty  are  contributing  freely,  making  sacrifices  as  they  do.  so 
that  the  church  may  at  length  have  such  an  institution.”  Deep-rooted  faith 
kindled  this  enthusiasm  and  created  a holy  confidence  competent  for  the  strug- 
gle which  was  clearly  foreseen.  They  welcome  co-operation  of  friends  “who 
have  heretofore  keen  friendly/’  but  now  are  becoming  “equally  hopeful  and 
enthusiastic  with  ourselves,”  as  well  as  the  aid  of  others  indifferent  or  doubt- 
ful. 

2.  It  is  moreover  to  be  noted  that  the  founders  were  deeply  impressed 
with  the  “great  events”  which  were  taking  place  in  the  world  during  the  close 
of  this  first  period.  The  preceding  decades  were  crowded  with  stirring 
changes.  From  1848  to  1870!  W hat  a whirl  of  things  in  Europe  and 
America.  The  troubled  current  led  through  the  “terrible  year”;  the  rebuke  of 
Russian  schemes  by  the  Crimean  war;  the  far-reaching  pact  of  Paris  (1856)  ; 
the  Schleswig-Holstein  affair  significant  of  the  final  exclusion  of  Austria  from 
the  hegemony  of  Germany ; the  humiliation  of  the  Hapsburgs  in  the  partial  lib- 
eration of  Italy  by  France,  whose  presumption  led  to  her  defeat  at  Sedan  with 
the  resulting  unification  of  Italy,  the  exaltation  of  united  Germany  and  the 
shattering  of  the  Pope’s  temporal  power — all  culminating,  together  with  the 
constitutional  changes  which  consecrated  America  to  freedom,  just  as  our 
founders  quietly  opened  the  doors  of  the  University  in  1870.  Here  were  the 
signs  of  new  life  among  the  peoples  in  the  midst  of  the  pulses  of  which  we  are 
yet  living.  They  were  beginning  almost  coincidently  with  the  closing  quarter  of 
the  great  nineteenth  century.  They  recognized  the  stress  and  meaning  of 
their  times  and  made  them  the  basis  of  endeavor  and  appeal.  They  knew 
that  “the  universities  had  conquered  at  Sadowa  and  Sedan”  and  needed  no 
prophet  to  assure  them  that  the  world  was  surging  forward  by  education,  that 
the  sciences  were  blossoming  with  amazing  splendor;  that  ideas  were  going 
to  rule  the  world  more  certainly  than  ever;  that  the  need  for  such  leaders  as 
would  not  be  “blind  leaders  of  the  blind”  was  upon  them,  and  that  the  op- 
portunity was  as  brilliant  as  the  need  was  urgent.  They  saw  the  meaning  of 
all  this — God  bless  their  memory  for  it — as  touching  the  interests  of  men’s 
souls  as  well  as  toward  things  political  and  social  and  economic;  and  they 
budded  even  letter  than  they  knew,  for  even  they  could  only  faintly  forsee 
what  these  torty  years  in  the  world’s  pilgrimage  would  bring  forth. 

3.  Nearer  than  some  of  these  things  to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  churches 
came  the  great  and  happily  helpful  reunion  of  the  two  branches  of  the  church 
of  their  fathers.  Clearly  recognized  was  the  fact  that  even  the  delays  to 
which  the  great  undertaking  had  been  subjected  had  fallen  out  in  this  matter 
rather  to  final  success.  Those  who  were  leading  knew  that  they  were 


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moving  in  the  line  of  denominational  consolidation  and  development.  Sub- 
sequent events  have  shown  them  to  have  been  wise  and  far-sighted.  If  one 
branch  of  the  Presbyterian  church  could  succeed  in  passing  the  first  diffi- 
culties and  founding  the  University,  a fortiori  a united  and  then  reinforced 
church  can  maintain  and  develop  it.  The  history  of  this  important  move- 
ment cannot  here  be  given,  though  that  would  be  a pleasing  task  for  the 
writer,  who  was  present  at  the  Newark  Assembly  in  1864,  at  the  great  non- 
official but  heart-to-heart  Philadelphia  meeting  of  1866,  and  who  was  pastor 
of  the  church  (Pittsburgh)  whence  the  Old  School  Assembly  filed  out  to  take 
the  New  School  brethren  in  public  procession  to  the  church  in  which  the  re- 
union was  made  visibly  manifest.  That  which  concerns  the  University  is 
that  the  Ohio  synods  constituted  by  the  reunion  were  “made  legal  successors 
of  the  synods  formerly  united  in  the  control  of  the  University.”  By  terms 
of  the  act  they  became  “entitled  to  the  possession  and  enjoyment  of  all  the 
rights  and  franchises,  and  liable  to  the  performance  of  all  the  duties  of  the 
preceding  synods”  (Dr.  Taylor).  Trustees  resigned.  Successors  immedi- 
ately appointed.  Resolution  “accepting  the  trust"  adopted.  Thus  the  Uni- 
versity passed  under  the  control  of  the  reunited  church.  While  at  the  begin- 
ning the  enterprise  was  confined  to  synods  in  connection  with  the  Old  School 
body,  it  was  felt  that  the  war  had  removed  the  chief  difficulty  in  the  way  of 
reunion  by  obliterating  the  pro-slavery  tendencies  in  the  Old  School  church, 
and  that  experience  had  brought  the  New  School  churches  into  harmony  with 
the  other  branch  as  to  conducting  all  great  missions  of  the  section  by  agencies 
under  its  own  care  and  control.  Reunion  was  in  the  air  in  October,  1865, 
when  the  college  project  was  effectively  revived.  There  was  good  reason  for 
the  early  extension  of  welcome  (already  noted)  to  any  synods  disposed  to 
join  in  the  enterprise. 

4.  The  strong  faith  and  high  purpose  of  this  period  had  their  tests  as 
well  as  their  triumphs.  Much  encouragement  was  experienced  when  the  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies  and  vigorous  addresses  by 
Doctor  Marshall  of  Columbus  and  Doctor  Baker  of  Zanesville.  On  this,  the 
first  occasion  admitting  manifestations  of  popular  interest,  the  demonstrations 
were  quite  satisfactory.  Wayne  county,  perhaps  anticipating  as  certain  to 
come  immediately  what  would  take  many  years  to  realize,  smiled  benignantly 
on  that  thirtieth  of  June,  1868.  That  foundation  and  that  corner-stone  were 
characteristically  massive  and  solid.  One  could  wish  fervently  that  the  art 
of  photography  had  been  then  sufficiently  developed  to  have  preserved  for 
us  the  faces  of  that  group  of  earnest,  self-sacrificing,  hopeful  and  far-seeing 
men  who  must  have  been  at  the  centre  of  the  multitude  of  that  day.  The 
trustees  say,  in  the  report  of  that  year:  “The  effect  of  the  demonstration  was 


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most  marked  and  the  public,  taking  confidence  that  the  enterprise  was  a reality 
and  promised  success,  have  taken  constantly  more  and  more  interest  in  it/' 
The  entrance  of  that  incarnation  of  energy  and  executive  talent,  George  P. 
Hays,  into  the  fiscal  secretaryship,  took  the  public  to  the  point  of  assurance 
“of  starting  not  as  a child  to  grow  through  long  years  of  painful  struggling, 
but  like  a full  grown  man  in  all  the  vigor  of  his  strength  and  energy/'  Much 
was  expected  from  the  projected  professorship  to  be  contributed  by  the  Sun- 
day schools.  “The  prospect’"  was  pronounced  “most  promising."  But  diffi- 
culties soon  appeared.  Adjustments  were  to  be  made  among  ecclesiastical 
bodies  which  were  themselves  changing  their  organization,  and  whose  future 
boundaries  were  still  uncertain  having  besides  various  local  affinities  with 
other  colleges.  One  of  the  newly-constituted  synods  (Cleveland)  declined 
a share  in  control  and  the  resulting  responsibilities  though  heartily  commend- 
ing the  enterprise  to  the  “sympathies,  contributions  and  prayers"  of  the 
churches  under  its  care.  There  was  still  hard  work  to  be  done  in  further 
arousing  the  half-awakened  sections  of  the  state.  One  of  the  agents  (Dr. 
J.  W.  Scott,  former  president  of  Washington  College)  retired  at  the  end  of 
three  months,  convinced  that  the  churches  were  not  prepared  to  co-operate 
in  such  an  enterprise.  Other  and  older  denominational  colleges  were  pressing 
on  with  new  life.  The  State  University  at  Columbus  was  making  its  mark, 
though  founded  so  lately  as  1862 — as  a result  of  the  congressional  grant  for 
an  Agricultural  college.  It  began  to  be  apparent  in  1869  that  the  earlier  en- 
dowment subscriptions  were  not  being  paid  in  with  the  promptness  necessary 
to  secure  needed  interests  for  opening  the  institution.  A strong  and  touching 
appeal  was  made  by  the  trustees : “Our  people,  bv  the  unanimity  and  gen- 
erosity with  which  they  have  subscribed,  have  won  an  enviable  reputation 
among  sister  denominations  and  before  the  world."  Pastors  and  elders  and 
leading  members  were  entreated  to  form  a “strong  public  opinion”  for  a “per- 
formance" of  what  there  had  been  such  “readiness  to  will,"  and  to  “employ 
their  influence  both  official  and  social  to  secure  prompt  payment."  In  the 
earlier  part  of  1869  “times  became  so  hard  and  money  so  scarce,"  that  the 
culminating  point  of  the  endowment  (conditional)  subscription  was  about  to  be 
deferred  for  a year.  Finishing  the  central  building  free  from  debt  seemed 
doubtful.  All  was  pivoted  “upon  the  promptness  with  which  the  subscrip- 
tions" would  be  paid,  and  yet  prompt  payment  was  uncertain.  Naturally 
these  were  trying  times  but  a “comfortable  issue"  was  at  last  found. 

5.  It  is  also  to  be  noted  that  the  whole  enterprise  stood  in  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  our  founders,  as  a most  promising  provision  for  the  “defense  and 
confirmation  of  the  common  evangelical  faith."  They  felt  that  “false  philoso- 


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phy’’  and  “science  falsely  so  called"  were  rapidly  developing.  They  saw  the 
danger  of  attack  upon  the  very  citadels  of  the  “like-precious  faith,"  and 
dreaded  the  approach  of  a secularized  and  de-christianized  public  education. 
For  that  reason  the  denominational  college  became  to  them  a prime  necessity. 
This  appears  in  the  first  resolutions  passed  by  the  original  trustees  and  finds 
frequent  expression  in  the  documents  of  this  period,  coming  naturally  to  full- 
est declaration  in  the  opening  addresses  of  the  next  period. 

6.  It  was  equally  in  the  thought  of  our  founders  that  the  denominational 
college  should  be  the  distinctively  proper  annex  to  the  Christian  home.  “Our 
sons”  appear  as  the  basal  plea.  That  plea  was  plead  in  thousands  of  homes 
and  from  hundreds  of  pulpits.  It  stirred  many  a heart  to  prayer  and  opened 
many  a hand  to  give.  In  those  days  of  family  altars  and  the  consecration  of 
serious  covenant  vows,  parents  felt  some  anxiety  concerning  the  spiritual  en- 
vironment into  which  their  children  were  to  be  sent.  They  knew  how  much 
it  meant  for  youth’s  plastic  years  and  how  much  would  be  determined  by  that 
environment  concerning  the  life-work  to  be  undertaken  by  those  in  whom 
home  affections  and  church  expectations  and  state  needs  would  meet.  When 
this  sentiment  is  as  true  and  deep  as  Presbyterian  doctrine  and  earlier  practice 
would  have  it,  there  can  be  no  wonder  that  the  yearning  of  the  home  is  for  a 
college  as  nearly  like  the  home  conditions  under  which  the  new  generation 
has  been  born  and  trained,  prayed  for  and  prayed  with : as  can  possibly  be 
found  or  made. 

7.  Nor  did  the  founders  lack  educational  aspiration  in  the  midst  of  their 
religious  inspiration.  They  meant  to  do  their  best  (and  they  did  surprisingly 
well,  all  things  considered)  to  found  an  institution  which  should  set  forward 
the  higher  education  in  a state  already  well  provided  with  facilities  for  that 
purpose.  Tl  “must  be ,"  they  said,  of  higher  standing  in  organization  and 
scholarship  than  some  of  the  then  existing  neighboring  colleges.  They  dared 
to  hope  for  equality  with  leading  Eastern  institutions.  As  Western  Reserve 
liked  to  be  called  “the  Yale  of  the  West,"  so  Wooster  aspired  to  be  called  “the 
Princeton  of  the  West/’  It  was  not  another  college  they  desired,  but  a super- 
ior college.  They  declared  that  they  dared  not  claim  a distinctively  Christian 
and  denominational  character  without  putting  forth  every  possible  effort  to 
attain  this  high  rank.  They  were  sincere  in  emphasizing  both  terms  in  the 
dedicatory  motto  Christo  et  Literis.  When  in  1869  they  put  forth  more  de- 
cided claims  for  half  a million  endowment,  the  trustees  said.  “No  less  sum 
will  enable  the  board  to  pay  such  salaries  as  will  enable  them  to  command  the 
best  talent  in  the  country  in  filling  their  professorships/’  They  had  elevated 
conception  of  the  faculty  they  were  to  choose.  They  must  be  “such  as  would 


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send  the  students  away  vacation  after  vacation  rehearsing  the  excellencies  of 
their  professors.”  They  owed  such  instruction  to  the  students  and  thus  only 
could  they  gather,  they  said,  “the  best  students.”  They  owed  such  a faculty 
to  the  most  sacred  interests  entrusted  to  a Christian  college.  The  synod  of 
Sandusky  (1868)  invited  and  urged  its  people  “to  exercise  enlarged  liberality 
in  aid  of  this  effort  to  secure  a large  and  ample  endowment  so  that  the  board 
of  trustees  may  place  in  the  institution  a faculty  composed  of  men  endowed 
with  the  highest  order  of  talent  and  the  ripest  scholarship.” 

So  then,  it  is  plain  that  our  founders  were  no  strangers  to  the  times  in 
which  they  lived,  to  the  compass  and  meaning  of  the  higher  education,  to  the 
consecrating  touch  of  sacredness  in  their  trust,  to  the  immense  and  world-wide 
interests  sure  to  be  served  and  conserved  by  a well  appointed  Christian  college. 
They  realized  that  they  were  building  along  the  line  of  the  world’s  progress, 
as  well  as  in  harmony  with  the  best  traditions  of  their  Presbyterian  ancestors. 
They  noted  that  all  Christians  in  our  noble  state  were  willing  with  them,  to 
accent  every  word  of  that  inseparable  trinity  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  “Re- 
ligion, morality  and  knowledge.”  Nobler  motives  never  actuated  any  deed 
of  collective  wisdom  than  those  which  created  the  University  of  Wooster. 
Each  motive  illumines  each  of  the  others.  Nothing  is  lacking  and  nothing  is 
redundant  That  undertaking  is  best  which  brings  out  the  best  in  the  men 
who  undertake  it.  They  hold  the  ideal  and  the  ideal  holds  them. 

More  fitting  close  to  this  first  period’s  history  cannot  be  made  than  to  cite 
the  closing  words  of  Dr.  John  Robinson's  review  of  it,  uttered  at  the  first 
inauguration  (1870):  “Such  is  the  genesis  of  the  idea  realized  before  us 

today  in  this  University.  With  what  intense  earnestness  this  idea  possessed 
the  minds  and  hearts  of  many  members  of  these  synods,  is  manifested  by  the 
fact  that  action  was  taken  by  one  or  more  of  these  synods  every  year  (except 
1850-51  and  1862-63)  for  the  last  twenty-three  years.  It  is  evident,  more- 
over, from  this  sketch  that  God  baffled  our  efforts  and  plans  until  the  very  best 
time  for  success  had  come.  In  these  recent  years,  a higher  conception  of  the 
kind  of  institution  which  the  age  demands  has  been  formed ; the  conviction  of 
the  need  of  such  a University  has  become  more  deep  and  wide-spread;  reunion 
has  given  us  greater  strength  and  called  11s  to  mightier  effort  in  this  world’s 
evangelization;  pecuniary  means  are  more  abundant  and  a larger  spirit  of 
liberality  prevails.  This  is  evidently  God’s  time  for  this  work.  * * * 

The  world,  our  own  country,  the  church,  struggling  and  rising,  our  own  be- 
loved Zion,  the  Father.  Son  and  Spirit,  look  with  interest,  demand  fidelity 
and  energy,  and  expect  success.” 


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PERIOD  OF  EXPERIMENT. 

II.  The  second  period  may  be  designated  as  that  of  experiment.  The 
long  course  of  inception  and  preparation  had  done  much,  despite  variations  of 
progress,  to  make  the  conditions  favorable.  The  idea  had  become  familiar 
to  the  people  as  well  as  to  their  natural  leaders — the  pastors.  The  Univers- 
ity had  grown  from  a felt  necessity  to  a partially  realized  achievement.  Gen- 
eral passive  consent,  however,  was  far  from  universal  and  self-sacrificing  co- 
operation. The  way  was  just  open  for  a fair  experiment.  Faith  was  strong 
and  success  was  promised.  But  many  conditions  must  be  met.  A mere 
name,  even  though  that  of  a venerable  and  enlightened  Christian  denomination, 
would  not  answer  to  conjure  with.  There  must  be  a real  college  and  one  of 
high  grade  or — bitter  disappointment.  Yet  the  means  were  not  on  hand  to 
execute  the  large  plans  or  make  good  the  confident  promises  of  ardent  ad- 
vocates. The  superstructure  was  yet  to  be  erected  though  the  foundations 
had  been  well  and  truly  laid.  The  church's  persistence  was  to  be  tested.  The 
state  area  had  not  as  yet  been  fully  penetrated.  Will  the  endowment  notes 
be  paid  as  they  mature?  How  can  the  expenses  of  the  initial  years  be  met? 
Will  the  counsel  to  patronize  given  by  the  synods  be  ratified  by  the  community 
in  which  so  many  deep-rooted  attachments  to  neighboring  and  eastern  insti- 
tutions presented  such  positive  claims?  Will  the  southern  part  of  the  state 
come  so  far — passing  on  the  way  old  and  tried  opportunities?  Can  the  high 
ideals  of  excellence,  professed  and  promised,  be  made  actual  all  at  once? 
Will  the  distinctly  Christian  and  denominational  character  of  the  University 
detract  from  or  aid  its  development?  Can  another  college  adhering  to  the 
lines  of  the  older  classical  curriculum  (though  not  wholly  neglecting  the 
sciences,  yet  insufficiently  equipped  for  modern  methods  of  scientific  instruc- 
tion) succeed  in  the  midst  of  the  abounding  and  increasing  enthusiasm  for  the 
natural  sciences  and  the  clamor  for  a practical  education?  (The  Federal  gov- 
ernment’s grants  were  going  in  this  direction.)  Can  the  denominational  col- 
lege be  planted  and  flourish  in  view  of  the  new  development  of  the  state  uni- 
versities? The  situation  was  full  of  thorny  interrogatories,  despite  the  atmos- 
phere laden  with  interest  and  hope. 

Well,  certainly  an  answer  would  be  found  to  all  such  questions  if  sturdy 
confidence  in  and  outspoken  announcement  of  their  fundamental  motives  and 
meaning  could  avail.  Whoever  ponders  the  declarations  with  which  this  per- 
iod of  experiment  was  entered  upon  will  conclude  its  failure  to  have  been 
impossible  if  grit  and  grace  go  for  anything  in  this  world.  “We  aim  at  more 
than  this,”  the  trustees  say  [that  is  more  than  a high  rank  among  the  colleges 


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of  the  land].  “It  is  a Christian  college.  It  is  a Presbyterian  college.  The 
first  thought  of  its  founders  was  born  of  the  necessities  of  the  church. 
* * * * Everything  pertaining  to  it  has  been  dedicated  to  Christ  and  His 

Kingdom.  In  this  day  of  rationalism  and  ritualism  and  vain  philosophy,  this 
day  in  which  so  much  of  the  cultivated  intellect  and  so  many  of  the  great 
schools  of  the  country  are  drifting  away  into  infidelity  and  false  religion,  it  is 
our  purpose  to  plant  here  a firm  bulwark  for  God’s  truth,  and  to  lift  high 
above  all  its  towers  the  banner  of  the  cross.”  Again  they  refer  to  ‘‘this  day  of 
wonderful  events,  of  Christian  progress  and  missionary  enterprise,”  together 
with  the  “one  hundred  and  fifty  vacant  pulpits  of  Ohio”  as  calling  imperative- 
ly for  just  such  an  institution.  “We  would  make  it,”  they  say.  “not  only  a 
Christian  college  but  a missionary  college,  a college  of  revival,  a college  within 
whose  walls  the  converting,  sanctifying  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  shall  reign 
and  from  whose  doors  there  shall  go  forth  streams  of  cultivated,  regenerated, 
consecrated  intellect  to  make  glad  the  city  of  our  God.”  They  mention  the 
joy  of  the  reunion,  and  emphasize  the  definite  relationship  of  the  church  and 
the  college  thus : “Our  doors  were  not  opened  until  all  our  interests,  the 

entire  control  of  the  institution  and  every  dollar  of  its  property  had  been 
placed  in  the  hand  of  the  reunited  synod.”  Existence  is  considered  as  se- 
cured. but  whether  the  “high  vantage  ground  which  the  wants  of  the  church 
and  the  exigencies  of  the  times  demand  shall  be  attained  ; whether  we  shall  be 
able  to  build  upon  the  soil  of  Ohio  a Christian  university  that  shall  equal 
leading  institutions  and  shall  be  an  honor  to  the  Christian  liberality  and  the 
consecrated  wealth  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  this  great  state,  depends 
largely  upon  the  spirit  in  which  the  whole  church  shall  now  lay  hold  of  the 
work.”  Information  is  to  be  laid  before  the  synods.  “In  this  wav,”  say 
the  trustees,  “the  religious  character  of  the  University,  its  general  direction 
and  the  safe  investment  of  all  its  property  is  perpetually  secured  to  the  Presby- 
terian church — the  disadvantages  and  dangers  both  of  a close  corporation  and 
of  state  control  on  the  one  hand,  and  if  minute  and  excessive  ecclesiastical 
management  on  the  other  are  effectively  avoided .” 

Rut  the  greatest  document  of  this  period  containing  the  clearest  explana- 
tion and  most  forcible  indication  of  the  Wooster  ideas,  meanings  and  motives 
is  the  inaugural  address  of  Doctor  Lord — the  first  president.  It  was  de- 
livered on  the  opening  day,  September  the  eleventh,  1870.  He  congratulates 
the  assembled  officers  and  friends  upon  the  success  thus  far  obtained:  “F01 

the  difficulties  of  your  design,”  he  said,  “were  commensurate  with  its  great- 
ness. That  design  was  no  less  than  to  build  another  strong  bulwark  against 


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the  winds  and  tides  which  are  blowing  and  drifting  the  men  of  this  generation 
from  truth  and  life  to  the  shores  of  error  and  death:  to  rear,  on  broad  and 
deep  foundations,  another  fitting  temple  of  literature  and  science  conceived 
of  in  their  highest  forms  and  widest  reach,  and  ennobled  and  glorified  by  the 
pervading  presence  and  power  of  religion.  But  how  formidable  the  attempt!” 
Comparing  the  situation  of  three  short  years  before  that  day,  he  was  amazed 
to  see  the  building  and  to  know  of  the  pledged  endowment  "inadequate  indeed, 
but  revealing  a profound  interest  in  collegiate  education  that  is  to  be  broad 
and  liberal  but  to  be  filled  with  Christian  ideas  and  the  Christian  spirit,  recog- 
nizing thus  the  prime  fact  that  all  truth,  natural  as  well  as  revealed,  has  its 
source  and  end  in  God.”  Doctor  Lord  was  hopeful  that  other  departments 
would  be  added,  constituting  in  time,  a true  University.  He  demanded  a 
democratic  freedom  of  accessibility  to  all  men.  The  place  for  "all  studies" 
should  be  the  place  of  studies  "for  all  men.”  "The  essential  test  of  citizen- 
ship in  the  comonwealth  of  science  and  letters  should  be  character , mental  and 
moral  quality  and  attainments,  not  condition,  race,  color  or  sex."  With  advo- 
cacy of  co-education  and  criticism  of  the  proposed  curriculum  in  favor  of 
more  modern  languages,  English  literature  and  natural  science.  Keep  the 
classics,  but  do  not  keep  out  the  "moderns”  (as  commissioner  Harris  used  to 
call  them).  He  denies  all  fear  of  the  cultivation  of  the  sciences  in  a Chris- 
tian college.  "All  knowledge  leads  to  truth  and  all  truth  leads  to  God." 
Pages  of  eloquent  discussion  of  this  theme  follow.’  Proving  that  knowledge  is 
theistic,  Dr.  Lord  advances  to  claim  the  University  for  all  essential  truth 
properly  called  Christian.  "But  also,”  he  adds,  "the  University  has  organic 
connection  with  the  Christian  church.”  This  is  not  for  a narrowly  sectarian 
purpose,  but  that  "the  most  direct  and  powerful  influence  of  Christianity 
and  its  highest  safeguards  may  be  thrown  around  education  in  the  future." 
Anticipating  the  results  of  the  drift  from  the  spiritual  to  the  material.  Doctor 
Lord  says:  "The  danger  is  that,  if  the  church  has  no  institutions  of  its  own, 
where  its  voice  may  be  heard  and  its  power  felt,  there  may  come  a complete 
divorcement  between  education  and  religion,  an  issue  from  which  the  citizen 
and  the  state  may  well  recoil  in  horror  as  from  a supreme  calamity."  * * * 

"In  the  presence  of  so  great  a danger  it  were  not  wise  to  trust  alone  in  indi- 
vidual Christian  men  or  in  small  and  close  corporations  to  meet  and  avert 
it.  Individuals  and  corporations  may  change.  The  limits  of  a single  life  have 
sometimes  proved  sufficient  to  revolutionize  cherished  opinions  and  effect  the 
diversion  of  great  and  sacred  interests.  If  there  are  any  surer  means  or 
greater  securities  by  which  the  aims  and  benefactions  of  enlightened  liberality 
may  be  guarded,  and  by  which,  also,  the  alliance  of  education  with  religion 


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may  be  welded  and  made  permanent,  most  certainly  we  ought  to  have  them. 
Such  means  and  securities , we  believe , are  found  in  the  church.  If  they  are 
not  there,  they  do  not  exist.  This  university,  therefore,  has  its  distinctive 
character  as  a temple  of  learning  in  its  direct  and  vital  connection  with  the 
Temple  of  God.”  Dr.  Lord  would  have  brought  into  the  University  halls  all 
the  volumes  “in  which  are  embalmed  the  achievements  of  their  learning  and 
genius,  who  have  added  to  the  sum  of  human  thought  and  knowledge.”  But 
he  would  place  above  them  all  the  inspired  word  of  God.  This  he  would  do, 
not  to  restrict  inquiry  nor  fetter  mind,  but  because  we  knozv  that  “the  God  of 
creation  is  also  the  God  of  revelation ; that  the  hand  which  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  the  earth  and  balanced  and  lighted  the  stars,  is  the  same  hand  that 
traced  the  lines  and  pages  of  the  Bible.”  * * * * “In  this  belief  we 

have  founded  and  today  dedicate  this  University.”  * * * “It  is  our  de- 

sire and  will  be  our  aim  to  make  this  University  an  ornament  and  power  to  the 
church,  a pillar  and  bulwark  to  the  state.”  The  writer  has  been  anew  im- 
pressed with  the  rich  content,  the  forcible  diction,  the  elevated  conceptions  and 
cogent  reasonings  of  this  first  inaugural.  He  wishes  it  might  be  republished 
from  time  to  time  and  widely  circulated  among  students  and  patrons  as  a 
clear  and  convincing  statement  and  vindication  of  the  “things  most  surely  be- 
lieved among  us.” 

The  opening  day  reached  its  close  in  the  strong  address  of  the  Hon.  John 
Sherman.  He  outlined  his  own  broad  view  of  what  a university  should  be, 
and  hoped  we  might  have  one  in  Ohio.  His  special  charge  was  to  build  in 
with  the  tendency  of  the  age,  which  was  severely  practical,  in  order  to  make 
the  institution  really  serviceable.  The  address  was,  in  its  pithy  and  pointed 
brevity,  its  wise  counsel  to  concentration  and  in  its  assurance  that  every  dis- 
cover}' in  nature  deepens  and  strengthens  the  profound  reverence  of  the  edu- 
cated mind  for  the  Almighty  Ruler  and  Maker  of  us  all,  worthy  of  its  author 
and  of  his  distinguished  career  as  a statesman.  Impressively  did  he  say: 
“Under  modern  lights  the  Christian  faith  shines  higher  and  purer  than  before. 
The  inscrutable  mysteries  of  our  being — its  dependence  only  on  Almighty 
power,  its  yearnings  for  the  dim.  invisible  life  to  come,  are  the  ties  of  human 
nature  to  religious  faith.  Let  the  mind  be  instructed  and  the  preacher  and  the 
hearer  alike  be  left  free  and  as  sure  as  the  earth  moves  in  its  course  the  true 
religion  will  prevail.”  Such  were  the  sentiments  and  convictions  of  Wooster’s 
first  day. 

The  conditions  favorable  for  this  period  of  experiment  were  the  fact  of 
opening  with  a property  (deducting  the  cost  of  the  campaign)  estimated  at 


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four  hundred  thousand  dollars;  a faculty  of  five  professors  “eminently  quali- 
fied for  their  work/’  ecclesiastical  relations  settled,  a medical  department  pre- 
viously organized  in  Cleveland  and  now  accepting  the  new  charter  without  any 
fixed  pecuniary  responsibility  resting  upon  the  University ; a collegiate  depart- 
ment organized  and  the  hoped-for  addition  of  “Law  Science.”  The  building, 
unfinished,  but  massive  and  adapted  in  many  regards  to  educational  needs,  was 
highly  praised  on  all  sides.  Quotations  might  be  made  which  would  now  seem 
extravagant  and  yet  at  that  time  there  was  perhaps  no  superior  single  building 
provided  for  any  Ohio  college.  Its  position  and  outlook  were  justly  cele- 
brated by  contemporary  journals.  Apparatus  and  library  were  being  rapidly 
provided.  There  were  some  indications  of  increase  in  the  endowment. 

But  reconstruction  of  the  church  boundaries  (presbyteries  and  synods) 
seemed  to  distract  attention  to  a certain  degree.  The  disposition  of  the  large 
memorial  fund  then  being  raised  to  signalize  the  reunion  of  the  branches  was 
held  in  suspense,  and,  so  far  as  I am  advised,  never  brought  to  the  new  enter- 
prise any  considerable  sum.  Yet  the  work  went  bravely  forward.  Admis- 
sion standards  were  at  once  placed  on  the  same  grade  with  many  Eastern  col- 
leges and  with  all  neighboring  ones,  and  admission  was  wholly  by  examination. 
Of  the  new  faculty.  Doctors  Lord,  Stoddard  and  Kirkwood  had  already  won 
wide  and  deserved  reputations  as  scholars  and  professors.  Special  personal 
talent  had  been  recognized  in  Frofessors  Jeffers  and  Fullerton.  The  peculiar 
clearness  and  teaching  power  of  the  former  has  been  recognized  in  every  posi- 
tion he  has  since  occupied,  and  the  exquisite  taste  and  refined  personality  of 
the  other — together  with  his  skill  in  writing  and  criticism — remain  with  those 
who  mourn  for  the  touch  of  his  vanished  hand  as  the  beams  of  the  dying  sun 
linger  long  after  the  flaming  disc  has  disappeared. 

The  medical  department  was  confidently  announced  and  there  were  con- 
nected with  it  some  of  Cleveland’s  most  distinguished  physicians.  Four 
classes  were  at  once  organized  and  a “Commencement’’  assured  for  the  follow- 
ing June.  The  prevailing  spirit  was  that  of  congratulation.  To  quote  one 
expression:  “It  was  four  years’  from  nothing  to  a University  which  takes 

rank  with  the  foremost  institutions  of  the  land.”  A remarkably  full  cur- 
riculum was  offered,  based,  it  is  thought,  upon  that  of  Princeton.  Classical 
studies  were  prominent  of  course,  and  intellectual  and  moral  science,  yet  Eng- 
lish and  the  natural  sciences  were  not  neglected.  Doctor  Stoddard  gave  spe- 
cial lectures  on  “Mind  and  Matter,”  which  were  of  recognized  apologetic  value. 
Constitutional  and  international  law  were  provided  for,  though  later  the 
latter  was  neglected.  Differential  calculus  was  a required  study.  Civil 


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engineering  was  hinted  at.  The  scientific  course,  parallel  in  many  things 
with  the  classical,  provided  for  the  modern  languages.  Special  courses  in 
history  were  promised,  associated  with  other  studies,  but  distinguished  by 
outlines  during  the  term  and  examinations  at  the  close.  Biblical  instruction 
was  to  form  a part  of  every  course.  Daily  religious  services  were  at  once  es- 
tablished upon  which,  as  upon  Sabbath  chapel,  the  attendance  of  all  was  ex- 
pected. The  Bragg  donation  of  five  thousand  dollars  for  the  library  began  to 
be  realized.  Orders  for  apparatus  from  abroad  were  only  somewhat  delayed  by 
the  Franco-Prussian  war  and  a confidential  assurance  was  given  that  more 
would  be  provided  as  needed.  Two  literary  societies  were  formed  at  once.  The 
attendance  for  the  first  year  reached  sixty-one,  two  of  whom  were  young 
women,  and  from  the  beginning  the  character  of  the  students  was  fixed  as  that 
of  men  of  character,  with  the  very  slightest  infusion  of  rowdyism.  The  gradu- 
ating class  numbered  six : Messrs.  W.  A.  Irvin,  H.  L.  Henderson,  J.  E.  Kuhn, 
J.  C.  Miller,  J.  H.  Packer,  W.  R.  Taggart.  All  had  taken  the  classical  course. 
Three  are  yet  living  and  in  efficient  service  of  church  and  state. 

During  the  second  year  a notable  addition  was  made  to  the  faculty  in 
the  person  of  Dr.  D.  A.  Gregory  as  professor  of  mental  and  moral  science. 
He  took  charge  also  of  the  English  when  Dr.  Fullerton  resigned  at  the  close 
of  this  year.  Mr.  H.  A.  Rowland,  afterwards  famous  in  connection  with 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  was  made  instructor  in  natural  science.  The 
curriculum  was  changed  by  adjustments  which  were  advantageous.  Tuition 
was  slightly  reduced,  and  remission  of  it  to  candidates  for  the  University 
entrusted  to  the  discretion  of  the  executive  committee  and  the  faculty.  Schol- 
arships were  still  offered  covering  tuition  perpetually  for  the  modest  sum  of 
five  hundred  dollars,  and  four  years  for  two  hundred  dollars.  Doubtless  the 
experience  of  such  colleges  as  Washington  and  Jefferson  and  Hanover 
had  proved  a warning  to  our  founders.  I once  asked,  being  then  a member 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  the  treasurer  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  how 
many  students  paid  tuition.  “Eight,’'  was  the  reply.  The  rest  were  being 
taught  on  the  ruinous  system  of  perpetual  scholarships  sold  at  twenty-five 
dollars.  The  same  system  comoelled  Hanover  ultimately  to  grant  free  tuition 
while  recouping  itself  in  part  bv  an  increase  of  incidental  fees.  (T  may  be 
pardoned  for  injecting  here  the  statement  that  during  my  father’s  presi- 
dency at  Hanover  the  scholarship  policy  was  discontinued.)  During  this 
second  vear  there  was  an  increase  in  the  number  of  students,  and  there  were 
eight  graduates. 


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The  third  year  was  marked  by  the  opening  of  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment. It  was  at  first  confined  to  a two  years’  course.  The  first  superintend- 
ent was  the  Rev.  J.  A.  I.  Lowes,  an  approved  and  experienced  teacher.  More 
young  women  were  enrolled  and  the  attendance  reached  one  hundred  and 
seventy-four.  The  medical  department  reported  an  attendance  of  seventy- 
one,  making  a total  of  two  hundred  and  forty-five.  Preparatory  seniors 
numbered  seventeen  and  juniors  eighteen.  Elective  courses  were  now  opened 
after  the  sophomore  year.  The  “Brainard”  Missionary  Society  appears. 
Tuition  was  brought  up  again  to  $15  per  term,  and  expenses  for  room,  fuel, 
light  and  boarding  need  not  exceed  four  dollars  weekly,  and  might  be  lessened 
in  various  ways.  A new  and  most  competent  instructor  in  modern  languages 
was  secured,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lippert.  A contemporary  assures  us  that  “classes 
were  more  thoroughly  organized  and  the  work  better  systematized.”  There 
were  thirteen  graduates,  twelve  of  whom  had  pursued  the  classical  course. 
President  Lord  resigned  at  the  close  of  the  year,  partly  because  the  demands 
of  the  work  were  growing  beyond  his  physical  strength  and  partly  on  account 
of  his  desire  to  prepare  for  publication  the  results  of  his  former  labors  in 
the  chair  of  theology  at  the  Northwestern  (now  McCormick)  Theological 
Seminary. 

Despite  financial  difficulties,  partly  solved  by  the  recall  into  fiscal 
service  of  the  Rev.  L.  K.  Davis,  so  successful  at  the  beginning;  these  experi- 
mental years  were  eminently  successful.  Dr.  Lord  was  pre-eminent  for  per- 
sonal affability  as  for  mental  resources.  Organization  made  progress.  The 
students  met  treatment  at  once  courteous  and  firm.  The  doctrine  of  the 
University,  founded  on  the  duty  of  the  church  to  care  for  the  higher  educa- 
tion of  her  own  children  by  an  institution  so  wholly  under  her  own  care  and 
control  as  to  admit  of  no  question  concerning  its  religious  character  and 
influence,  had  been  successfully  commended  to  the  mind  and  heart  of  the 
great  body  of  Ohio  Presbyterians,  and  was  already  obtaining  credit  through- 
out the  denomination.  The  future  was  secure : however,  much  patience  might 
be  required  for  a slower  pace  of  development  than  a first  enthusiasm  had 
expected.  The  able  faculty  had  proven  that  men  of  first-class  ability  could 
be  procured  for  this  service  of  the  church,  as  for  other  services,  without 
offering  any  brilliant  pecuniary  reward.  A spirit  of  great  confidence  had 
been  imparted  to  the  whole  inner  circle  of  the  founders  and  was  penetrating 
wider  areas.  It  was  becoming  clearly  evident  that  this  enterprise  was  neither 
“state”  nor  private  in  its  origin,  meaning  and  reliance,  but  represented  the 
church  awaking  to  a repeated  call  of  one  of  the  greatest  needs  of  humanity 


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and  of  Christ’s  kingdom.  Coeducation  had  been  vindicated.  Reputation 
had  been  established.  Discipline  of  a specifically  moral  and  religious  type, 
founded  not  so  much  on  '‘honor”  as  on  conscience  and  justice,  had  been  suc- 
cessfully introduced.  Local  and  interdenominational  interest  had  been  shown 
to  be  not  only  possible  but  actual  in  connection  with  a church  college.  The 
careful  inculcation  of  moral  and  religious  principles  had  been  proven  to  be 
thoroughly  consistent  with  true  liberty  of  opinion.  All  the  main  questions 
had  been  raised  and  answered.  The  period  of  experiment  closed  with  well- 
ascertained  results  and  therefore  with  high  hopes. 

THE  THIRD  PERIOD. 

' III.  This  we  may  term  the  period  of  establishment.  What  had  been 
promised  and  begun  must  be  performed  and  carried  forward.  The  question  of 
means  was  perplexing,  for  it  must  be  recognized  that  necessary  expenditures 
had  to  be  made  before  the  needed  funds  had  been  paid  in,  while  the  income 
from  student  fees  was  inconsiderable.  The  Cleveland  synod's  refusal  to 
share  responsibility  was  not  without  its  effect  in  a region  somewhat  uncon- 
vinced of  the  need  of  another  institution  appealing  directly  to  Presbyterians, 
and  already  strongly  drawn  upon  for  patronage  and  support  by  two  well- 
established  institutions  in  their  more  immediate  neighborhood.  Other  col- 
leges in  the  state  w ere  continuing  to  report  to  the  synods  thus  claiming,  though 
with  no  thought  of  submitting  to  control,  a certain  recognition  for  commen- 
dation and  consideration.  There  was  still,  in  the  eastern  and  southeastern 
sections  of  the  state,  a considerable  leaning  toward  Washington  and  Jef- 
ferson College  and  Marietta,  and  the  old  affection  for  Miami,  which  had 
been  so  largely  sustained  by  members  of  our  churches.  Popular  favor  was 
still  to  be  won  in  larger  circles.  Sufficient  progress  must  be  made,  both  in 
buildings  and  endowment,  to  show  advancement  sufficiently  rapid  to  secure 
the  larger  donations.  The  third  period  fitted  down  upon  the  second  accu- 
rately. There  was  to  be  no  change  of  principle  and  none  of  practice  except 
such  as  should  more  closely  conform  to  and  illustrate  principle.  But  that 
meant  deepening  the  hold  of  the  university  idea  upon  the  whole  ecclesiastical 
connection  from  which  the  chief  support  of  every  kind  must  come.  It  meant 
the  constant  magnifying  of  the  work  committed  to  the  University.  It  meant 
securing  wider  recognition  and  co-operation  in  homes  and  schools  as  well 
as  in  churches  and  synods.  It  meant  making  actual  that  which  the  period 
of  experiment  had  made  possible. 


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All  this  Doctor  Taylor  was  prepared  to  undertake,  for  he  well  under- 
stood the  situation.  In  this  he  found  a source  of  strength,  and  it  certainly 
was  a test  of  his  courage  and  faith.  He  met  the  situation  as  to  Wooster's 
exclusive  relation  to  Ohio  Presbyterianism  with  skill  and  tact.  Without 
exciting  animosities,  he  was  gradually  able  to  instil  the  conviction  that  no 
other  college  could  possibly  bear  the  relation  to  the  church  in  this  state  which 
that  college  bore,  the  being  and  life  of  which  sprang  from  the  heart  and 
purpose  of  that  church  after  many  years  of  discussion  and  determined  effort. 
He  made  it  evident  that  the  “care"  of  the  church  could  not  properly  be 
claimed  when  its  “control”  was  rejected.  This  distinction  made  its  way, 
and  reports  of  other  institutions  finally  ceased  to  be  offered  to  the  synods, 
though  occasionally  rendered  until  about  1885.  But  it  may  be  noted  that  the 
habit  of  giving  to  institutions  then  considered  as  quasi- Presbyterian  has  con- 
tinued until  some  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  have  reached  channels  of 
educational  usefulness  outside  of  denominational  relations.  This  only 
proves  what  the  Presbyterians  of  Ohio  might  have  done  very  early  in  the 
engagement,  and  may  yet  do  if  they  come  to  have  a “mind  to  the  work." 

One  could  scarcely  think  out  a man  more  exactly  adapted  to  the  situa- 
tion he  found  than  was  Wooster's  second  president.  His  antecedents  were 
of  the  best.  He  was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  in  1834.  His  remoter  an- 
cestors came  from  England  in  1602,  settling  at  Garrett’s  Hill,  Monmouth 
county,  New  Jersey.  He  was  a descendant  of  Dr.  James  Waddell  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  a cousin  to  Drs.  J.  W.  and  J.  A.  Alexander.  After  their  father, 
he  was  baptized  Archibald  Alexander  and,  after  his  own  father,  Edward. 
His  father,  born  in  this  state,  was  one  of  the  original  trustees,  and  in  his 
honor  the  sophomore  prizes  were  afterwards  founded.  President  Taylor 
graduated  from  Princeton  College  in  1854  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen. 
Three  years  later,  having  completed  his  theological  studies  in  Princeton 
Seminary,  he  was  licensed  by  the  presbytery  of  Cincinnati  in  1857.  His 
first  ministry  was  at  Portland,  Kentucky,  then  a suburb  and  now  a ward  of 
the  city  of  Louisville.  The  writer's  ministry  began  at  the  same  time  at  Jef- 
fersonville, Indiana,  and  a pleasant,  though  brief,  acquaintance  was  formed 
across  the  river.  Sent  out  from  Dubuque,  Iowa,  six  years  his  home  after 
the  two  at  Portland,  the  vigorous  and  witty  sketches  signed  “Hawkeye” 
brought  both  usefulness  and  reputation.  At  the  close  of  1865  the  Bridge 
Street  church  of  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia,  claimed  him,  and  in 
1869  he  took  charge  of  the  Mount  Auburn  church  (Cincinnati).  His  min- 
istry there  was  much  blessed  for  the  four  years  which  passed  before  Wooster 


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in  1873  called  him  thence.  He  had  been  a member  of  the  boards  of  educa- 
tion and  of  church  extension  and  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Northwest- 
ern (now  McCormick)  Theological  Seminary,  and  a member  of  the  Reunion 
General  Assembly,  Pittsburg,  1869.  His  name  appears  in  the  list  of  Woos- 
ter’s trustees  with  the  opening  year,  1870.  His  well-known  literary  quali- 
fications, together  with  other  qualities,  and  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
University’s  affairs,  made  him  the  logical  successor  of  the  first  president. 
Doctor  Lord  indicated  him  as  his  own  first  choice,  and  that  choice  was 
unanimously  and  enthusiastically  ratified  by  the  board  of  trustees.  Another 
has  described  him  as  ‘‘of  medium  size  and  kindly  aspect,  of  fine  talents  and 
impressive  address,  of  unusually  genial  temperament  and  well  adapted  to 
win  the  affection  of  students  and  to  interest  all  whom  he  meets  in  the  Univer- 
sity, to  the  building  up  of  which  he  has  devoted  himself  with  all  his  ener- 
gies.” Able,  like  Aaron,  to  “speak  well,”  he  was  also  able,  like  Moses,  to 
legislate  well.  Familiar  with  what  he  was  accustomed  to  call  ‘the  spirit  of 
youth,”  he  gave  it  right  of  way  whenever  it  kept  the  right  way.  Spiritually- 
minded  and  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  evangelical  and  evangelistic  spirit,  “a 
powerful  work  of  grace,”  one  writes,  accompanied  the  first  year  and  in  it 
“a  large  proportion  of  the  students  were  hopefully  converted,  some  of  whom 
have  already  turned  their  faces  toward  the  ministry.” 

At  the  second  inauguration  the  principles  on  which  the  university  had 
been  founded  and  which  it  was  now  successfully  reducing  to  practice,  find 
most  ample  and  persuasive  utterance  in  the  address  of  the  retiring  president, 
of  the  board’s  president,  Dr.  John  Robinson,  and  of  the  incoming  president. 
They  provide  a new  platform,  but  one  constructed  entirely  of  the  tried  and 
proved  material  of  the  institution’s  brief  but  satisfactory  experience  down 
to  October  7,  1873. 

Dr.  Lord  claims  existence  vindicated  and  foundation  firmly  laid.  Fac- 
ulty. curriculum,  quality  of  instruction  and  government  are  held  to  have 
gained  “the  recognition  and  confidence  of  the  intelligent  public.”  He  em- 
phasizes three  things  which  have  “materially  conduced  to  this  success” : 
( 1)  organic  connection  of  the  University  with  the  Christian  church,  (2)  its 
open  door  to  all  qualified  students  irrespective  of  sex,  (3)  the  wide  range 
and  elevated  character  of  its  studies.  Concerning  the  first  of  these.  Doctor 
Lord  maintained  that  it  was  “no  new  thing.”  Both  in  Europe  and  in  the 
United  States  institutions  of  higher  learning  have  been  founded  and  sustained 
by  influences  distinctly  Christian.  This  he  abundantly  proves  bv  instances 
which  need  not  be  cited  here.  “They  have  all  been  begotten  of  Christian 


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faith.  They  have  all  been  sacredly  cherished  by  it.”  * * * “This  Uni- 

versity owes  its  existence  to  Christian  men  of  large  views  and  aims  with  refer- 
ence to  intellectual  culture  and  attainments,  but  who  at  the  same  time  have 
an  intense  belief  in  the  necessity  and  supremacy  of  the  moral  and  the  spiritual; 
who  believe  that  no  degree  of  mere  knowledge  in  the  individual  or  in  society 
can  guarantee  truth  and  right  and  social  order  or  public  liberty,  and  that 
without  Christianity  states  and  nations,  as  surely  as  isolated  men,  will 
perish.  They  therefore  brought  the  university  into  vital  connection  with  the 
church.  They  made  this  connection  not  one  of  a general  and  undefined  de- 
scription. hut  of  essential  organism.  * * * The  intent  was  not  that  dog- 

matic forms  should  be  visible  and  have  sway  here  but  that  the  true  spiritual 
life  of  the  church  should  touch  and  consecrate  the  intellectual  life  and  power  of 
the  University.  * * * And  the  immense  value  of  this  procedure  cannot 

be  overestimated.  Every  day  adds  to  the  certainty  that  in  all  our  primary 
and  public  schools  education  will  be  wholly  secular.”  Sure  that  this  result 
must  arrive,  the  retiring  president  argues  that  the  necessity  to  which  it  will 
give  rise  will  be  “that  homes  shall  be  pervaded  with  Christianity  and  that 
Christian  influences  shall  surround  and  fill  our  academies  and  colleges  not 
connected  with  the  state.  Here  they  have  full  access  and  beneficent  opera- 
tion.” Happily  all  that  was  then  feared  has  not  arrived  in  these  thirty-seven 
years  since  passed.  There  is  still,  for  an  awakening  sense  of  our  place  and 
privilege  as  a Christian  nation,  a “fighting  chance.”  That  awakened  sense 
can  and  will  defeat  secularism!  The  Bible  is  by  no  means  driven  from  the 
large  majority  of  the  schools  of  America.  But  there  is  reason  enough  to 
cause  anxiety  and  to  summon  the  forces  of  truth  and  righteousness  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  true  theory  of  our  national  institutions.  [See  Story's 
comment  on  Amendment  I to  the  Federal  Constitution  and  the  decision  of  the 
Supreme  Court  by  Justice  Brewer  in  1892.]  Meanwhile,  for  the  danger's 
sake  as  well  as  for  other  weighty  reasons,  the  penetration  of  our  homes 
and  our  colleges  with  a profoundly  Christian  spirit  is  imperative.  Doctor 
Lord’s  address  closed  with  a peculiarly  winning  and  solemn  parting  word 
to  the  students.  He  attributes  all  satisfaction  in  the  restrospect  of  his  life 
to  having  “spent  it  all.  however  imperfectly,  in  the  service  and  for  the 
glory  of  the  Son  of  God.  In  the  light  in  which  I now  see  and  with  the 
feelings  which  control  me,  had  I a thousand  lives  to  spend  nothing  could 
tempt  me  to  any  other  service.  * * * Oh,  may  all  the  students  of  this 

University  live  and  die  for  Jesus.  Farewell.” 

Again  we  listen,  on  the  same  occasion,  to  the  noble  counsels  given  the 

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new  president  by  that  veteran  in  the  university's  service  of  honor.  Dr.  John 
Robinson : ‘‘We  all  feel  intense  interest  in  your  call  to  the  presidency  of 

this  university,  around  which  cluster  the  affections  and  hopes,  and  upon 
which  concentrate  the  prayers  of  so  many  of  God’s  people.  It  is  yet  in 
adolescence.  You  are  to  bring  it  to  manhood.  It  struggles  with  difficulties 
growing  out  of  a want  of  full  endowment,  intensified  by  the  commercial 
derangement  and  depression  of  the  times.  It  is  hoped  you  will  relieve  this 
condition.”  “This  institution  is  designed  as  an  exponent  of  the  manner  in 
which  Presbyterian  Christians  would  do  the  work  of  education.  They  would 
furnish  the  most  complete  culture,  covering  the  whole  field  with  deepest 
investigation,  clearest  analysis,  most  extended  knowledge  and,  added  to  all, 
the  elements  of  the  science  of  salvation.”  They  would  “teach  all  that  may 
be  taught  of  earthly  science  and  mingle  with  this  the  rules  of  a stern  morality 
and  the  directions  and  motives  of  a hearty  consecration  to  God.'’  It  is  to 
be  the  instrument  of  the  church  not  only  for  preparing  a ministry  but  to  train 
men  for  “every  profession  and  position  of  influence  whose  power  may  help 
to  promote  righteousness  and  salvation  in  the  earth — to  bless  humanity  and 
glorify  God.”  Then  Doctor  Robinson’s  charge  dwells  impressively  upon  the 
serious  position  toward  the  students  the  president  will  occupy  in  respect  to 
their  age,  their  absence  from  home,  the  new  lives  and  conditions  of  thought 
into  which  they  would  enter.  Then  his  position  would  be  similarly  grave 
as  toward  the  world  at  large  in  view  of  awakening  mind  and  its  incidental 
dangers.  The  church  “needs  to  be  felt*’  against  all  that  confuses  thought 
and  destroys  morals.  “The  church  looks  to  you  and  this  University  for  the 
influences  and  the  men  to  do  this  work.*’  Then  followed  the  pledge  and  the 
delivery  of  the  keys. 

When  we  reach  the  inaugural  address  we  discover  no  failure  to  realize 
the  solemnity  of  the  obligations  assumed,  nor  any  difference  of  conception 
concerning  the  fundamental  principles.  Specially  responding  to  the  genetic 
idea  of  the  University,  Doctor  Taylor  takes  the  office  “as  a minister.”  “If 
liberal  education  may  not  be  combined  rightfully  with  religious  instruction, 
what  place  have  we  here?”  Three  answers  to  the  question  as  to  this  com- 
bination are  given.  The  first  is  from  “state  institutions  or  independent  cor- 
porations which  have  fallen  under  no  denominational  control  and  wherein 
no  direct  religious  influence  is  brought  to  bear  upon  students,  or,  if  at  all. 
in  the  most  formal  method.”  The  second  answer  comes  from  “institutions 
under  general  religious  influence  but  not  directly  connected  with  any  branch 
of  the  church  and  under  no  ecclesiastical  control.”  The  third  answer  comes 


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from  “institutions  belonging  to  and  managed  by  some  branch  of  the  church. 
This  position  zee  occupy.”  Then  the  inaugural  proceeds  to  sustain  this  posi- 
tion. For  the  sake  of  the  state  it  is  important.  Quoting  from  Washington's 
“Farewell  Address"  and  the  great  “Ordinance  of  1787,"  and  emphasizing 
the  authority  of  Story  and  Webster  that  Christianity  has  been  inherited 
through  the  English  common  law  as  an  integral  portion  of  the  law  of  our 
land,  he  is  led  to  affirm : “We  need  offer  no  excuse  for  the  defense  of  educa- 
tion as  already  bound  up  with  religion  in  its  application  to  American  youth.” 
“In  proportion  as  free  men  are  educated  they  must  needs  be  more  religious.” 
They  endanger  us  who  “attempt  the  unnatural  divorce  of  education  from 
religion.”  The  land  fares  ill  when  its  men  are  “trained  through  non-religion 
to  irreligion.”  He  quotes  Huxley  and  Cousin,  as  well  as  Cicero  and  Quin- 
tilian, to  show  that  such  a divorce  should  be  counted  as  “inconceivable  for 
any  nominally  Christian  people.”  “From  the  irreligious  college  you  bring 
the  youth  home  without  religion  in  his  heart  and  with  irreligion  in  his  head.” 
This  introduces  the  second  argument,  that  drawn  from  the  student  himself. 
If  education  be  defined  in  terms  of  the  intellect  alone,  you  “obscure  the  moral 
nature”  and  that  means  disaster.  “What  we  want  from  our  universities  is 
not  minds  so  much  as  men.”  This  argument  finds  its  logical  successor  in  the 
appeal  to  symmetry  of  development.  Neglecting  or  lessening  the  moral  sensi- 
bilities dwarfs  the  man.  Then  follows  the  argument  based  on  the  need  o£ 
the  church  for  such  institutions.  The  laity,  in  the  midst  of  current  unbelief 
and  plied  everywhere  with  the  facilities  of  infidelity,  need  Christian  educa- 
tion. Neglect  this  and  many  young  men  are  “lost  to  the  church.”  “Reli- 
gious stability**  in  every  congregation  demands  that  our  youth  be  “taught 
by  those  who  fear  God  and  keep  his  commandments,  and  under  the  shadow 
of  her  own  healthful  institutions.”  The  need  of  more  numerous  and  yet 
better  educated  ministers  presses  for  the  Christian  college  the  more  the 
church  is  learning  to  press  out  into  the  masses  of  the  non-Christian  world. 
Our  theological  seminaries  are  half  empty  for  want  of  more  and  more  pro- 
nounced Christian  colleges. ” 

Then  the  incoming  executive  reaches  the  special  Wooster  feature  of  a 
“peculiar  relation  to  the  church.”  uThc  property  of  this  University  and  its 
end  oivm  cuts  belong  absolutely  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this  state — 
to  its  highest  ecclesiastical  body.  Is  there  anything  inconsistent  or  perilous 
in  this  fact?  Rather  ought  not  the  church  to  glory  in  it  and  seek  to  make 
her  own  institution  in  every  respect  worthy  of  her  piety,  her  power  and  her 
resources?  The  best  method  of  ecclesiastical  control,  whether  direct  or  in- 


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direct,  has  been  the  subject  of  much  dispute  and  variable  practice.  The 
discussion  need  not  be  reopened.  Our  plan  is  established  and  seems  to  be 
working  well.  Let  us  have  the  opportunity  and  the  means  to  put  it  thor- 
oughly to  the  test,  since  it  has  proved  valuable  in  other  quarters.  If  the 

church  is  to  have  control  of  colleges  at  all,  it  must  be  either  by  the  hand  of 
a single  denomination  or  by  the  united  hands  of  more  than  one.  We  rejoice 
heartily  in  all  manifestations  of  the  spirit  of  Christian  unity.  * * * 

But  our  way  is  no  less  directly  toward  real  unity  and  the  blessing  of  the 
whole  church  of  God  because,  like  our  own  pulpits,  it  is  under  our  own  im- 
mediate direction.  The  authority  of  ex-President  Woolsey  on  this  point 
may  be  deemed  decisive : There  is  no  practical  difficulty,'  he  says,  'arising 

from  the  fact  that  colleges  are  in  some  degree  under  the  control  of  the 

denominations.  * * * Here  I may  be  allowed  to  state  what  I have 

myself  observed,  that  in  a long  acquaintance  with  officers  of  colleges  con- 
trolled by  various  religious  sects,  I have  discovered  no  spirit  of  proselvtism, 
and  no  important  disagreements  in  regard  to  the  meaning  and  essence  of  our 
common  Christianity.  They  may  cling  and  possibly  with  fondness  to  their 
own  modes  of  church  government,  to  the  distinctive  points  of  doctrine  which 
come  down  to  them  from  their  fathers,  but  they  do  not  differ  as  to  the  reali- 
ties of  sin  and  forgiveness,  nor  as  to  the  qualities  essential  to  the  perfect 
life.’  Our  work  is  thus  recognized  by  11s,  not  as  educating  youth  for  the  sake 
of  making  Presbyterians,  but  as  educating  through  the  efficiency  of  our 
own  methods  the  young  for  the  sake  of  the  whole  church  of  Jesus  Christ, 
of  which  we  are  but  a single  element.  It  is  not  sectarian  any  more  than  it 
is  secular."  * * * 

Then  the  incoming  executive  defines  the  Wooster  "mode  of  alliance  of 
education  and  Christianity."  It  is  to  be  effective  "through  the  faith,  testimony 
and  examples  of  teachers  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  and  who  desire  to  lead 
every  student,  both  by  direct  and  indirect  personal  influence,  to  the  same 
loving  Savior;  and  through  the  pursuit  of  secular  studies  from  the  position 
and  under  the  constant  light  of  religion.  More  and  more  we  desire  to  intro- 
duce the  study  of  the  Scriptures  and  of  the  evidences  of  Christianity  and 
to  choose  for  text-books  those  in  which  the  spirit  of  Christianity  is  positive 
and  prominent.”  With  these  will  be  joined  the  daily  and  Sabbath  worship; 
and  a government  "founded  upon  the  quiet  recognition  of  conscience  in 
every  student.  * * * Thus  we  desire  to  create  and  maintain  among  the 

whole  body  of  our  students  a devout  and  firm  Christian  spirit  which  shall 
exert  its  vigorous  and  positive  power  upon  every  one  brought  within  our 
circle." 


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The  administration  so  well  begun  continued  prosperously.  The  cata- 
logue of  1873-4  bears  evidence  of  the  literary  taste  of  the  new  president  and 
is  adorned  with  a fine  portrait.  A decided  gain  in  attendance  was  realized. 
Doctor  Taylor  took  the  biblical  chair.  J.  O.  Notestein  appears  as  instructor 
in  Latin.  No  professor  of  English  has  been  found,  but  Doctor  Gregory 
continues  to  teach  that  important  subject  with  remarkable  analytic  and  sug- 
gestive power.  His  “outlines’'  are  cherished  still  by  those  who  came  under 
his  instruction.  Adolph  Schmitz,  an  accomplished  teacher,  .subsequently  an 
author,  takes  the  chair  of  modern  languages.  The  seniors  numbered  thirty- 
one.  Among  them  our  fellow-citizens.  Attorney  Metz,  Mayor  Freeman  and 
Judge  Taggart.  Juniors  are  thirty-seven.  Sophomores  are  fifty-five  and 
freshmen  are  forty vseven.  The  preparatory  department  enrolls  fifty-three; 
the  medical  department  eighty-seven.  The  grand  total  reaches  three  hundred 
and  ten.  The  annual  schedule  is  published.  Three  courses  now  run  in  par- 
allel lines,  the  classical,  the  philosophical  and  the  scientific.  The  West- 
minster church  is  established.  The  location  and  advantages  are  more  fully 
set  forth  and  the  “congenial  and  cultivated  society  of  the  city’"  is  noted. 
Some  emphasis  is  laid  upon  the  lectures  in  hygiene  and  anatomy,  delivered 
by  Dr.  Leander  Firestone.  There  are  twenty-eight  graduates,  and  among 
them  the  first  young  woman  to  complete  the  course.  Miss  Emily  Noyes,  now 
a missionary  in  China.  At  the  close  of  the  collegiate  year  Doctor  Stoddard 
conducts  a party  of  young  men  on  an  expedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
taking  twenty  members  of  the  junior  class.  The  fifth  year,  1874-5,  wit- 
nesses a slight  decrease  of  collegiates,  attributable  to  pecuniary  stress  and 
some  advanced  entrance  requirements,  but  there  is  an  increase  in  the  prepara- 
tory department.  Mr.  J.  S.  Notestein  appears  as  adjunct  professor  of  Latin, 
and  Mr.  James  Wallace  as  principal  of  the  preparatory  department.  The 
sixth  year,  1875-6,  brings  increased  attendance.  Junior  contest  in  oratory 
for  prize,  offered  by  the  class  of  1875,  bakes  its  place.  Dr.  James  Black 
is  added  to  the  faculty  as  professor  of  Greek,  and  Mr  James  Wallace  is  made 
adjunct  for  the  same  language.  The  seventh  year,  1876-7,  shows  steady 
increase.  The  senior  class  numbers  thirty-five,  of  whom  thirty-one  graduate. 
Miss  Ella  Alexander  (Mrs.  Boole),  afterwards  so  well  known  as  speaker  and 
organizer  for  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  and  secretary  for  our 
Women's  Home  Mission  Board,  takes  the  junior  prize.  Through  self-deny- 
ing efforts,  with  lectures  and  collections  by  the  faculty,  the  observatory  is 
built  and  the  telescope  installed.  Dr.  T.  K.  Davis  begins  his  work  as  libra- 
rian. Prosperity  continues  in  the  eighth  year,  1877-8.  There  are  three  hun- 


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dred  and  twenty-two  students  in  all  and  thirty-one  graduates,  but  Professor 
Gregory,  the  forceful  teacher  and  author,  is  called  away  to  be  president  of 
Lake  Forest  College.  With  the  ninth  year,  1878-9,  success  is  yet  more  pro- 
nounced. There  are  three  hundred  and  fifty-three  students  and  thirty-one 
graduates.  Professor  Schmitz  retires  and  Mr.  R.  C.  Dalzell  returns  to  mod- 
ern languages.  Strong  religious  influences  are  manifest  and  a gracious 
revival  is  experienced.  Testimony  is  given  to  the  manly  character  of  the 
student-body.  In  the  ninth  year,  1879-80,  new  work  in  oratory  is  intro- 
duced under  Instructor  Sharpe,  and  Prof.  W.  O.  Scott  is  added  to  the  fac- 
ulty. The  teaching  body  is  made  more  complete  w'ith  Leotsakos,  from  the 
Athens  University,  as  instructor  in  Greek  and  Latin,  and  Joseph  Collins, 
honor  man  of  1879,  as  instructor  in  mathematics.  The  medical  department 
has  one  hundred  and  six  students.  The  summer  term  is  instituted,  mainly 
for  those  who  wish  to  make  up  collegiate  work  in  arrears.  Expenses  are 
represented  as  extremely  reasonable.  Boarding  as  low'  as  $1.90  per  week 
may  be  found,  and  unfurnished  rooms  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents.  For 
$2.50  we  are  assured  “one  may  live  in  comparative  munificence”  (?).  The 
elective  study  plan,  permitting  no  variation  before  junior  year,  is  found 
satisfactory.  The  first  term  of  the  tenth  year,  1880-81,  is  pronounced  “one 
of  the  best  and  the  most  successful  in  faithful  study  and  good  order.’*  Prog- 
ress is  quiet  and  steady  and  prospects  were  never  more  full  of  promise  for 
extended  prosperity  and  usefulness.  Thus  we  go  forward  through  the  next 
years,  finding  evidences  of  continued  success.  In  the  last  year  of  this  period. 
1882-3,  these  evidences  were  abundant.  The  gymnasium  building  is  added 
and  the  commencement  exercises  are  held  therein,  for  it  is  also  an  auditorium. 
Field  day  is  established  and  physical  culture  is  expected  to  obtain  more 
recognition.  The  catalogue  enrolls  500  students  in  all  departments.  The 
department  of  music,  under  care  of  the  distinguished  teacher  and  wrriter, 
Karl  Merz,  is  established.  With  his  admirable  instruction  and  entertaining 
lectures,  the  department  becomes  at  once  a great  culture  force  in  the  univer- 
sity’s life.  The  three  hundred  and  fifteen  graduates  number  half  as  many 
at  our  thirteenth  year  as  “some  other  colleges  have  graduated  in  fifty  years.” 
The  classical  course  has  been  especially  well  maintained.  The  triennial  cata- 
logue, ’80-83,  shows  a total  attendance  from  the  opening  of  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  ten  students.  In  the  collegiate  department  there  have  been 
five  hundred  and  ninety-nine.  Of  these  four  hundred  and  seventy-seven  have 
been  men  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  women.  The  preparatory  depart- 
ment has  enrolled  nine  hundred  and  eleven.  Of  these  six  hundred  and  ninety- 


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four  were  men,  two  hundred  and  seventeen  women.  Students  were  present 
from  more  than  twenty  states.  Ten  other  states  than  Ohio  were  represented 
by  one  hundred  students,  forty  of  them  being  from  Pennsylvania.  Four- 
fifths  of  Ohio's  counties  were  represented.  Of  the  three  hundred  and 
fifteen  graduates,  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  were  men,  women  forty. 
Among  them  ministers  and  theological  students  numbered  one  hundred  and 
fifteen,  attorneys  and  law  students  sixty-seven,  physicians  and  medical  stu- 
dents seventeen,  teachers  thirty-eight.  The  preparatory  department  had 
given  efficient  service  in  furnishing  two-thirds  of  those  who  entered  the  col- 
legiate courses.  The  standard  of  scholarship  had  been  so  well  maintained 
that  students  were  “admitted  to  corresponding  classes  in  the  larger  and  more 
influential  colleges  of  the  East.” 

The  only  regret  concerning  this  period  is  awakened  by  the  financial  dif- 
ficulties with  which  it  had  to  contend.  The  situation  at  the  inauguration  of 
Doctor  Taylor,  as  noted  in  Doctor  Robinson’s  address,  was  bravely  met. 
Overdrawn  funds  were  made  good.  Two  professorships  were  contributed, 
one  by  Mr.  Ephraim  Quinby,  Jr.,  and  the  other  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Kauke.  The 
president  not  only  gave  himself  but  a generous  subscription  of  $5,000  beside. 
Dr.  T.  K.  Davis’  agency  was  successful.  Nevertheless,  the  general  financial 
depression  made  the  collection  of  many  of  the  smaller  endowment  notes  im- 
possible. There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  difficulties  in  the  triple  (or 
quadruple)  official  responsibility  for  the  pulpit  of  Westminster  church,  pro- 
fessorial work,  internal  management  and  external  representation  of  the 
institution  among  the  churches,  together  with  maintaining  the  indispensably 
constant  pressure  for  patronage  and  funds,  led  finally  to  Doctor  Taylor’s 
resignation  at  the  close  of  ten  years  of  most  effective  and  essential  service. 
The  board  of  trustees  earnestly  attempted  to  dissuade  him  from  retiring. 
But  in  vain.  No  review  can  be  made  of  this  period  without  ascribing, 
after  due  honor  to  its  able  faculty  and  devoted  trustees,  very  much 
of  its  satisfactory  issue  to  the  strong  convictions,  and  winning  personality 
and  literary  talent  and  wise  methods  of  the  university’s  second  president. 
He  believed  heartily  in  the  fundamental  theory  of  the  institution,  making  this 
clearly  evident  so  lately  as  in  his  address  (as  president  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees) at  the  inauguration  of  the  fourth  president.  He  commended  .the  uni- 
versity from  every  point  of  view  to  its  own  immediate  constituency  and  to 
the  general  public.  Its  character  and  meaning  were  established  during  the 
ten  years  of  his  devoted  service  along  the  exact  lines  of  its  periods  of  incep- 
tion, preparation  and  experiment.  It  would  be  the  most  grateful  tribute 


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we  could  pay  to  quote  here  striking  passages  from  the  inaugural  address  and 
the  baccalaureate  sermons  of  this  period.  They  are  fully  abreast  of  any- 
thing which  has  ever  been  said  at  Wooster  and  of  all  it  has  been  the  privi- 
lege of  the  writer  to  read  of  similar  literature  issuing  from  more  pretentious 
sources.  There  was  a specially  affectionate  seriousness  in  the  farewell  ad- 
dress to  the  .class  of  1883.  and  penetrating  wisdom  and  full  knowledge  of 
the  whole  situation  in  what  may  be  termed  his  valedictory  to  the  board  of 
trustees  which  stands  written  out  in  full  upon  its  records.  It  may  be  added 
here  that  Doctor  Taylor’s  interest  in  the  university  continued  long  after  his 
retirement  from  the  executive  chair.  He  taught  in  one  and  another  of  its 
subjects,  became  dean  of  its  post-graduate  department  ( founded  during  his 
administration),  gave  it  the  larger  part  of  his  valuable  library,  and  was  the 
president  of  its  board  for  many  years  ( 1895-1902).  As  pastor  and  editor,  his 
usefulness  to  the  church  continued  also  to  the  closing  days  of  life.  Wooster 
will  keep  his  memory  green  always.  Many  testimonials  to  the  confidence  and 
affectionate  respect  entertained  for  Doctor  Taylor  by  the  board  of  trustees 
stand  recorded  in  the  minutes.  We  find  one.  passed  after  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  Columbus  on  the  23d  of  April,  1903,  closes  by  quoting  the  expres- 
sion of  two  of  his  editorial  friends,  as  follows : “Doctor  Taylor  was  a man  of 
great  versatility  of  talent  and  wide  range  of  thought,  efficient  and  capable  in 
all  the  positions  in  which  he  was  placed.”  Another  says.  “He  was  a distin- 
guished preacher,  a sympathetic  pastor,  a charming  writer,  a skilled  executive, 
a forceful  leader  and  a delightful  Christian  gentleman.  Versatile,  accom- 
plished, witty  and  genial,  he  was  a welcome  comrade  and  a valued  friend.” 

PERIOD  IV.  THAT  OF  MAINTENANCE. 

In  July,  1883,  the  trustees  called  to  the  vacancy  created  by  the  regretted 
resignation  of  Doctor  Taylor,  Sylvester  F.  Scovel,  then  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburgh.  He  was  the  son  of  Sylvester  Scovel, 
D.D.,  a pioneer  missionary  who  had  come  from  the  East  in  1829,  taking  in 
charge  a rural  district  near  Cincinnati,  in  which,  within  seven  years,  he  planted 
or  nourished  (or  both)  five  churches.  Thence  he  had  been  called  to  the 
superintendence  of  domestic  missions  for  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  church 
over  a large  portion  of  four  central  states.  For  convenience,  headquarters 
of  the  mission  were  fixed  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  whither  he  removed  in 
1836.  Finding  slavery  intolerable,  his  family  were  made  residents  of  Xew 
Albany.  Indiana,  while  the  agency  was  continued  until  1846,  at  which  time  he 
accepted  the  presidency  of  Hanover  College,  Indiana.  He  may  be  said  to  have 


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saved  the  life  of  this  valuable  institution,  but  his  iron  constitution,  slightly 
impaired  bv  severe  labors,  yielded  when  the  scourge  of  cholera  came  in  1849 
( July  4th).  The  son,  Sylvester  F.  (born  in  Harrison,  Ohio,  December  29, 
1835),  graduated  in-  1853.  The  family  removed  the  same  year  to  New 
Albany.  Four  years  in  the  theological  seminar}'  there  brought  him  to 
licensure  in  April,  1857,  and  at  Jeffersonville,  Indiana,  he  was  ordained  as 
pastor  in  October  of  the  same  year.  From  January,  1861,  to  January,  1866, 
he  was  pastor  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  from  the  latter  date  until  October, 
1883,  of  the  First  church  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  He  had  no  special 
preparation  for  the  work  committed  to  him  at  Wooster,  except  a close  con- 
nection with  four  educational  institutions  as  a member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  (or  directors).  He  wonders  now,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  his 
connection  with  the  university,  how  he  obtained  courage  to  undertake  the  task 
and  accounts  for  his  acceptance  by  some  enthusiasm  for  learning,  a deep  inter- 
est in  young  people  and  the  natural  presumption  of  unimpaired  health,  to 
which  must  be  added  a considerable  share  of  happy  ignorance  of  just  what 
the  situation  and  its  conditions  would  require. 

The  third  inauguration  in  the  university’s  history  took  place  on 
the  24th  of  October  (1883)  in  presence  of  the  synod  of  Ohio — the  body  re- 
sulting fropi  the  union  of  all  synods  of  the  state  in  1882.  The  fundamental 
principles  upon  which  the  institution  had  been  founded  came  most  appropriate- 
ly to  expression  on  the  occasion.  Dr.  John  DeWitt  (then  professor  at  Lane 
Theological  Seminary  and  now  at  Princeton)  made  an  address  as  representa- 
tive of  the  synod,  the  fine  rhetoric  of  which,  and  still  more  its  condensed  but 
massive  argument,  would  warrant  much  fuller  republication  than  can  be 
given  in  the  following  extracts. 

“In  speaking  in  behalf  of  the  synod  of  Ohio,”  he  said.  “I  desire  to  say 
something  in  justification  of  the  intimate  relation  which  this  ecclesiastical  body 
sustains  to  the  academic  body  whose  chief  executive  officer  we  have  assembled 
to  inaugurate.  The  synod  of  Ohio,  an  organized  portion  of  the  church  which 
Christ  has  founded,  is  the  proprietor  and  guardian,  and  is  ultimately  the  gov- 
ernor of  this  university. 

“We  have  here  an  example  of  a relation  common  enough  in  the  history 
erf  the  Christian  church — organized  Christianity  inspiring,  directing  and  quali- 
fying the  instruction  intended  to  promote  the  higher  learning.  Here  the 
liberal  arts  and  the  physical  sciences  submit  themselves  to  the  guidance  of  re- 
ligion and  here  religion  appears  both  as  the  inspiration  and  the  ultimate 
rcffula  curriculi , intended  to  secure  to  the  students  a humane  and  liberal  train- 
ing. 


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“I  state  the  relation  between  the  two  bodies,  represented  on  this  interest- 
ing occasion  and  united  in  fulfilling  this  great  trust,  in  the  boldest  language 
I can  select.  For  it  is  just  this  relation  of  religion  to  education  in  which 
religion  inspires  and  governs  education  that,  so  far  as  time  will  permit,  I desire 
to  justify/’ 

Then  the  orator  proceeded  to  show  the  demand  for  such  justification. 
The  effort  to  secularize  education  was  never  stronger.  And  among  some 
most  interested  in  “enlarging  the  bounds  of  human  knowledge,”  prevails  a 
disposition  to  dethrone  religion.  Yet  we  know  that  if  religion  appears,  “it 
must  be  given  the  regnant  place.  This  is  due  to  the  nature  of  religion.  It 
was  only  when  skepticism  had  prepared  the  way  for  a lifeless  and  powerless 
syncretism  that  the  gods  of  the  provinces  stood  peacefully  in  the  Pantheon  at 
the  capital  [Rome].  To  say  of  religion  that  it  may  have  a place  which  is  not 
supreme  is  to  say  that  it  may  have  no  place.  * * * It  is  a question  of 

principle,  and  therefore  of  vital  importance — whether  in  the  educational  sys- 
tem religion  is  or  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  constitutive,  architectonic  and  dom- 
inant.” The  so-called  conflict  of  religion  and  science  is  then  mentioned  as 
making  still  plainer  the  demand  for  the  strongest  vindication  of  the  right  re- 
lation between  religion  and  education. 

The  synod’s  spokesman  then  proceeded  to  a selected  line  of  proof  that 
“Revealed  religion  when  set  free,  as  Christianity,  to  exert  its  legitimate  in- 
fluence on  the  world,  at  once  and  in  the  most  powerful  and  unique  manner 
began  to  assimilate  the  elements  of  human  knowledge,  and  disclosed  its  har- 
mony with  intellectual  activity  and  its  appetency  for  human  learning.  More- 
over, it  stimulated  in  the  highest  degree  the  human  mind  to  increase  and  sys- 
tematize its  knowledge,  and  has  thus  revealed  itself,  historically,  to  be  the  most 
powerful  incentive  to  the  search  for  truth  and  unity,  and  the  chief  factor  in 
the  intellectual  training  of  the  race.”  After  the  necessary  seclusion  of  Israel 
while  the  world  was  making  progress  in  knowledge  of  nature  and  the  arts, 
came  New  Testament  Christianity  with  just  this  distinguishing  feature — “as- 
similation and  subjection  and  employment  of  human  knowledge.”  The  Greek 
tongue  was  used,  introducing  its  dialectic  philosophy  and  analysis.  This  was 
held  to  be  a unique  fact  and  was  regarded  “as  the  intimation  of  God  himself, 
in  the  pages  of  inspiration,  that  human  learning  belongs  to  religion.”  Then 
this  most  competent  authority  asserted  as  “one  of  the  most  impressive  and 
instructive  facts”  in  all  church  history  that  “from  the  apologists  onward,  in 
the  schools  of  Antioch  and  of  Alexandria,  in  Carthage  and  Hippo,  in  the 
old  Rome  on  the  Tiber  and  in  the  new  Rome  on  the  Bosphorus  through  the 


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period  of  the  ancient  church,  religion  is  the  great  inspiration  of  intellectual 
labor/’  The  same  influence  is  traced  through  the  Middle  ages  and  the  uni- 
versities of  the  Western  world  show  its  power. 

This  whole  history  was  held  to  show  that  while  a thirst  for  knowledge  • 
actuated  this  activity,  it  was  “a  thirst  for  knowledge  which,  in  turn,  owed 
its  existence  and  intensity  to  the  unique  fact  that  Christianity  alone  among 
religions  can  assimilate  and  employ  all  the  truths  of  human  philosophy,  of 
science  and  of  literature.”  And  our  own  continent  but  continues  the  demon- 
stration. “When,  therefore,  a body  representing  organized  Christianity 
founds  and  guides  and  fosters  a university,  it  is  only  true  to  the  spirit  of 
Christianity  as  it  is  revealed  upon  the  pages  of  ultimate  revelation  and  as  it  is 
manifest  in  the  entire  history  of  the  Christian  church.” 

“We  are,  therefore,”  continues  Doctor  DeWitt,  “no  narrow  bigots  in  re- 
specting, as  we  do,  in  this  young  and  growing  university  the  normal  union  be- 
tween religion  and  education.  We  do  but  act  in  harmony  with  the  lessons  of 
history  when  we  make  Christianity  the  underlying,  the  governing,  the  form- 
ative element  of  the  system  of  training  here  adopted  and  employed.  For  if  his- 
tory justifies  any  system  of  education  as  the  wisest  in  its  methods,  as  the  broad- 
est in  its  culture,  as  the  noblest  in  its  ultimate  fruitage,  it  is  that  system  which 
affirms  that  Jesus  Christ,  as  represented  by  Christianity,  is  the  author  and 
finisher  of  human  knowledge,  as  he  is  the  author  and  finisher  of  religious 
faith.”  This  representative  address  closes,  after  kindliest  expressions  con- 
cerning the  retiring  and  incoming  administrations,  with  these  fervent  words : 
“We  thank  God,  also,  in  this  secularizing  age,  and  take  courage,  confident 
that  the  triumphs  of  the  past  are  but  the  pledges  and  harbingers  of  greater 
triumphs  in  the  future,  as,  under  God,  we  shall  do  our  part  in  bringing  all 
science,  all  philosophy,  all  literature  and  all  art  into  subjection  to  Him  who 
is  the  head  of  all  intellectual  principality  and  power  and  into  unity  with  Him 
who  is  Himself  the  ultimate  and  eternal  truth.” 

The  ceremonies  (if  it  be  right  to  use  that  word  concerning  proceedings 
far  more  characterized  by  simplicity  and  conviction  than  ceremony)  were  con- 
tinued by  a charge  of  deep  seriousness  from  the  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  Dr.  John  Robinson.  The  incoming  executive  was  bidden  in  expres- 
sions as  firm  in  their  authority  as  they  were  gentle  in  their  conveyance  of 
personal  feeling:  First,  to  recognize  the  times  as  “peculiar,  auspicious  and 
hazardous.”  Mind  was  said  to  be  awakened.  “Practical”  education  was 
clamoring.  Rival  systems  of  thought  were  contending.  “Skeptical  question- 
ings and  startling  hypotheses”  were  in  the  air.  And  society  was  breaking  out 
here  and  there  into  “Nihilism.”  Therefore,  second,  this  demand  of  the  times 


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must  be  remembered,  viz : that  the  “education  given  here  shall  be  thorough.” 
Truth  can  be  defended  only  with  the  “best  weapons.”  Superficial  cramming 
will  not  answer  in  times  when  the  axe  is  laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree.  “A  broad 
curriculum  and  thorough  training”  must  be  forthcoming.  Thirdly,  the  execu- 
tive was  charged  to  remember  that  students  were  being  trained  as  members 
of  society,  and  must  be  learning  how  to  obey  law  and  to  preserve  order  in 
their  coming  life.  “They  will  need  wholesome  restraint  and  direction.  Sub- 
mission to  divine  and  human  law  is  to  be  prepared  for  by  obedience  to  college 
law.  Let  your  government  be  paternal,  forbearing,  by  appeal  to  manhood, 
reason  and  conscience ; vet  peremptory  if  need  be  * * * but  all  pervaded 

by  the  spirit  of  the  Great  Ruler.” 

Especially,  fourthly,  was  he  bidden  to  keep  in  mind  that  “this  university 
originated  in  and  has  thus  far  been  conducted  with  supreme  regard  for  the 
interests  of  Christ’s  kingdom.  It  is  the  child  of  prayer.  It  is  the  child  of 
the  church — I trust  also  of  God.  It  is  the  agency  of  the  church  of  this  state 
for  discharging  her  responsibility  in  the  line  of  thoroughly  trained,  pious,  de- 
voted workers  for  all  departments  of  society.  * * * Ultimate  and 

mighty  help  in  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  whole  broad  world — this  is  the  pri- 
mary end  of  its  existence,  the  justification  of  its  being,  the  vital  spirit  that 
pervades  the  whole  organism.  Not  a narrow  spirit  is  it,  but  the  deepest  and 
noblest  that  a human  institution  can  seek.  Where  the  trust,  and  peace,  the 
love  and  hope  and  joy  of  the  Christian  prevail,  the  mind  is  best  fitted  for  safe, 
deep  and  thorough  investigation.  Spiritual  health  is  at  once  the  best  tonic 
and  mightiest  stimulant  to  intellectual  vigor. 

“The  sheet-anchor  of  hope  for  our  race  is  the  church.  But  the  church 
must  have  for  her  ministry  men  trained  to  defend  her  against  all  the  subtleties 
of  error,  to  set  forth  impressively  her  great  system  of  truth  and  salvation,  and 
to  push  her  conquests  to  the  ends  of  the  world. 

“In  the  name  of  the  dear  old  church,  as  well  as  of  the  board  of  trustees, 
I charge  you,  therefore,  that  you  make  this  primary  purpose  of  the  university 
the  chief  end  of  all  your  arrangements,  your  government,  and  your  teaching. 
Let  your  teachers  be  men  and  women  who  can  say  of  all  their  work  ‘O  Christ, 
I do  this  all  for  Thee.’  * * * Let  consecration  to  God  be  the  very  centre 

of  the  institution  and  all  its  works.” 

These  impressive  addresses  helped  to  deepen  the  already  almost  op- 
pressive sense  of  responsibility  and  insufficiency  with  which  the  inaugural  ad- 
dress now  came  to  be  delivered.  “I  stand  in  some  amazement.”  said  the  new 
president,  after  receiving  the  keys  and  kindly  words  from  his  predecessor, 
“before  a sinewy,  well-appointed,  well-settled,  yet  still  developing  institution 


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with  impetus  enough  already  gained  to  go  alone  if  its  parent-body  should 
forsake  it,  but  with  such  brawn  and  promise  in  its  proportions  that  parental 
pride  has  no  notion  of  such  a surrender  and  would  not  listen  to  its  saying 
‘Corban’  for  the  world. 

“Pushed  forward  with  unexampled  energy  and  success  (so  far  as  I know 
the  history  of  church-colleges),  attaining  at  once  an  honorable  rank  both  as 
to  resources  and  intellectual  products,  already  planting  its  taught  as  teachers, 
and  preaching  in  many  lands  and  languages  by  those  to  whom  it  has  preached, 
sensitive  to  modern  educational  progress  in  its  methods,  while  true  to  our 
changeless  principles  in  its  life,  * * * I find  in  the  university  all  the 
cherished  convictions  of  my  life’s  experience  and  observation  recognized  and 
practiced.  * * * I am  satisfied  with  the  theory  of  the  institution, 

charmed  with  its  judiciously  outlined  courses  of  study ; and  shall  be,  I am  sure, 
responsive  to  the  many  wants  I perceive  yet  to  be  supplied.  And  I promise 
you  faithfully  to  press  them  upon  you  and  the  communities  you  represent  to 
the  full  extent  of  my  opportunities  and  of  your  patience. 

“Now,  therefore,  relying  upon  you  (as  I trust  we  shall  both  rely  upon 
God),  to  the  development  and  not  to  the  alienation  of  this  great  interest  I 
(daring  reverently  to  use  the  words  of  my  father’s  inaugural)  ‘give  myself 
this  day.’  ” 

The  theme  of  the  inaugural  address  was  “Intellect  and  Character.”  No 
disparagement  of  the  first  is  necessary  to  the  supremacy  of  the  second.  The 
powers  of  the  human  mind,  nearly  illimitable,  are  to  be  exalted,  directly  in  the 
interest  of  character.  “For  if  intellect  be  so  much  what  must  character  be, 
being  more?”  The  asserted  supremacy  was  proven  by  demonstrating  that 
character  conditions  intellect:  i,  in  its  exercise:  2,  in  its  development;  3,  in 

its  safety;  4.  in  its  usefulness;  5,  in  its  enjoyment;  6,  in  its  final  result.  The 
danger  of  “an  insane  devotion  to  the  intellectual  as  opposed  to  the  moral” 
was  pointed  out.  The  danger  is  a “return  to  an  essentially  sophistical  per- 
iod in  which  man  shall  float  about  in  an  endless  whirl  of  shallow  thinking  with 
no  fixed  moral  convictions  to  guide  and  no  religion  to  ennoble.  Out  of  such 
a period  will  come  a world  as  fully  given  over  to  a false  intellectualism  as  ever 
the  antediluvian  world  was  surrendered  to  a false  animalism.” 

The  address  closed  with  sentences  tracing  the  relation  of  the  theme  to  the 
university.  “Gentlemen  and  brethren,  we  are  certainly  building  into  the 
largest  and  surest  forces  of  human  nature  and  therefore,  hopefully  into  the 
widest  plans  of  the  beneficent  Father  of  all  in  His  education  of  the  race, 
when  we  consider  this  principle  settled  for  this  institution  and  actively  apply 
it  to  the  institution's  whole  inner  life.  Our  ideal  must  be  that  of  a careful 


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and  thorough  intellectual  culture  under  the  continuous  pressure  of  an  atmos- 
phere of  conscience  and  duty.  This  dominant  idea  must  so  shape  our  cur- 
riculum that  no  character-making  study,  gentler  or  sterner,  shall  be  omitted. 
Our  motto  demands  this.  Christ  and  character  are,  in  a certain  high  sense, 
synonyms.  * * * He  taught  its  elements,  exemplified  its  highest  type, 

commended  and  commanded  it  to  all  men,  and  made  the  issues  of  eternity 
pivot  on  it.  We  shall  never  wander  from  Christ  while  we  make  character 
condition  all  our  intellectual  discipline  and  we  shall  never  misconceive  char- 
acter while  we  hold  fast  to  Christ  and  keep  him  first  in  our  motto  and  our 
hearts. 

“But  to  realize  this  ideal  in  its  perfection,  to  transfer  this  theory,  in  all  its 
amphtude,  into  practice,  actually  to  form  character — a far  more  difficult  task 
than  to  train  intellect;  to  overcome  moral  inertia;  to  neutralize  poisonous 
forces;  to  evoke  motive  power  and  supply  direction — ‘Who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things?’  Let  us  invoke  the  only  power  which  can  bring  to  pass  that 
which  we  long,  above  all  things  else,  to  see  accomplished.” 

This  much  has  been  necessary  to  make  it  manifest  that  the  initial  ideas 
and  views  and  purposes  had  suffered  no  alteration  or  diminution  up  to  the 
opening  of  this  fourth  period.  The  clear  duty  for  the  future  was  as  evident 
as  was  the  behest  of  his  times  expressed  in  the  motto  of  William  the  Silent 
“Je  maintiendrais.”  It  became  the  inspiration  of  the  next  sixteen  years  in 
the  history  of  the  institution,  and  a modest  development  resulted  as  must  al- 
ways be  the  case  where  a living  organism  is  maintained. 

The  period  had  need  of  strong  support,  as  it  coincided  with  an  epoch 
of  rapid  development  in  neighboring  institutions.  Ohio  State  University, 
which  began  its  marvelous  career  in  1862,  obtained,  largely  because  of  the  ex- 
ample of  Michigan's  liberality  to  Ann  Arbor,  an  even  more  ample  supply  of 
the  appliances  appropriate  to  the  most  pronounced  educational  tendencies  and 
demands  of  the  day.  Miami  was  reopened  and  Ohio  University  reinforced. 
Oberlin's  semicentennial  came  on,  signalized  by  donations  of  hitherto  unex- 
ampled generosity.  Tne  Case  School  of  Technology  was  rising.  Western 
Reserve  University  had  passed  through  its  period  of  struggle  and  was  firmly 
fixed  in  the  affections  and  benefactions  of  a large  constituency  (and  largely 
Presbyterian)  in  Cleveland.  The  same  was  true,  in  various  measures,  of 
Marietta,  of  Hiram  and  Mt.  LTnion,  and  Baldwin  and  Denison.  Just  on  our 
borders  flourished  again  dear  old  Washington  and  Jefferson,  with  the  new 
and  vigorous  institution  planted  at  Grove  City,  Pennsylvania,  bv  that  marvel  of 
energy  and  capacity.  Doctor  Ketler.  It  was  something  to  have  kept  fairly 
apace  with  the  general  advance  of  the  whole  column. 


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One  of  the  first  things  to  receive  attention  was  the  equipment  of  the  gym- 
nasium building  and  its  actual  use  for  something  more  than  an  auditorium. 
This  was  accomplished  and  awakened  an  enthusiasm  which  it  would  be  difficult 
to  restore  even  for  a much  finer  and  more  appropriate  structure.  Almost 
coincidentlv  military  drill  was  added,  thus  providing  for  a physical  culture 
efficiently  supplemental  to  the  gymnasium.  The  services  of  competent  direc- 
tors were  engaged  from  time  to  time  and  a continuous  record  for  good  health 
among  the  students  was  preserved. 

In  examining  the  reports  for  1884-5  *he  board  of  trustees  noted  a larger 
attendance  of  students,  the  whole  number  having  reached  four  hundred  and 
sixty.  Already  three  hundred  and  seventy-seven  graduates  had  been  sent 
forth  (in  fifteen  years)  and  they  were  widely  dispersed  in  the  world.  Grati- 
fication is  expressed  by  the  board  of  trustees  with  the  disposition  of  the  varied 
work,  with  increased  efficiency  of  instruction,  with  successful  government, 
with  progress  in  the  preparatory  department,  and  with  the  removal  by  pay- 
ment and  pledges  of  all  accrued  deficit.  It  is  noted  with  pleasure  that  Wooster 
has  been  furnishing  more  candidates  for  the  ministry  than  any  other  college 
in  the  country  except  Princeton  and  more  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
students  than  Princeton  itself.  It  was  maintained  that  already  the  university 
was  becoming  what  the  first  president  declared  on  dedication  day  it  would  be- 
come— “an  ornament  and  power  to  the  church,  a pillar  and  bulwark  to  the 
state,  a chosen  and  cherished  home  of  literature,  the  arts  and  sciences.” 

It  was  becoming  steadily  more  evident  from  the  practice  of  neighboring 
institutions  as  well  as  from  the  growth  in  equipment  and  curricula  of  high 
schools  in  Ohio,  and  their  increasing  employment  of  college-graduates  as 
teachers  and  administrators,  that  some  form  of  closer  relationship  between 
them  and  our  university  must  be  devised.  It  was  not  without  serious  study 
of  the  situation  that  the  change  was  made  from  the  original  custom  of  receiv- 
ing students  only  upon  examination.  A certificate  plan  was  adopted  by  which 
the  first  place  of  the  applicant  should  be  determined  under  condition  of  sus- 
taining the  classification  accorded  during  the  first  term.  This  became  a gen- 
eral movement  and  was  sanctioned  by  the  Association  of  Ohio  Colleges.  It 
has  done  much  to  counteract  the  disposition,  especially  among  the  boys,  to 
sacrifice  the  advantages  of  the  last  years  of  the  high  school,  and  has  largely 
increased  the  number  who  press  on  from  the  secondary  to  the  higher  educa- 
tion. This  method  of  entrance  was  authorized  by  the  board  of  trustees  in 
1885.  Care  was  exercised  from  the  first  to  ascertain  the  exact  character  of 
the  work  done  in  the  accredited  schools.  Coincidently  a change  was  made  in 
the  curriculum  which  gave  a better  arrangement  of  studies  in  the  natural 
sciences  and  the  preparatory  course  was  broadened. 


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Through  some  years,  up  indeed  until  1891,  efforts  were  made  to  sustain 
and  develop  certain  academies  into  more  or  less  intimate  relations  with  which 
the  university  came.  Visits  were  paid  to  these  academies  and  such  moral  (not 
pecuniary)  aid  given  as  was  possible  with  the  faculty  force  then  available. 
South  Salem,  Poland  and  Central  College  academies  were  co-operated  with. 
Green  Springs  Academy  was  accessible  if  the  university  could  have  undertaken 
its  administration  and  the  payment  of  its  indebtedness.  This  academy  and 
that  at  Hudson  were  liberally  assisted  by  Western  Reserve  University,  but 
without  any  reasonable  return  for  the  expenditure  and  were  finally  abandoned 
(see  Dr.  Haydn’s  History  of  Western  Reserve  University).  The  whole  acad- 
emy idea,  once  so  prevalent  and  so  really  serviceable  in  Ohio,  was  moribund. 
The  high  school  provisions  became  so  ample  and  accessible  that  support  of  the 
other  class  of  institutions  became  unnecessary.  Constant  efforts  are  now  made 
to  interest  the  high  school  pupils,  and  especially  by  the  state  colleges,  which 
claim  to  constitute  the  natural  termini  of  the  whole  system. 

Some  progress  was  made  as  to  attendance.  The  catalogue  of  ’87-8 
records  the  first  freshman  class,  I think,  which  reached  one  hundred.  Seniors 
were  forty,  juniors  forty-nine  and  sophomores  fifty-five.  Counting  all  de- 
partments, the  enrollment  reached  seven  hundred  and  fifty -seven.  The  de- 
nominational machinery  was  invoked  in  a request  to  have  a standing  com- 
mittee in  each  presbytery  to  keep  the  university  before  the  churches,  and  each 
presbytery  was  asked  to  send  annually  a visitor.  Propaganda  was  also  sought 
through  a little  journal,  “The  Christian  College. ” It  promised  to  be  valuable, 
but  an  unfavorable  interpretation  of  the  postal  statutes  made  its  continuance 
unadvisable.  More  liberal  interpretations  are  now  made  and  with  great  ad- 
vantage to  the  college  world.  The  board’s  meeting  of  1887  had  been  con- 
sidered in  its  records  as  “peculiarly  glad  and  hopeful.”  in  view  of  no  deficit, 
increased  attendance,  and  the  completion  of  the  twenty-five  thousand  dollar 
endowment  of  the  Hoge  chair  of  morals  and  sociology.  This  endowment  was 
raised  through  painful  persistence  in  finding  smaller  sums  on  the  basis  of  Wil- 
liam Thaw’s  initial  subscription  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  It  was 
intended  to  allow  the  introduction  of  a chair  of  biology.  This  was  authorized 
in  June,  1887,  but  we  could  instal  it  only  inconveniently  in  the  fourth  story 
of  the  main  building. 

The  baccalaureate  sermon  of  that  year  was  the  call  to  “Go  Forward” 
(Exodus  xiv:i5).  It  was  contended  that  our  university  was  so  clearly  “of 
the  stock  and  tribe  of  Israel”  that  we  might  rightly  interpret  our  circumstances 
as  the  call  of  Divine  Providence  to  push  on — though  only  omnipotence  could 
open  the  way  for  us  through  seas  and  deserts  to  the  borders  of  the  promised 


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land.  The  special  plea  was  for  the  sac  red  ness  of  our  enterprise  as  against 
those  who  thought  of  it  too  much  as  a secular  thing,  and  with  no  special 
covenant  relation  to  God  and  his  church.  In  much  the  same  way  the  dedica- 
tion of  our  university  to  the  country  through  realization  of  our  Presbyterian 
educational  traditions  was  urged  in  the  baccalaureate  of  1888.  “Wisdom  and 
knowledge  shall  be  the  stability  of  thy  times. “ (Isa.  xxxiii:6.)  It  was  the 
centennial,  approximately,  of  our  federal  constitution  and  of  the  full  organiza- 
tion of  our  denomination  in  the  first  general  assembly. 

In  June,  1890,  the  board  of  trustees  approved  of  changes  in  the  cur- 
riculum and  the  introduction  of  a larger  scope  of  electives  in  the  higher 
classes.  That  improved  curriculum  went  into  effect  at  once  and  constituted 
a distinct  advance.  Just  at  this  time,  also,  came  the  missionary  alcove  in  the 
library,  with  improvement  of  the  gymnasium  and  the  employment  of  an  in- 
structor, plus  the  enlargement  of  Old  Music  Hall.  They  were  not  great 
changes,  but  they  facilitated  our  work  and  each  brought  its  own  gratification. 
The  alcove  owed  its  origin  to  the  talent  and  self-denial  of  one  of  the  professors 
( Xotestein ),  who  had  gained  a prize  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  an  essay 
on  an  important  politico-social  theme  and  dedicated  it  to  increasing  intelligent 
interest  in  that  which  he  has  always  and  justly  contended  was  Wooster's  con- 
structive idea — the  winning  of  the  world  to  Christ.  An  important  step  was 
now  taken  in  filling  the  hitherto  vacant  chair  of  Biblical  instruction  and  com- 
bining with  it  the  pastorate  of  the  college  ( Westminster)  church.  The  uni- 
versity was  every  way  fortunate  in  securing,  at  some  pecuniary  sacrifice  to 
himself,  the  Rev.  Edgar  W.  Work  (’84),  then  pastor  at  Van  Wert,  Ohio. 
The  board  filled  the  chair  and  protested  against  the  relinquishment  of  a 
thousand  dollars  of  salary  by  the  president  in  partial  provision  for  the  incom- 
ing professor.  But  that  release  of  salary  continued  until  the  final  vacation  of 
the  executive  office  in  1899. 

The  assistance  of  Doctor  Work  in  teaching  and  in  the  pulpit  was  the 
more  necessary  that  the  means  might  be  founded  for  enlargement  of  the  main 
building.  The  board  resolved  (June,  1890)  that,  “urged  and  encouraged  by 
the  growth  of  the  institution  and  the  growing  demands  of  the  higher  educa- 
tion, we  proceed  immediately  to  raise  the  sum  of  twentv-five  thousand  dollars 
for  additions  to  our  central  building,  and  the  additional  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars  for  additional  heating  apparatus  now  imperatively  needed."  The  synod 
approved,  much  begging  was  done,  the  fund  grew  and  in  June,  1891.  the  hoard 
“took  recess  till  after  the  laying  of  the  cornerstones  this  afternoon."  It  was 
1892  before  the  work  was  completed,  at  a cost  (with  new  laboratories  and  facil- 

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ities)  of  more  than  forty  thousand  dollars.  We  had  reason  to  be  grateful 
that  just  at  a moment  when  further  progress  seemed  especially  difficult  the 
legacy  of  Selah  Chamberlain  (elder  of  the  Second  church  of  Cleveland)  came, 
most  unexpectedly,  to  our  help.  The  inspiration  of  this  gift,  ten  thousand 
dollars,  lifted  us  over  the  difficulties  at  once.  The  added  accommodations 
were  a relief  beyond  what  can  be  appreciated  by  those  who  have  not  passed 
through  similar  experiences  of  hampering  restrictions  and  their  removal.  It 
was  like  a new  life  in  some  departments.  The  architect  might  facetiously  call 
the  architecture  "factory-style”  and  the  many  windows  did  admit  the  “canid, 
cauld  blasts”  of  our  occasional  blizzards.  But  it  was  “factory-style”  in  the 
other  and  more  important  sense.  We  filled  its  larger  spaces  with  the  hum  of 
enlarged  intellectual  industries.  The  improvement  increased  our  library 
facilities,  relieved  our  embarrassed  hallways,  and  brought  all  the  natural 
sciences  into  a new  and  deserved  prominence.  We  thanked  God  and  took 
courage. 

In  1892  the  granting  of  Master  of  Arts  in  cnrsit  was  disapproved  and 
the  faculty  authorized  to  carry  into  execution  some  plan  for  bestowing  the 
Master’s  degree.  But  the  execution  of  this  decree  was  arrested  for  years 
by  failure  of  the  Ohio  Association  of  Colleges  to  stand  together  for  the  much- 
needed  reform  of  a discreditable  practice.  Items  of  gratification  appreciated 
by  the  board  of  trustees  in  June,  1893,  were  “enlarged  preparations  made  in 
some  departments  for  special  study;  the  healthy  religious  life  of  the  univer- 
sity throughout  the  year,  the  increased  interest  in  the  work  of  the  literary  so- 
cieties, the  furnishing  of  the  Willard  and  Lowell  society  halls,  the  success  of 
Wooster’s  representative  in  the  state  and  interstate  oratorical  contests;  the 
encouraging  growth  of  the  post-graduate  department,  and  the  very  large 
matriculation  of  new  students  during  a year  of  great  financial  stringency.” 
It  was  recorded  that,  “with  the  forty-eight  thousand  dollars  expended  on 
recent  improvements,”  the  university  now  represents  contributions  in  property 
and  endowments  “of  not  less  than  half  a million  dollars.”  “It  presents  in 
its  solid  basis  of  property  and  patronage  and  in  its  unique  relation  to  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Ohio,  a signal  opportunity  and  a cogent  argument  for 
progress.  Its  present  and  possible  future  value  is  becoming  annually  more 
evident." 

From  the  beginning  it  had  been  felt  that  cottages  for  the  young  women 
were  desirable.  The  feeling  grew  with  experience  and  an  organization  of 
ladies  had  been  formed  to  advance  that  interest.  As  early  as  June,  1884.  the 
board  of  trustees  recognized  the  need  as  one  of  highest  importance,  but  it 
was  not  until  1895  that  the  donation  of  Mr.  Hoover,  made  in  1894,  could  be 


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utilized.  The  cottage  bearing  his  name  was  opened  in  January,  1896,  and 
proved  at  once  helpful  and  attractive.  The  committee  was  fortunate  in  its 
selection  of  a place  and  the  structure  remains  a worthy  member  of  the  new 
group  of  buildings,  because  a true  cottage,  at  once  homelike  and  convenient. 

In  the  catalogue  of  1894-5,  as  the  twenty-fifth  year  was  reached,  a special 
declaration  was  made  emphasizing  the  denominational  relation  of  the  uni- 
versity : “The  denomination  to  which  this  university  belongs  has,  during  this 

period,  finally  settled  its  own  policy  as  to  denominational  colleges  by  erecting 
a special  board  to  represent  this  great  interest.  The  basal  principles  in  the 
assembly  in  the  wider  work  and  the  synod  in  the  university  are  identical  and 
it  is  certain  that  the  churches  will  ultimately  respond  to  the  plans  of  both 
bodies."  Allusion  was  also  made  to  the  general  assembly’s  establishment  of 
“College-Sunday,”  from  which  much  was  hoped.  Through  this  close  re- 
lationship much  that  was  gratifying  had  been  accomplished  in  the  twenty-five 
years  past.  “By  further  extension  and  intensification  of  it  the  next  quarter 
of  a century  will  far  surpass  the  record  of  the  first.”  Only  fifteen  years  are 
gone  and  already  it  is  evident  that  these  words  were  prophetic.  Faith  in  the 
church,  so  confident  in  1895,  has  abundant  justification  in  the  university  of 
1910  and  will  find  further  ground  of  assurance  at  the  semi-centennial  in  1920! 

During  1894  (February)  the  present  writer  had  opportunity  to  plead  the 
cause  of  Ohio’s  many  colleges  before  the  Ohio  Society  of  New  York.  In 
that  plea  Ohio  was  presented  as  not  ashamed  of  the  fact  that  most  of  her  col- 
leges were  denominational.  “She  takes  good  care  that  not  one  of  them  shall 
be  sectarian  in  any  offensive  or  unchristian  sense,  and  each  one  of  them  con- 
tains the  neighborhood  representatives  of  every  form  of  Protestant  faith.” 
It  was  held  that  this  condition  of  things  was  the  logical  sequent  of  the  his- 
torical facts  that  Ohio  was  the  first  meeting  place  of  the  various  population- 
elements  in  their  new  movements  just  after  the  Revolution  and  that  all  forms 
of  church  organization  were  planted  very  early  on  Ohio  soil.  It  was  declared 
to  be  in  harmony  with  the  noticeable  fact  that  we  had  no  metropolis  in  Ohio 
and  needed  none — our  three  great  cities  being  ideally  distributed  for  effective- 
ness in  state  control  and  for  extended  commerce  and  trade.  Ohio  has  a claim 
to  being  the  spot  from  which  shall  emerge  the  typical  American  character,  and 
the  typical  American  must  come  largely  from  the  ranks  of  college-culture. 
It  was  claimed,  moreover,  that  Ohio  colleges  were  making  a record  in  “draft- 
ing the  best  brains  into  the  service  of  the  world’s  moral  and  spiritual  interest,” 
and  that  “Ohio  college  people,  professors,  trustees,  patrons  and  students  are 
Fappy  in  putting  forth  year  by  year  a healing  touch  upon  the  whole  vast 
world  from  which,  Ohio  men  of  New  York,  you  are  drawing  your  vast  pecuni- 


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ary  gains.”  The  many  colleges  of  Ohio  provide  the  choicest  product  of 
Ohio’s  greatest  industry — that  of  “making  men , the  most  men  and  the  best 
men  ” Her  numerous  colleges  are  her  “declaration  of  faith  in  the  average 
man.  She  resiliates  from  Carlyle’s  Konigniann  and  “gigmanity”  and  from 
Caesarism  and  all  that.  She  knows  there  is  no  aristocracy  of  brains.  * * * 

She  holds  to  her  heart  the  real  source  of  her  pride — those  who  in  church  and 
school  and  state  have  demonstrated  that  the  tough  resolution  of  medium  or 
narrow  circumstances  finds  just  the  fibre  it  needs  in  the  strong  frame,  the 
healthy  brain  and  the  high  morals  of  her  Tom  Corwins  and  her  Abram  Gar- 
fields.  * * * Instead  of  offensive  discriminations,  we  open  our  college- 

doors  to  all  races,  as  to  all  fortunes.  * * * Who  doubts  our  need  of 

men?  And  who  denies  the  traditional  belief  of  the  race  since  Charlemagne’s 
universities  that  the  colleges  are  the  seed-plots  and  propagating  houses  for 
men.  * * * Men  are  not  accidents.  * * * It  requires  the  highest 

social  vitality  to  start  them,  and  the  most  assiduous  care  to  protect  them,  and 
the  most  ingenious  devices  to  direct  them,  and  winds  from  all  quarters  to 
deepen  their  roots  and  straighten  their  trunks,  and  sunshine  from  favoring 
social  conditions  to  stimulate  them  and  the  purest  atmosphere  for  the  leafy 
respiration  of  them  and  the  richest  soil  for  the  burrowing  roots  of  them. 
All,  sirs,  and  all  at  their  best — as  when  nature  summons  her  marvelous  ener- 
gies to  rear  some  incredible  triumph  of  vegetable  architecture  like  a Calaveras 
pine  four  hundred  feet  high.  The  task  and  tax  of  every  community  that  has 
ever  risen  to  the  elevated  consciousness  of  Christian  civilization  is  the  rearing 
of  men.  It  demands  the  supremest  energies  and  repays  the  most  lavish  ex- 
penditures. And  that  is  the  reason  Ohio’s  surface  is  dotted  with  colleges. 
And  that  is  the  reason  why  so  many  of  them  are  so  rapidly  increasing  in 
everything  that  helps  to  form  and  fashion  manhood.  And  that  is  the  reason 
they  can  afford  the  reproaches  sometimes  cast  upon  them,  and  even  the  partial 
disloyalty  of  those  who  overlook  them,  because  they  have  faith  that  the  waking 
passion  for  man-making  will  presently  overcome  the  passion  for  gewgaws  and 
frippery.  And  then,  sirs,  they  will  be,  every  one  of  them  that  does  its  work 
honestly,  as  large  as  any  college  had  better  be  and  as  thoroughly  equipped  as 
every  college  ought  to  be.  * * * Last  of  all,  we  extend  the  great  pur- 

pose of  Ohio,  through  her  many  colleges,  from  man-making  to  the  making  of 
public  men.  * * * What  kind  of  public  men  do  you  want  Ohio  to  pro- 

duce? Are  American  statesmen  needed  to  preserve  and  guide  that  which  has 
demanded  hecatombs  of  sacrifice  to  win  and  build?  * * * Where  then 

is  the  broad  foundation  to  be  laid  which  prevents  men  from  becoming  doc- 
trinaries  with  Guizot  on  the  one  extreme,  or  opportunists  with  Gambetta  on 


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the  other,  and  poises  them  as  saviors  of  the  country  with  Thiers  in  France 
or  Cavour  in  Italy  and  our  own  peerless  Washington?  Where,  I say,  but  in 
our  colleges  in  which  eager  youth  are  held  in  check  to  ripen,  and  fed  while 
they  grow,  and  stimulated  to  the  noblest  views  of  patriotism  and  cosmopolitan- 
ism before  they  go  out  to  the  frequently  narrowing  tendencies  of  practical 
politics?  And  in  what  colleges  if  not  in  Ohio’s  colleges?  I believe  in  Ohio’s 
young  men  of  the  twentieth  century.  * * * Aye,  sirs,  our  past  and  our 

present  assure  us  of  the  best  material  the  sun  ever  shone  upon.  And  the 
colleges  of  Ohio,  linking  hands  with  the  \Vhole  secondary  education,  are  press- 
ing eagerly  forward  toward  the  goal  of  an  ideal  fundamental  education  of 
statesmen.  * * * In  the  whole  Ohio  college  policy  there  is  nothing  but 

that  which  has  come  through  our  great  commonwealth's  historical  develop- 
ment. Nothing  which  does  not  already  go  powerfully  toward  manmaking 
for  private  life  and  public,  and  therefore  everything  to  set  forward  and  develop 
with  a generous  and  confident  loyalty." 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  was  asked  to  introduce  an  admirable  volume  by 
Prof.  John  Marshall  Barker  on  “Colleges  in  America,"  and  wrote  (in  July, 
1894)  thus:  "1  cannot  be  unwilling  to  avail  myself  of  any  opportunities  to 

turn  the  attention  of  the  Christian  public  to  the  Christian  colleges.  It  is  a 
noble  public  and  an  equally  noble  object.  I can  conceive  of  no  worthier  thing 
than  the  care-taking  of  one  generation  that  the  next  one.  which  must  neces- 
sarily lie  so  long  under  its  influence,  and  for  which  it  is  therefore  so  thorough- 
ly responsible,  should  receive  a Christian  education.  To  put  Christ  at  the 
center  and  make  Him  felt  to  the  circumference  (as  Bungener  said  in  speaking 
of  Calvin’s  school-policy)  is  exceedingly  difficult.  But  it  is  exceedingly  im- 
portant. It  is,  indeed,  vital  and  pivotal.”  The  dangers  which  surround  this 
ideal  were  noted  and  traced  to  their  causes  in  "general  worldliness;  specula- 
tive infidelity ; lowering  the  Bible  from  supreme  consideration  ; false  theorizing 
with  regard  to  the  limits  of  government  and  the  liberty  of  conscience  issuing 
in  the  demands  for  utter  secularization  of  the  states;  the  divided  opinion  of  the 
church  universal.”  These  dangers  were  held  to  be  both  "imminent  and  actual. 
One  section  is  thrown  over  towards  utter  secularism  in  public  education  by 
recoiling  from  a church  education,  exclusive  and  reactionary.  The  leading 
of  the  little  child — the  favorite  indication  of  the  millennium's  arrival — is  frus- 
trated amid  the  clamor  of  the  free  thinkers  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  church 
and  the  (supposed)  necessities  of  the  state.  We  are  slowly  but  surely,  if  we 
go  on  in  this  way,  taking  our  children  out  of  Christ’s  arms  and  our  youth 
from  beside  his  footsteps.  And  that  is  at  once  the  most  fearful  sin  against 
Him  and  the  most  terrible  injustice  to  them  we  could  possibly  commit.  Who 


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can  do  anything  to  stay  this  destructive  tendency?  “God  bless  him,”  1 would 
say  in  Livingstone's  spirit,  “whoever  he  may  be,  that  will  help  to  heal  this 
open  sore  of  the  world.”  I believed  that  Mr.  Barker’s  book  would  help  as  I 
am  convinced  the  astonishing  success  of  the  whole  group  of  Ohio’s  denomina- 
tional and  Christian  colleges  has  helped  powerfully.  These  expressions  of 
conviction  are  given  space  because  they  are  but  the  common  opinions  of  all 
who  have  given  devoted  service  to  Wooster  LTniversity  as  to  many  others  of 
the  group  mentioned. 

No  special  effort  was  made  to  celebrate  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  in 
1895.  The  board  of  trustees  recorded  its  “gratitude  that  the  institution  has 
more  than  fulfilled  the  most  sanguine  hopes  and  purposes  of  its  founders  in 
the  quarter  century  of  its  past  history.”  By  this  we  are  to  understand,  of 
course,  thankfulness  for  progress  toward  the  original  ideal.  The  attendance 
had  reached  an  aggregate  much  beyond  three  thousand  in  the  collegiate  de- 
partment alone — the  graduates  approaching  eight  hundred.  The  number  of 
missionaries  and  ministers  sent  out  had  equaled  forty  per  cent  of  the  male 
graduates,  and  next  in  order  followed  the  number  of  those  who  had  entered 
the  profession  of  teaching.  Three  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  productive 
and  promised  endowment  were  counted  upon,  buildings  had  been  erected  for 
astronomy,  gymnastic  instruction,  and  musical  culture,  with  other  such  im- 
provements as  gave  ample  equipment  for  laboratory,  library  and  literary 
work.  The  faculty  had  been  enlarged  and  those  now  occupying  the  chairs 
had  acquired  invaluable  experience.  The  inner  history  had  been  marked  with 
unanimity  and  there  had  constantly  been  in  attendance  a large  majority  of 
Christian  students  fairly  representative  of  the  homes  of  the  university’s  con- 
stituency. Coeducation  had  proved  successful.  Cases  of  discipline  had  been 
comparatively  infrequent,  though  a high  standard  of  conduct  had  been  re- 
quired. Some  gracious  revivals  had  been  experienced  and  the  religious  life 
of  the  university  had  been  quickened  constantly  bv  earnest  work  on  the  part 
of  the  Christian  associations.  The  outlook  for  further  improvements  was 
regarded  as  decidedly  encouraging.  Large  advance  in  every  direction  was  con- 
sidered as  not  only  imperatively  demanded  but  as  just  within  reach  and  the 
settled  church  relationship  of  the  university  was  regarded  as  a sufficient  guar- 
antee of  large  expectations. 

The  twenty-sixth  year  (1895-1896)  was  the  transition  year  to  a much 
improved  curriculum  with  additional  electives.  The  attendance  during  the 
following  four  years  was  not  quite  sustained,  probably  owing  to  increasing  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  continued  exclusion  of  intercollegiate  games,  a policy 
adopted  in  June,  1891.  The  totals,  not  reckoning  post-graduate  or  medical 


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students,  but  including  summer  students,  were  these:  For  1895-6,  five  hundred 
and  eighty-nine;  for  1896-7,  five  hundred  and  sixty-five;  for  1897-8,  six  hun- 
dred and  thirty;  for  1898-9,  six  hundred  and  ninety-four.  Subtracting  the 
summer  students,  the  totals  were  respectively  five  hundred  and  forty;  four 
hundred  and  twenty-five;  four  hundred  and  twenty-three;  four  hundred  and 
eleven.  Regarding  only  the  collegiate  department,  the  totals  were  respectively: 
two  hundred  and  sixty-nine;  two  hundred  and  forty-three;  two  hundred  and 
forty-seven  ; two  hundred  and  forty-four. 

At  the  close  of  the  commencement  exercises  of  1897,  on  an  issue  con- 
nected with  collegiate  dramatics,  the  president  tendered  his  resignation  to  the 
board,  which  had  not  sustained  a policy  to  which  he  was  conscientiously  com- 
mitted. It  was  to  take  effect  at  the  close  of  the  following  collegiate  year,  the 
expressed  wish  and  hope  of  the  president  being  that  by  special  effort  the  insti- 
tution might  be  entirely  freed  from  debt.  The  issue  was  submitted  to  the 
synod  in  October,  which  put  on  record  a declaration  sustaining  the  president’s 
position.  In  the  following  March,  he  stated  that  “the  resignation  placed  in 
the  board’s  hands  at  the  last  commencement  and  held  in  abeyance  according  to 
the  request  of  the  board,  is  now  withdrawn,  because  the  occasion  for  it  then 
had  been  removed  in  his  view  by  the  action  of  the  synod  at  its  last  meeting, 
which  has  fixed  the  policy  of  the  institution  in  the  matter  then  under  con- 
sideration. He  then  offered  his  resignation,  constrained  by  the  conviction 
that  under  the  present  circumstances  the  needs  of  the  institution  demanded  the 
trial  of  a new  policy  for  its  development,  i.  e.,  an  executive  president.  He 
wished  to  open  the  way  for  this  policy  and  to  do  all  he  could  to  persuade  the 
board  to  adopt  it.”  (Minutes  Vol.  II.  p.  37.)  The  resignation  was  accepted, 
the  services  of  the  retiring  executive  were  continued  in  the  chair  he  had  already 
occupied  (Hoge  professorship  of  morals  and  sociology)  and  kindly  resolutions 
were  passed.  Some  gratifying  things  were  mentioned  in  the  board’s  reports 
of  1898  (June).  “The  close  of  the  administration  of  the  retiring  president 
leaves  matters  in  an  excellent  condition  for  the  one  who  shall  be  chosen  to 
follow  him,  who  will  add,  we  trust,  another  record  of  advancement  in  strength 
and  influence  to  the  already  remarkable  career  of  the  institution.' ” Thanks 
were  tendered  to  the  faculty  for  the  “generous  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  they 
have  exhibited  in  contributing  during  the  past  year  one-tenth  of  their  salaries 
to  the  financial  relief  of  the  institution/’ 

The  presidency  was  tendered  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  C.  R.  Ewing,  of  the 
Presbyterian  College  at  Lahore,  India,  but  his  missionary  zeal  would  not  per- 
mit him  to  accept  it.  Thereupon  the  board  requested  the  former  president 
to  continue  in  the  discharge  of  the  official  duties  so  long  as  would  be  neces- 


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sary.  This  tenure  extended  throughout  the  following  college  year.  The 
board  took  a contented  view  of  the  year  and  a confident  view  of  the  future 
mainly  because  success  had  again  been  attained  in  relieving  the  institution 
from  all  indebtedness.  “Hopefulness/*  the  record  reads,  “seems  to  pervade 
all  ranks  that  the  university  of  Wooster  is  upon  the  eve  of  a new  era  of  use- 
fulness and  prosperity.”  The  board  expresses  the  greatest  anxiety  that  “the 
faculty  in  all  its  plans  and  work  as  well  as  the  individual  professors  in  all  their 
contact  with  the  students”  should  “labor  unceasingly  for  the  cultivation  of 
the  hearts  no  less  than  the  minds  of  those  committed  to  their  training.”  The 
presbyteries  were  again  requested  to  appoint  two  visitors  annually  in  order  that 
the  university  might  be  brought  into  “closer  and  more  vital  relations  with  the 
churches/'  It  was  also  advised  that  “earnest  and  successful  pastors'*  should 
be  invited  to  spend  Sabbaths  now  and  then  in  the  college  pulpit.  A high-grade 
teachers’  department  was  advised  and  the  expediency  of  keeping  in  touch  with 
the  teachers  of  the  state  was  urged.  The  board  concludes:  “Now  is  the  time 
for  all  friends  of  Wooster  to  join  hands  to  push  forward  and  enlarge  the 
work  of  our  beloved  university.  We  must  have  half  a million  of  dollars  in 
the  next  ten  years  to  equip  the  university  so  that  she  can  offer  all  the  ad- 
vantages which  any  other  institution  can  offer  within  the  borders  of  our  state. 
We  must  attempt  great  things  and  expect  great  things  as  servants  of  God. 
* * * Let  our  motto  be:  ‘Xo  second  place’  for  Presbyterians  in  the  edu- 

cational field  in  Ohio.” 

In  closing  the  review  of  this  period,  the  financial  aspect  of  it  deserves 
notice.  It  proved,  fortunately,  the  end  of  the  system  by  which  the  president 
was  to  be  responsible  for  the  pulpit  of  Westminster  church,  general  adminis- 
trator. even  to  giving  excuses,  charged  with  the  duties  of  a full  professor- 
ship and  still  expected  to  represent  the  university  among  the  churches,  to  plead 
its  cause  before  the  synod  and  to  beg  from  door  to  door  the  funds  necessarv 
for  maintenance  and  development.  These  various  tasks  could  not  all  have 
been  carried  forward  in  any  fashion  but  for  the  kind  cooperation  of  the  fac- 
ulty. the  timely  help  of  the  board  of  trustees,  the  confidence  shown  in  the  idea 
of  the  university  in  general  response  by  contributions  and  patronage.  Per- 
haps it  was  necessary  that  this  stage  should  have  been  continued  for  the  first 
twenty-nine  years  of  the  university's  career,  with  occasional  help  from  finan- 
cial agents — who  found  their  work  exceedingly  difficult.  But  it  is  a matter 
of  congratulation  that  so  feeble  and  inadequate  a policy  should  have  been  now 
and  forever  abandoned. 

During  this  period  there  were  dark  days,  but  there  were  also  bright  ones. 
Xow  and  then  the  ledger  closed  with  the  balance  on  the  right  side,  fust  at 


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the  time  of  need  came  the  larger  donations,  securing  the  Hoge  professorship, 
the  Brown  professorship  (in  a single  gift),  the  Hoover  and  Chamberlain 
sums,  which  secured  the  two  building  projects,  the  generous  Pratt  gifts, 
the  most  timely  and  helpful  bequest  of  Judge  Robinson,  the  property  gift  of 
the  Aylesworth  will  and  many  another  gift  for  scholarships  and  improve- 
ments. On  the  whole,  while  it  was  a constant  struggle,  there  was  at  no  time 
defeat,  but  always  a reward  of  success  in  modest  proportions.  One  of  the 
pleasantest  memories  of  the  years  will  always  remain  the  generosity  of  the 
institution  to  those  to  whom  it  extended  free  tuition  (and  the  privilege  of 
giving  a note  to  those  who  were  neither  children  of  the  ministry  or  candidates 
for  that  office  or  the  mission  field).  As  early  as  1885  the  sum  so  given  for 
that  year  reached  five  thousand  forty-five  dollars.  In  the  following  years  it 
approximated  four  thousand  dollars.  In  1890-1  it  was  four  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  fifty -five  dollars.  It  was  not  changed  despite  the  pitifully  small 
sum  of  the  annual  contribution  solicited  to  meet  this  drain  upon  the  funds,  until 
1897.  when  it  was  reduced  to  one-half  instead  of  full  free  tuition.  The  writer 
is  thoroughly  convinced  that  this  generous  view  of  the  university's  opportun- 
ity to  serve  the  church  from  which  its  life  was  drawn,  has  had  its  reward,  and 
that  this  policy  has  powerfully  aided  in  demonstrating  to  the  church  that  the 
university  is  an  indispensable  instrument  in  advancing  the  work  for  which  it 
was  founded — the  frankly  avowed  object  of  winning  the  world  for  Christ. 

PERIOD  V THE  PERIOD  OF  RAPID  DEVELOPMENT!  THE  NEW  WOOSTER. 

The  previous  periods  have  shown  us  a development  apparently  arrested 
in  some  directions  and  not  rapid  as  a whole;  but  they  have  given  evidence  of 
a solid  foundation  on  which  to  build  and  of  quiet  confidence  and  bright  hope 
concerning  the  future.  Moreover,  a distinct  era  was  beginning  to  dawn — an 
era  characterized  by  a general  awakening  of  the  educational  consciousness.  It 
was  becoming  manifest  in  the  more  generous  provision  of  our  communities  for 
secondary  education  and  the  still  larger  legislative  generosity  to  the  state  uni- 
versities, as  well  as  by  the  hitherto  unprecedented  contributions  of  the  great 
fortunes  to  private  and  denominational  institutions. 

Here  was  an  opportunity,  not  for  every  man,  but  for  the  larger  man  who 
might  he  providentially  disclosed  as  fitted  by  special  gifts  and  experiences  to 
meet  the  new  demands.  And  not  an  opportunity  for  him  alone,  hut  for  him 
in  combination  with  all  the  forces  which  had  been  brought  into  being  by  the 
past  twenty-nine  years  and  those  which  were  latent  in  the  hearts  of  a noble  con- 
stituency to  which  he  might  win  new  and  strong  coefficients. 

The  discovery  was  the  Rev.  Edward  Holden  (now  D.  D.,  LL.  D.), 
then  professor  in  Beloit  College  and  the  right  hand  of  President  Eaton  in  all 


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advances  for  which  friends  and  means  were  to  be  found.  Professor  Holden 
was  born  April  30,  1863,  graduated  from  Beloit  College,  in  1888,  and  from 
Princeton-Theological  Seminary  in  1891.  He  was  recalled  at  once  to  his  Alma 
Mater  and  continued  there  until  chosen  president  here.  The  election  occurred 
at  a meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  held  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church  on 
July  27,  1899.  He  was  unanimously  elected  and.  being  introduced  to  the 
board,  the  record  significantly  says,  he  “cordially  accepted  the  office,  made  some 
appropriate  and  effective  remarks  and  requested  that  he  might  be  set  im- 
mediately at  work.”  Here  was  the  man  ready  for  the  larger  handling  of  en- 
larging interests,  one  who  could  make  way  for  his  cause  into  the  well-intrenched 
counting-rooms  of  the  men  of  large  business  affairs  to  persuade  them  that 
their  best-paying  investments  were  to  be  found  in  man-making,  as  well  as  he 
could  enlist  the  large-hearted  women  of  means  in  an  enterprise  less  directly 
philanthropic  and  emotional  than  the  objects  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  contribute.  Robust  and  vigorous  in  body  ; acute  and  intense  mentally  ; strong 
in  the  faith  of  the  “glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God,”  and  in  that  specific 
faith  which  removes  mountains  and  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  centrality  and 
vitality  of  religion  in  education;  he  was  the  man  for  the  place  as  clearly  as  the 
place  was  for  the  man.  President  Holden  made  it  evident  at  once  and  since 
that  a man  of  strong  will  may  be  full  of  sympathy;  that  high  ideals  are  com- 
patible with  unwearied  patience  in  their  realization,  and  that  daring  initiative 
may  be  combined  with  unshrinking  perseverance.  Already  acquainted  with 
the  inner  life  of  America's  best  colleges  by  personal  inspection,  he  has  added 
a careful  study  of  the  best  institutions  of  the  mother  country,  and  has  kept 
fully  abreast  with  the  demands  of  the  modern  college.  Forcible  in  address  and 
in  the  style  of  all  written  documents,  his  propaganda  pellets  and  pleas  have  the 
effect  of  grape-shot  and  are  like  Luther’s  words — “half  battles.”  Realizing 
the  opportunity  at  Wooster,  he  refused  within  his  second  year  here  the  tend- 
ered presidency  of  his  own  admirable  Alma  Mater  and  soon  thereafter  repeated 
solicitations  to  another  position  of  commanding  importance.  Replying  that 
“a  man  must  get  his  work  done,”  right  manfully  has  lie  adhered  to  a task 
which  most  men  would  have  deserted  under  similar  temptations.  One  of  <mr 
fellow-townsmen  (editor  Lemuel  Jeffries)  has  written  of  him  as  the  “up-to- 
date  president  with  brilliant  ideas  of  a modern  college;”  as  “possessing  a 
peculiarly  magnetic  personality  which  has  won  for  him  success  as  a master  of 
students” ; and  as  “certain  to  secure  grand  success  for  the  University  through 
his  wonderful  zeal  and  energy.”  More  recently  the  editor  of  The  Interior 
(Nolan  R.  Best)  has  written  of  Wooster's  president  as  “a  man  dominated  by 


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an  intense,  idealistic  passion  for  the  upbuilding  of  Christian  education  and 
uniting  therewith  phenomenal  gifts  of  business  ability  which  had  won  the  con- 
fidence of  the  hardest  headed  sort  of  practical  men.*’ 

Nor  must  it  be  supposed  that  President  Holden’s  entire  energies  are  given 
to  the  financial  forwarding  of  the  University.  He  finds  constantly  ways  of 
cultivating  acquaintance  with  and  impressing  uplifting  thought  upon  the  stu- 
dent body.  The  freshman  class  is  entertained  at  his  hospitable  home  as  they 
enter  college  life ; and  the  senior  class  is  assembled  for  a final  social  benediction 
from  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Holden,  reinforced  for  this  occasion  by  the  faculty  and 
trustees.  The  president  effectively  presides  in  faculty  meetings,  taking  part 
in  all  that  concerns  the  internal  intellectual  and  disciplinary  and  religious  life  of 
the  University.  He  delivers  from  the  pulpit  the  opening  sermon  of  each  term 
as  well  as  the  baccalaureate  discourse  at  the  year's  close.  He  conducts  the 
daily  chapel  exercises  with  brief,  clear,  impressive  and  strongly  evangelical 
expositions  of  scripture.  On  matriculation  day,  early  in  December  of  each 
year,  he  delivers  an  earnest  and  helpful  address  to  those  finally  enrolled.  A 
multitude  of  special  cases  demanding  aid  of  various  kinds  command  readily 
his  sympathy  and  help. 

Under  these  circumstances,  general  and  individual,  success  of  a large  pat- 
tern might  have  been  and  was  confidently  predicted.  But  there  arose,  in  addi- 
tion, sjiecial  exigencies  which  gave  yet  ampler  field  for  the  forces  of  the  new 
executive  and  excited  all  those  latent  in  the  University’s  constituency  and 
powerfully  aided  to  open  the  doors  of  access  to  generous  interest  and  aid  from 
without.  The  narrative  of  the  eleven  years  may  be  traced,  mainly  from  the 
records,  in  its  main  features,  but.  necessarily,  many  pleasing  details  of  this 
brilliant  period  must  be  omitted. 

The  inauguration  took  place  on  November  3.  1899.  a day  to  be  remem- 
bered for  the  exceptionally  violent  weather  without  and  the  exceptionally 
strong  enthusiasm  within.  Trustees,  faculty,  alumni,  students  and  many  in- 
vited guests,  filled  and  overflowed  the  large  auditorium  (Methodist  church). 
From  two  o’clock  to  five  close  attention  was  given  to  a varied  programme,  en- 
livened with  music  and  punctured  with  student  demonstrations  of  a very  lively 
sort.  In  the  address  of  welcome  the  trustees,  the  faculty,  the  Alumni,  the 
students,  other  institutions,  theological  seminaries,  the  synod  of  Uhio  and  the 
citizens  of  Wooster  were  all  represented.  It  was  to  be  expected  that  the  dom- 
inant ideas  of  the  University’s  life  would  appear  at  the  fourth  inauguration  as 
they  had  appeared  (as  we  have  seen)  at  the  three  preceding  occasions.  Mr. 
Scovel  said:  “We  are  near  the  summit  of  things,  therefore,  in  all  we  do  today 


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in  the  interest  of  an  institution  which  is  frankly  Christian.  * * * There  is 

no  need  more  imperative  in  the  world  of  education  today  than  an  ideal  Christian 
college.  This  institution  does  not  pretend  to  have  attained  thereto,  but  it  does 
claim  to  have  erected  that  standard  and  to  be  pressing  toward  it  steadily.  Fail 
of  it  we  may,  in  this  and  that  particular,  but  lose  sight  of  the  idea  we  never  will. 
The  methods  of  approach  to  that  ideal,  the  various  particulars  of  decision  as  to 
what  it  may  mean  in  this  and  that  application  of  principle  must  be  left  to  the 
united  wisdom  of  the  students,  faculty,  trustees,  patrons  and  synod,  all  of  whom 
have  reason  to  hope  for  the  guidance  of  the  good  spirit  of  God.  * * * 

Our  great  fundamental  principle  itself  insures  ultimate  success,  and  this  has 
been  accepted  without  reserve  by  the  president-elect.  It  is  therefore  with  pe- 
culiar pleasure  that  I discharge  the  duty  assigned  to  me  and  present  the  presi- 
dent-elect to  the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  for  the  administration  of 
the  oath  of  office.” 

The  second  president,  in  behalf  of  the  board  of  trustees,  of  which  he  was 
the  presiding  officer,  impressively  signalized  the  urgent  demands  of  the  times 
upon  all  educational  institutions  and  quoted  the  strong  utterance  of  Dr.  John 
Robinson  at  a previous  inauguration,  with  which  our  readers  are  already 
familiar.  “Such,  my  brother,  was  the  ideal  institution,”  he  then  said,  “in  the 
hearts  and  minds  of  its  founders  and  fathers.  It  is  well  to  keep  this  ideal  ever 
in  the  fore-front.  For  it  is  the  plaster-cast  that  you  and  we  are  to  endeavor  to 
reproduce  in  substantial  and  polished  marble.  We  have  no  reason  to  be 
ashamed  of  our  backing.  Presbyterianism  is  a mighty  power  for  truth  and 
righteousness  in  the  earth  today.  - * * * By  some  it  is  esteemed  the  most 

potent  force  of  Protestantism  now  existing.”  Emphasizing  the  representative 
feature  of  the  Presbyterian  system.  Doctor  Taylor  was  led  to  apply  it  thus: 
“This  institution  is  the  creature  and  agency  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Ohio. 
Of  this  church  the  synod  annually  elected  is  the  representative.  The  synod, 
in  its  turn,  elects  a board  of  trustees  as  its  representatives.  The  trustees  in 
turn  are  empowered  to  select  the  faculty,  including  the  president.  * * * 

Idle  church  of  Ohio  reposes  faith  in  its  synod:  the  synod  reposes  confidence  in 
the  trustees ; they  in  turn,  confide  in  the  faculty  and  I may  add  it  will  be  neces- 
sary for  the  faculty  to  trust  the  students  and  have  faith  in  them.  This  whole 
system  of  trust,  being  mutual,  works  both  ways.  * * * And  all  must  con- 

fide in  the  great  church,  the  mother  of  all,  for  sympathy,  encouragement  and 
sufficient  material  aid  to  perfect  machinery  and  equipment.”  Then  Doctor 
Taylor  eloquently  impressed  the  “solemn  weight  of  responsibility,  solemn  and 
divine.”  which  rests  upon  the  faculty  and  concentrates  in  the  executive.  “Bear- 


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ing  such  a trust,  you  have  a right  to  the  confidence  and  support  of  all  who  are 
interested  in  the  University.  And  this  you  have  at  the  outset.  * * * 

That  your  career  in  this  office  may  prove  most  honorable  and  glorious,  for  the 
welfare  of  men,  the  glory  of  God  and  the  advancement  of  His  kingdom  is  our 
earnest  prayer  as  we  welcome  you  to  this  high  sphere  of  duty.”  Dr.  S.  J.  Kirk- 
wood, connected  with  the  University  from  its  opening,  appropriately  extended 
the  hearty  greeting  of  the  faculty,  assured  that  the  new  executive  was  “in  ac- 
cord with  the  views  that  we.  as  a faculty,  hold  in  regard  to  the  purpose  and 
work  of  Wooster.”  Dr.  John  C.  Sharpe  (principal  of  Blairstown,  Pennsyl- 
vania) extended  the  alumni  welcome  as  coming  in  the  time  of  the  “most  pros- 
perous era  known  to  any  land  since  the  dawn  of  civilization,”  and  “in  the 
golden  age  of  education  when  the  growth  of  interest  in  higher  education  is  far 
outstripping  progress  in  any  other  human  interest  in  our  country.  * * * 

For  this  mighty  work  we  pledge  to  you  the  loyalty  of  Wooster’s  sons  and 
daughters  doing  valiant  service  in  every  worthy  vocation  and  in  every  clime 
throughout  the  whole  world.”  George  A.  Custer  (1900)  assured  the  new 
president  that  the  students  believed  in  Wooster’s  past  and  were  more  than 
ever  confident,  now,  of  her  future.  On  the  basis  of  their  observation  and  ex- 
perience thus  far  they  said : “You  told  11s  once  you  were  on  our  side.  We 
are  on  your  side.  You  may  depend  upon  us  to  stand  by  you.  You  may  con- 
sider us  henceforth  your  avowed  friends.  Let  the  compact  of  friendship  be 
signed  and  sealed,  and  it  is  our  determination  that  our  obligations  be  sacredly 
kept.”  Thus  came  to  expression  a bit  of  the  true  Wooster  spirit  which  is 
thoroughly  characteristic  of  the  whole  forty  years.  Anything  contrary  has 
only  been  a ripple  on  the  water’s  surface.  The  students  have  never  subscribed 
to  the  notion  elsewhere  current  that  there  must  be  hostility  between  those  whom 
common  pursuits  and  common  aims  should  make  the  firmest  friends.  They 
do  sometimes  sing:  ‘‘There’ll  be  no  faculty  there.”  but  they  don’t  act  as  though 
they  believed  it. 

The  brief  address  of  Prof.  Henry  P.  Smith  (Lane  Seminary)  presented 
half  humorously  the  practical  side  of  the  college  executive  “whose  ‘chair’ 
must  be  the  office-chair,  his  department  the  art  of  begging  and  booming  and 
building.”  And  yet,  he  said,  that  “vital,  virile  character  was  the  paramount 
need  of  the  Christian  college,”  and  that  the  “religious  influences  of  the  college 
determines  the  size  of  the  delegation  to  the  seminary.”  He  rejoiced  that 
Wooster  “is  and  ever  has  been  honest  with  souls  as  well  as  with  minds,  loyal 
to  truth  and  to  Him  who  is  the  truth  and  courageously  claiming  that  highest 
scholarship  is  in  no  wise  inconsistent  with  humblest  discipleship.”  Dr.  Trum- 


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bull  Lee  (of  Cincinnati)  gave  the  synod's  welcome.  Most  appropriately  he 
emphasized  the  fact  that  Christian  and  secular  education  had  come  to  the  part- 
ing of  the  ways.  He  maintained  that  “Christian  religious  thought  must  be 
vitally  articulated  with  all  parts  of  a true  educational  system,”  and  that  “this 
can  only  be  accomplished  by  means  of  schools  not  dominated  by  secular  in- 
fluences, but  controlled  by  the  church.”  In  eight  distinct  but  succinct  proposi- 
tions Doctor  Lee  showed  just  what  can  be  accomplished  in  the  way  of  an  ideal 
Christian  education  by  such  institutions  as  Wooster.  “The  educational 
climax,”  he  contended,  “is  to  educate  the  conscience  and  the  will.  Conscience 
and  will  must  be  influenced  by  a standard  of  right.  That  standard  is  found 
in  the  word  of  God  alone.”  Eloquently  he  urged  that  “the  church  caring  for 
her  children,  careful  of  their  culture,  strange  to  all  alien  forms  of  education 
that  shut  out  of  view  her  altars,  her  ordinances,  and  the  hope  and  inspiration 
of  her  gospel,  the  church  providing  institutions  with  sufficient  equipment  and 
competent  Christian  instructors,  is  the  church  of  the  Firstborn,  is  the  perma- 
nent factor  of  an  imperishable  civilization  that  underlies  all  our  progressive 
steps  into  the  future  already  dawning  upon  the  world  with  latter  day  glory. ” 
Jacob  Frick  extended  the  greeting  of  Wooster's  citizens,  claiming  that  “the 
welfare  of  the  University  and  that  of  our  city  are  identical.  * * * This 

University  is  the  distinguishing  mark  of  our  city.  * * * We  anticipate 

with  pleasure  your  wholesome  influence  and  pledge  you  our  sympathy  and  co- 
operation.” 

The  inaugural  address  made  kindly  allusion  to  the  past  and  expressed  a 
fine  determination  to  maintain  the  same  lines,  but  with  broad  views  as  to  the 
relations  of  usefulness  which  the  University  must  maintain  toward  all  pro- 
fessions and  all  the  needs  of  society.  Relieving  the  University  “always  to 
have  been  hospitable  to  the  highest  and  best  intellectual  tendencies  of  the  times 
as  judged  from  the  standpoint  of  a progressive  Christian  scholarship;”  he  de- 
clared it  to  be  his  purpose  to  “urge  the  most  modern  and  practical  methods  of 
imparting  knowledge."  He  did  not  mean  to  lie  dictator.  “The  source  of 
power  in  the  University  of  Wooster  is  the  synod  of  Ohio.  To  the  synod  be- 
longs the  elective  power  of  the  board  of  trustees.”  That  board  “should  con- 
tain men  of  sound  judgment  in  finance,  men  who  represent  the  great  business 
interests  of  Ohio — also  men  of  the  broadest  scholarship.  * * * The 

method  of  government  in  the  University  of  Wooster  insures,  through  the 
synod,  the  spirit  of  fidelity  to  the  standard  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
America.  The  synod  aspires  to  serve  the  nation  by  training  men  for  all  the 
callings  of  life  to  intellectual  honesty  and  independence  of  mind,  but  it  desires 


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to  provide  a safeguard  to  all  benefactors  of  the  college  against  false  systems 
of  thought  being  fostered  and  taught  with  its  consent,  in  Wooster.”  With 
this  declaration,  so  exactly  correspondent  to  the  original  and  oft-repeated  utter- 
ances of  the  University’s  past,  the  president  joined  most  judicious  and  winning 
expositions  of  the  relations  he  desired  to  maintain  with  the  alumni,  the  stu- 
dents and  the  citizens  of  Wooster.  It  was  difficult  to  tell  which  of  the  many 
applauded  points  of  the  afternoon  elicited  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  but  the  two 
which  stand  out  in  memory  most  vividly  were  these  : The  announcement  of  the 
purpose  of  H.  C.  Frick  to  build  a twenty-five  thousand  dollar  library  building; 
and  the  grateful  surprise  awakened  by  President  Eaton  when  in  closing  a re- 
markable tribute  to  the  new  president  he  affixed  to  him  on  the  spot,  by  the 
authority  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Beloit  College,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  as  ''an  expression  of  their  confidence  and  afTection.” 

There  followed  upon  this  auspicious  afternoon  an  inauguration  banquet 
rich  in  all  the  elements  that  could  combine  to  make  such  an  occasion  significant 
and  contributory  to  an  intelligent  and  lasting  enthusiasm.  ‘‘Three  hundred 
and  sixty  guests/’  it  is  recorded,  “sat  down  to  a feast  of  wit  and  wisdom  which 
continued  from  seven  to  eleven.”  Reluctantly  we  must  leave  the  contents  of 
these  admirable  addresses  untouched,  though  the  aggressiveness  of  Chicago  was 
so  well  represented  in  the  breezy  speech  of  William  McSurely  (’86) — now 
Judge  McSurely — and  Charles  Krichbaum's  idealistic  and  poetic  tendencies 
found  the  spirit  of  Wooster  and  praised  it,  and  though  there  was  mingled  wit 
and  wisdom  in  H.  B.  Work’s  words  and  those  of  Miss  Mary  Eddy.  President 
Thwing  (Western  Reserve)  voiced  the  good  wishes  of  all  Ohio  colleges,  and 
all  was  closed  by  an  admirable  and  arousing  address  (Dr.  R.  V.  Hunter)  full 
of  history  and  strong  with  statistics,  on  “The  Church  and  College.”  Again 
we  hear  the  echo  of  original  purposes  as  the  demand  is  urged  that  the  denomi- 
national colleges  shall  have  a faculty  of  scholars,  devotedly  Christian,  loyal  to 
their  denomination  but  enjoying  the  “largest  liberty  consistent  with  the  genius 
of  Christianity  and  the  conviction  of  a denomination.” 

Almost  coincident  with  the  erection  of  the  Frick  library  (of  which  more 
in  another  place)  went  forward  such  improvements  in  the  main  building  as  in- 
creased its  conveniences,  changed  the  old  tower-form  and  provided  new  recita- 
tion rooms.  The  furrow  for  the  foundation  of  the  new  chapel  was  drawn  at 
the  close  of  commencement  exercises  in  June,  1900,  and  the  president’s  vaca- 
tion was  spent  in  foreign  travel,  partly  concerned  with  study  of  old-world 
institutions  of  learning.  The  historical  statement  of  former  catalogues  tracing 
the  synodical  origin  of  the  University  is  continued  with  slight  alteration  in 


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subsequent  issues.  This  first  year  witnesses  also  the  substitution  of  a “scien- 
tific” course  for  the  former  “literary”  course,  and  the  establishment  of  matricu- 
lation-day. The  minutes  of  the  board  of  trustees  bear  testimony  to  the  new 
achievements  and  to  the  new  hopes,  enkindled  by  the  “wisdom  and  labors'*  of 
the  new  president  and  pledge  co-operation  in  his  plans  and  policy  for  the  “larger 
life  of  the  University"  appreciating  most  cordially  his  “enthusiasm  and  conse- 
cration.” His  “liberal  yet  firm  and  prudent  policy"  and  discipline  are  recog- 
nized. The  marked  increase  in  enrollment  is  noted  and  the  restoration  of  inter- 
collegiate games  is  approved.  The  president’s  home  has  been  secured  and  a 
favorable  financial  report  is  presented,  the  total  assets  being  four  hundred  and 
eighty  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars  and  seventy-three  cents. 

In  connection  with  questions  raised  in  1897  and  '98  concerning  the  exact 
powers  of  the  synod  as  owner  and  controller  of  the  University,  it  was  dis- 
covered by  that  able  lawyer  and  devout  Christian,  Thomas  McDougall.  of  Cin- 
cinnati. that  no  statute  of  Ohio  legitimated  the  transfer  of  their  trust  to  an 
ecclesiastical  body  by  the  trustees  of  any  institution  of  learning  incorporated 
under  the  general  law  of  March,  18 33.  Since  the  control  of  the  synod,  involv- 
ing care  and  support,  had  been  the  root-idea  of  the  University  from  the  begin- 
ning, it  was  necessary  at  once  to  remedy  this  technical  irregularity  strangely 
unperceived  for  nearly  thirty  years — even  when  a special  legislative  act,  ad- 
mitting the  election  of  alumni  trustees  had  been  passed  by  the  General  Assembly 
at  the  instance  of  Wooster's  board  of  trustees.  Accordingly  the  board,  in 
November,  1899,  adopted  the  following  resolution  presented  by  Dr.  \Vm.  Mc- 
Kibbin,  of  Cincinnati : “That  the  board  of  trustees  will  cordially  co-operate 

with  the  committee  of  the  synod  of  Ohio  to  obtain  such  legislation  as  will  se- 
cure the  control  contemplated  in  the  charter  of  the  University."  This  joint 
effort  to  place  the  original  relation  upon  a satisfactory  legal  basis  obtained  its 
desired  result  in  the  passing  by  the  Legislature  in  April,  T900,  of  “A11  Act  to 
Supplement  Section  3751  of  the  Revised  Statutes."  The  subject  was  brought 
again  to  the  board's  attention  at  the  February  meeting  of  1901  in  a paper  by 
Doctor  McKibbin  and  another  by  Doctor  Hills  of  Wooster.  Both  papers  were 
referred  to  a committee  to  report  at  the  June  meeting  of  that  year.  Order  was 
then  taken.  Doctor  McKibbin  submitted  “Amended  Articles,  or  Certificate 
of  Incorporation  of  the  University  of  Wooster,  accepting  the  provisions  of  the 
act  of  General  Assembly  passed  April,  1900  (94  C).  L.,  pp.  331  and  332),  and 
known  as  sections  3731/?  and  3731c  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  Ohio.  The 
articles  were  unanimously  accepted  and  a copy  was  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the 
synod  “for  its  acceptance  of  the  powers  proposed  to  be  conferred  upon  it."  The 


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synod  accepted,  of  course.  The  essential  part  of  the  whole  transaction  may 
lie  most  clearly  apprehended  by  citing  the  action  of  the  board  of  trustees.  After 
reciting  in  full  the  provisions  of  the  original  charter  which  provided  for  the 
election  of  trustees  by  the  synods  to  replace  the  incorporators  (who  were  to 
serve  only  until  November  i,  1867)  which  also  declared  that  “the  said  Univer- 
sity shall  be  under  the  care  of  said  three  synods/'  the  board  continues : 
“Whereas,  The  University  of  Wooster,  incorporated  as  aforesaid,  desires  to 
avail  itself  of  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Ohio,  passed  April  16,  1900  (94  O.  L.,  pp.  331  and  332),  and  known  as  sec- 
tions 375 16  and  3751c  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  Ohio,  as  a part  of  its  articles 
or  certificate  of  incorporation ; now 

• “Therefore,  Be  it  resolved  by  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  University  of 
Wooster,  located  in  the  city  of  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio  as  follows : 

“1.  That  said  the  University  of  Wooster  accept  the  provisions  of  sec- 
tions 3757a  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  Ohio  and  confer  on  and  grant  to  the 
synod  of  Ohio  in  connection  with  the  general  assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  the  United  States  of  America  the  care  of  and  control  over  said  Uni- 
versity and  the  right  to  appoint  thirty  trustees  in  classes  as  heretofore,  and  of 
whom  at  least  seven  shall  be  resident  freeholders  of  said  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
and  of  whom  three-fourths  shall  be  communicant  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  not  more  than  five  of  whom  may 
be  non-residents  of  the  State  of  Ohio;  six  of  whom  shall  be  nominated  in 
classes  as  heretofore,  by  and  from  the  alumni  of  said  University  as  provided 
by  section  37510  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  Ohio,  and  the  residue  shall  be 
nominated  bv  the  board  of  trustees  of  said  University;  and  the  right  to  ap- 
point such  additional  number  of  trustees  as  said  synod  may  from  time  to 
time  deem  necessary  for  the  best  interest  of  said  University  upon  certifying 
its  action  to  said  board,  and  upon  nomination  by  the  board  as  aforesaid ; and 
the  further  right,  in  the  event  of  the  rejection  by  said  synod  of  any  or  all  nom- 
inations of  the  said  board  of  trustees,  on  its  own  motion  to  elect  a trustee  or 
trustees,  to  fill  the  vacancy  or  vacancies  for  which  nominations  were  made  by 
the  said  board  of  trustees. 

“2.  That  said  University  confer  on  and  grant  to  said  synod  the  right  to 
protect  the  property  and  funds  of  said  University,  in  the  event  of  the  misuse 
or  division  of  said  property  or  funds  by  the  board  of  trustees,  or  other  person 
representing  said  board,  in  such  legal  manner  and  in  the  name  of  such  person 
or  corporation  as  said  synod  may  direct  by  resolution,  certified  by  its  clerk,  to 
any  civil  court,  having  jurisdiction  over  said  University/' 

(32) 


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This  action,  now  of  record  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state,  so  thor- 
oughly thought  out  and  so  well-grounded  in  its  historic  foundation,  would  seem 
to  have  been  another  of  the  fortunate  happenings  in  Wooster’s  history.  Arising 
in  a question  of  doubt,  it  settled  everything  to  the  complete  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned.  It  clinched  the  nail  already  driven  home  by  many  declarations  of 
the  thirty  past  years  and  made  absolute  that  “guarantee**  so  strongly  insisted 
on  by  the  first  president,  Doctor  Lord,  and  so  repeatedly  mentioned  by  that  in- 
defatigable and  wise  first  president  of  the  board  of  trustees.  Dr.  John  Robin- 
son, and  so  constantly  referred  to  in  the  catalogues.  It  seemed  especially  timely 
at  the  dawning  of  the  new  day  of  prosperity  and  expansion  which  had  come 
to  the  University  with  the  new  administration. 

The  financial  report  of  June,  1901,  shows  an  increase  of  contributions  from 
churches  and  individuals  and  almost  the  whole  amount  needed  for  the  hand- 
some Memorial  chapel  in  hand.  Newly  adopted  rules  are  commended  by  the 
board.  New  buildings  for  science-extension  are  hoped  for.  A school  of 
oratory  is  projected  and  schemes  to  meet  enlarged  expenses  are  discussed. 
The  spirit  of  hopefulness  has  bloomed  into  confidence  and  larger  things  are 
expected. 

But  the  enlargements  came  through  previous  destructions — a not  unfa- 
miliar way  of  divine  providence  in  producing  the  greater  changes  in  human 
affairs.  The  fire  of  December  11,  1901,  still  a mystery  as  to  its  proximate 
cause,  seems  to  have  unfolded  into  a clear  design  to  permit  an  apparent  (and 
in  some  sense  a real)  calamity  to  become  the  open  door  into  the  coveted  and 
expected  larger  life.  The  story  of  the  loss  may  have  its  aspects  of  touching 
reminiscence,  but  the  more  important  story  is  that  of  instant  recovery  from 
momentary  depression ; the  development  of  almost  unsuspected  breadth  and 
depth  of  attachment  to  the  University;  the  rising  to  the  occasion  of  President 
Holden,  carrying  with  him  all  the  discouraged  ones  by  his  resourceful  energy ; 
the  co-operation  of  many  warm  hearts  and  willing  hands ; the  actual  self-de- 
nials of  many ; the  readiness  with  which  aid  from  the  outside  met  the  great  need 
and  stimulated  the  inner  and  the  innermost  circle  to  greater  effort  and  resistless 
enthusiasm.  The  story  has  been  told,  perhaps  best  told,  by  Professor  Compton 
in  a special  number  of  the  Wayne  County  Democrat  issued  in  December,  1902, 
in  connection  with  the  dedication  of  the  new  buildings.  The  ruins  were  still 
smoking  when  we  held  the  gymnasium  meeting  at  ten  A.  M.  of  December  12th, 
when  Doctor  Hills  eloquently  reminded  us  that  as  the  corner-stones  had  come 
through  the  fiery  furnace  uninjured  and  were  “still  there,**  so  the  old  prin- 
ciples and  purposes  of  the  University  were  the  guarantee  of  success.  If  built 
upon  again  as  foundations  we  could  not  fail.  The  evening  meeting  called  by 


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the  city’s  Board  of  Trade  and  enthused  by  the  presence  and  courage  of  Presi- 
dent Holden  who  had  been  out  of  the  city  the  previous  night  but  had  sent  a 
heart-rousing  telegram  early  in  the  day,  proved  how  impossible  it  was  to  bum 
the  University  out  of  the  hearts  of  Wooster’s  citizens.  The  people  determined 
that,  aided  by  the  insurance-money  (only  sixty  thousand  dollars  unfortu- 
nately), they  would  rebuild  that  which  had  been  the  nucleus  of  the  whole 
enterprise  in  1866.  James  Mullins  put  the  heavy  burden  in  motion  by  a sub- 
scription of  five  thousand  dollars  and  was  followed  by  his  son  Walter  in  a 
subscription  of  one  thousand  dollars,  who  was  followed  in  turn  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  McSweeney  with  one  thousand  dollars  and  these  added  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jacob  Frick’s  one  thousand  dollars  and  many  smaller  sums  carried 
the  amount  to  within  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars  of  the  supposedly  necessary 
forty  thousand  dollars.  The  subsequent  ten  days  were  scenes  of  ingenious 
division  of  labor  among  classes  and  alumni  and  citizens  within  and  county 
men  without  and  such  responses  were  met  as  made  certain  a rehabilitation  of 
the  University,  yet  the  size  and  style  and  proportion  of  that  rehabilitation 
Were  still  uncertain.  But  that  uncertainty  disappeared  when  the  challenging 
gift  of  Andrew  Carnegie — the  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  on  condition  of 
two  more  within  sixty  days — followed  by  Louis  H.  Severance's  pledge  of  a 
fifty  thousand  dollar  science  building  (ultimately  costing  him  seventy-five 
thousand)  came  to  our  knowledge.  Now  everybody  hastened  to  have  part  in 
what  was  to  be  an  assured  magnificent  advance.  We  all  resolved  that  condi- 
tions should  be  met  without  fail.  From  far-off  mission  fields  came  donations 
redolent  of  affectionate  self-denial.  It  was  the  writer’s  privilege  to  receive 
eight  such  contributions.  But  enough ; let  us  use  Professor  Compton’s  closing 
paragraphs.  “The  gifts  came  in  so  rapidly  in  the  last  few  days  that  the  inde- 
fatigable treasurer,  Jesse  McClellan,  to  whom  large  credit  is  due  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  canvass,  could  only  record,  not  add.  * * * There  were  more 

than  five  thousand  givers.  The  crisis  was  momentous,  the  victory  glorious. 
It  was  a dramatic  chapter.  December  11,  1901,  the  fire;  December  22,  the 
electrifying  offer;  February  21,  1902,  nearly  four  hundred  thousand  dollars 
raised  and  the  ever  memorable  jubilee.  December  11,  1902,  the  dedication  of 
the  new  buildings  and  the  realization  of  the  New  Wooster.  It  is  too  much  to 
ascribe  to  man  alone.  God’s  hand  is  in  it.”  The  names  of  the  citizens’  com- 
mittee should  find  a place  in  this  permanent  record:  Walter  D.  Foss  (chair- 

man), Louis  E.  Holden,  L.  P.  Ohliger,  F.  W.  Miller,  W.  J.  Mullins,  I.  N. 
Kinney,  C.  M.  Gray,  Albert  Dix,  George  J.  Swartz,  J.  S.  E.  Overholt,  Robert 
C.  Taylor,  R.  D.  Firestone,  A.  Cunningham.  David  Myers,  Prof.  J.  H.  Dicka- 
son,  Prof.  J.  O.  Notestein,  D.  S.  Firestone,  David  Nice.  Will  Long,  John  F. 


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Barrett.  The  board  of  trustees,  present  at  the  dedication  of  Memorial  chapel, 
passed  the  most  appreciative  resolutions,  gratefully  mentioning  all  classes  of 
those  who  had  helped  the  great  consummation.  The  exercises  of  dedication 
on  December  n,  1902,  though  much  was  still  unfinished,  were  accompanied 
with  genuine  enthusiasm.  President  Moffatt  incited  our  zeal  bv  the  assertion 
that  “Presbyterian  institutions  have  allowed  themselves  to  be  crowded  back 
until  today  they  occupy  not  the  first  but  the  fourth  place  in  denominational 
schools.  Presbyterians  have  not  sustained  what  the  fathers  founded  a century 
ago/’  Dr.  S.  S.  Palmer,  president  of  the  board,  in  presenting  the  keys  to 
the  moderator  of  synod,  reminded  him  of  the  increased  responsibility  which 
would  devolve  upon  the  synod  in  the  maintenance  of  the  larger  university,  as 
it  accepted  these  buildings.  That  moderator  (Dr.  R.  J.  Thompson,  of  Lima, 
Ohio)  emphasized  the  union  of  synod  and  university,  and  declared : “There 
is  no  stronger  friend  of  education  than  the  Presbyterian  church.”  and  the 
“Presbyterians  of  Ohio  have  finally  realized  what  they  have  in  the  Lhiiversity 
of  Wooster.”  The  city  was  gay  with  decorations  and  full  descriptions  of  the 
various  buildings  were  published.  The  “white  city  on  the  hill’’  has  attracted 
many  descriptive  pens,  but  none  more  intelligently  appreciative  than  that  of 
the  Interior's  editor — the  well-known  Christian  layman,  Nolan  R.  Best — in  a 
sketch  recently  published  in  that  widely-read  journal : “Although  people  of  a 
philosophic  turn  of  mind  are  always  ready  to  warn  one  against  attributing 
perfection  to  anything  mundane,  it  is  impossible  to  suppress  the  instinct  to 
call  the  Wooster  college  buildings  perfect.  What  could  be  thought  of  that 
they  want.  The  architecture  is  an  example  beyond  criticism  of  that  style 
which  the  world  of  art  has  agreed  to  set  aside  for  the  use  of  higher  learning — 
the  English  collegiate  Gothic — expressed  as  purely  in  each  unit  as  it  is  har- 
moniously in  the  group.  The  buildings  have  been  planned  with  such  foresight 
of  the  particular  uses  for  which  each  is  designed  that  no  convenience  is  missed, 
no  necessity  left  unprovided  for.  Heating,  lighting,  ventilating  and  water- 
supply  are  taken  care  of  in  the  latest  methods  known  to  practical  science  and 
all  are  supplied  from  the  university’s  own  powerhouse,  which  alone  would 
win  the  university  the  admiration  of  any  observer  who  appreciates  the  mechan- 
ical beauties  of  high-class  machinery.  But  to  patrons  and  students  far  more 
important  is  the  generous  modern  equipment  of  the  buildings.  * * * 

Nothing  is  extravagant  or  pretentious,  but  there  is  absolutely  no  stint  of  ap- 
paratus. Everything  that  a teacher  of  undergraduates  can  need  is  there. 

* * * To  prepare  young  men  for  engineering  there  is  a full  working  outfit 

of  dynamos,  motors,  engines  and  electrical  apparatus  for  the  student’s  experi- 


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mentation.  So  in  the  biological  building,  the  young  man  preparing  for  medi- 
cine will  find  there  the  best  microscopes  and  a vast  variety  of  slides  for  ad- 
vanced work  in  anatomy  and  physiology.  The  library  facilities  are  also  of  the 
most  liberal.  * * * In  every  way  Wooster  has  put  itself  beyond  the  neces- 

sity of  apologies  for  what  it  affords  the  young  men  and  women  under  its  care.” 
But  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  new  administration  found  it  all  plain 
sailing  after  the  buildings  were  completed.  Then,  indeed,  came  the  struggle  to 
meet  inevitable  deficits  which  always  follow  such  extensions.  President  Porter 
many  years  ago  begged  the  alumni  of  Yale  to  remember  that  whoever  gave 
a new  building  and  did  not  provide  for  the  care  and  expense  it  entailed  laid  a 
new  burden  upon  the  management.  It  was  not  an  easy  thing  to  convince  even 
the  newly  aroused  generosity  of  Wooster’s  friends  that  a much  greater  endow- 
ment was  needed  to  meet  the  budget  entailed  by  the  multiform  facilities  and  the 
increasing  faculty.  It  had  to  be  explained  that  even  a larger  enrollment  of 
students  meant  a larger  expenditure,  instead  of  creating  a fund  for  other  ex- 
penses. More  books  in  the  library  and  more  apparatus  in  the  laboratories 
and  more  privileges  of  all  sorts  for  the  student-use  of  all  the  advantages 
offered  meant  more  income,  or  larger  deficits.  The  situation  became  accented 
when  the  president  reported  in  February  of  1903  that  the  deficits  of  two  years 
would  amount  to  nearly  forty  thousand  dollars,  all  of  which  ought  to  be  in 
hand,  if  possible  by  the  following  June.  Since  the  dedication  in  December, 
1902,  only  five  thousand  three  hundred  dollars  had  been  raised  to  meet  this 
sum  and  five  thousand  dollars  of  that  had  come  from  one  ever-generous  friend 
of  the  university.  In  May  a special  board  meeting  was  held  and  more  ag- 
gressive efforts  and  appeals  resolved  upon.  In  June  an  improved  situation,  but 
twenty  thousand  dollars  still  to  be  raised  and  that  in  short  order  to  secure  two 
conditional  pledges  of  five  thousand  dollars  each.  Special  appeal  was  to  be 
made  to  the  synod  in  view  of  the  “quickened  spirit  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  behalf  of  her  schools  of  higher  learning  which  found  expression  in  the  last 
general  assembly.”  It  was  to  be  urged  that  the  time  had  come  “for  binding 
this  university  more  closely  to  the  hearts  and  purse  of  the  Presbyterians  of 
Ohio.”  since  “the  university  is  the  synod’s  educational  creation,  subject  to  its 
ownership  and  control  and  entitled  to  its  abiding  interest  and  its  generous 
benefactions.”  The  elaborate  scheme  resolved  upon  seems  to  have  largely 
succeeded,  and  while  there  is  some  subsequent  borrowing  the  effort  was  seri- 
ously considered  early  in  1904  to  raise  the  endowment  to  one  million  dollars. 
President  Holden  thought  it  could  be  done,  but  would  require  many  workers 
in  the  field  and  several  years  of  labor. 


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During  these  current  years  and  on  there  were  the  constant  evidences  of 
the  highest  success  in  the  internal  life  of  the  university.  Without  important 
exception,  the  annual  reports  show  increased  enrollment,  departments  better 
manned,  excellent  steadiness  in  the  student-body,  an  encouraging  general  re- 
ligious life  and  constant  annual  quotas  of  those  who  were  constrained  by  love 
of  the  Master  to  undertake  his  service  at  home  and  abroad.  Library  facilities 
were  increased.  Here  and  there  a salary  was  raised,  always  within  the  sacred 
limit  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  however,  and  the  generous  custom 
of  the  Sabbatic  year  was  begun  with  the  senior  Prof.  J.  O.  Notestein. 

In  1906  the  often-mentioned  additional  accommodations  for  the  young 
women  of  the  university  Was  taken  up  in  earnest.  The  cost  was  to  be  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  but  the  investigating  tours,  in  which  Doctor  Holden  visited 
the  leading  women’s  colleges  of  the  country,  changed  the  estimates.  In  the 
end  the  palatial  building  cost  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars,  something 
more  than  half  of  which  was  the  contribution  of  Louis  H.  Severance,  who  in- 
sisted that  it  should  be  called  Holden  Hall.  Thus  another  angle  was  reached 
and  passed  on  the  toilful  acclivity  of  the  university’s  upward  movement. 

But  the  pressure  for  more  endowment  came  now  to  be  considered  as  im- 
perative. The  budget  of  1906-7  had  been  put  down  as  eighty-one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  ninety-six  dollars.  That  of  1907-8  was  to  lie  seventy-eight 
thousand  six  hundred  thirty-six  dollars  and  seventv-tvvo  dollars  plus  the  first 
installment  of  the  paving  assessment.  Deficits  up  to  June,  1907,  amounted  to 
eighteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  dollars  and  forty-seven  cents. 
Courageously  this  burden  was  shouldered  by  the  indomitable  president,  aided 
and  abetted  by  faithful  and  laborious  field-agents  and  stimulated  by  the  good 
wishes  of  the  growing  multitude  of  Wooster’s  friends.  The  general  educa- 
tion board,  administering  Mr.  Rockefeller’s  bounty,  thought  it  worth  while  to 
help  an  institution  which  had  more  than  doubled  its  assets  in  five  or  six  years — 
they  had  reached  nearly  one  million  and  a quarter — and  initiated  the  effort  to 
raise  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  by  April  1,  1908,  by  a subscription  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  conditioned  upon  the  whole  amount 
by  the  date  just  mentioned  and  the  extinguishment  of  all  debt.  Louis  H. 
Severance  added  a like  sum  with  similar  conditions  and  Andrew  Carnegie 
followed  with  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Here  then  was  an  open  way  to  the  half 
million  of  fresh  endowment  if  the  two  hundred  eighteen  thousand  one  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  dollars  and  forty-seven  cents  could  be  brought  together.  And 
this  must  necessarily  be  a harder  task  than  the  four  hundred  and  twenty  thous- 
and dollars  of  the  rebuilding  fund.  There  were  no  such  commanding  and 


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heart-reaching  circumstances.  It  was  no  longer  life  and  death,  but  only  life 
and  a larger  life.  Besides,  everybody  had  given  over  and  over  again  and 
many  quite  recently,  and  the  close  of  1907  was  wintry  in  the  financial  skies. 
But  there  could  be  no  postponement  and  no  relaxation  of  conditions.  Since, 
then,  it  must  be  done,  ways  and  means  were  found  to  do  it.  Again  there  was 
division  of  labor  and  responses  from  many  quarters.  Such  an  opportunity 
could  not  be  lost.  With  much  painstaking  the  triumph  of  the  first  trial  was 
repeated  and  the  completion  of  the  subscription  announced.  Then  another 
jubilee  and  a red-letter  day  was  added  to  the  Wooster  calendar — March  31, 
1908. 

Throughout  these  recent  efforts  constant  reference  has  been  had  to  the 
“forward  movement*’  of  the  synod  of  Ohio,  responding  to  the  enthusiastic 
call  of  the  general  assembly  uttered  in  1903.  The  objective  point  of  that  stir- 
ring summons  was  twelve  million  dollars  to  be  raised  by  the  entire  denomina- 
tion “for  the  purpose  of  endowment  of  our  Presbyterian  colleges  in  the  sev- 
eral states”  Of  this  movement  the  board’s  report  to  synod  in  1909  says: 
“Ohio’s  quota  of  that  amount  is  one  million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
As  goes  Ohio  so  goes  the  country.  The  synod  determined  to  do  its  full  share 
— ten  dollars  per  member.  Thus  far  the  effort  has  been  a magnificent  success. 
* * *■  It  is  with  the  deepest  appreciation  and  gratitude  that  we  acknowl- 

edge the  earnest  effort  and  large  generosity  of  the  entire  Presbyterian  church, 
and  the  friends  of  Christian  education,  to  the  extent  of  six  hundred  seventy- 
seven  thousand  five  hundred  and  seven  dollars  and  nineteen  cents  toward  the 
million  dollars  of  the  new  endowment,  leaving  but  three  hundred  twenty-two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  two  dollars  and  eighty-one  cents  to  complete  what 
you  began  in  the  synod  of  1903.” 

The  forward  sweep  of  the  university’s  financial  progress  becomes  brilliant- 
ly visible  in  the  following  luminous  statement : 

The  total  assets  of  the  University  of  Wooster  May  31,  1899,  were 
$452,551.87.  Of  this  amount,  $181,737.42  was  credited  to  endowment.  At 
the  time  of  the  fire  December  11,  1901,  the  total  assets  were  reduced  by  the 
loss  of  the  main  building  and  its  wings  $184,174.00.  The  university  received 
$60,000  insurance  on  its  loss.  Crediting  this  amount,  the  total  assets  would 
stand  December  12,  1901.  the  day  after  the  fire,  as  $328,377.87.  This  may 
rightfully  be  said  to  be  the  financial  foundation  on  which  the  present  adminis- 
tration had  to  build,  although  in  tin’s  amount  the  first  half  of  the  Library  and 
the  new  Chapel  are  included. 

At  the  close  of  business  March  31,  1910,  we  had  $755,368.52  in  general 


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and  special  endowment ; also  outstanding  pledges  and  annuities,  which  when 
paid  will  be  credited  for  endowment,  amounting  to  $229,911.11.  If  all  these 
prove  to  be  good  we  might  say  that  we  have  $985,279.63  in  line  for  the  en- 
dowment. We  have  in  addition  to  this  our  present  plant  ; land,  building  and 
equipment,  which  amount  on  our  books  to  $871,970.20,  or  total  assets  of 
$1,857,249.83. 

But,  as  Doctor  Cause  (first  secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Aid 
for  Colleges)  was  accustomed  to  say:  “Nothing  is  so  hungry  as  a college.” 
When  current  income  and  current  expenditure  had  been,  for  the  first  time  in 
the  university  history,  equalized,  the  need  of  further  development  in  various 
directions  was  perceived  to  be  imperative.  The  largest  of  all  the  plans  was 
projected  and  an  efifort  has  been  commenced  to  provide  for  a largely  increased 
endowment  and  for  at  least  two  buildings — a dormitory  for  men  and  a much 
desired  gymnasium  with  a possible  chapel-extension,  according  to  original 
plans,  to  make  yet  more  attractive  and  effective  the  work  of  the  Christian 
Associations  of  men  and  women.  John  R.  Mott  reports  a friend  ready  to  give 
two  thousand  dollars  to  commence  this  enterprise.  No  less  an  amount  than 
six  hundred  thousand  dollars  is  considered  adequate  to  meet  these  needs.  Of 
that  sum  the  first  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  has  been  subscribed — one-half 
by  the  general  education  board  and  the  other  by  a friend  of  the  university  whose 
personality  is  as  yet  kept  in  reserve.  The  active  canvass  now  in  progress  has 
secured  up  to  this  present  writing  (September  1st)  three  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  thousand  dollars — leaving  two  hundred  and  four  thousand  dollars  to  be 
sought  for.  The  conditions  are  completion  by  the  closing  day  of  the  current 
year  ( 1910)  and  the  extinguishment  of  all  indebtedness.  There  will  doubtless 
be  another  jubilee  and  another  red-letter  day  in  Wooster’s  calendar.  Along 
with  other  enlargements,  the  university’s  campus  has  grown  to  dimensions 
which  provide  for  the  certain  and  undoubtedly  rapid  development  of  the  future. 
From  the  original  twenty  acres  the  campus  has  now  extended  to  a total  area 
of  sixty-three  acres.  Part  of  this  is  a recent  addition  separated  by  only  a 
street’s  breadth  from  the  main  block — a most  timely  addendum  as  pre-empting 
what  would  have  proven  inaccessible  within  a very  few  years. 

The  constant  increase  of  students  during  the  present  administration  has 
kept  pace  with  other  phases  of  progress.  During  T907~’o8  the  total  enroll- 
ment without  the  summer-school  students  was  seven  hundred  and  thirty-three : 
with  them,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-one.  For  I9o8-’gq.  the  total 
reached  eight  hundred  and  twelve  without  the  summer-school  roll : with  it. 


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there  were  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  one.  The  largest  freshman  class 
in  the  university’s  experience — one  hundred  and  sixty — came  in  the  year  just 
closed. 

This  growth  has  been  accompanied  by  a gradual  increase  of  the  faculty 
until  it  now  numbers,  counting  instructors  and  adjunct-professors,  thirty-eight. 
The  new  department  of  history,  long  desired,  opens  with  the  college  year  just 
before  us  ( 1910-11). 

An  important  change  in  the  charter  has  been  under  consideration  for  more 
than  a year.  It  contemplates  the  relinquishment  by  the  synod  of  Ohio  of  the 
right  to  elect  the  trustees  of  the  university,  thus  surrendering  all  control  of 
the  institution.  The  moving  consideration  for  this  change  is  the  desire  to 
acquire  for  the  institution  the  benefits  of  the  pension-fund  of  the  Carnegie 
foundation.  The  matter  was  presented  by  the  board  of  trustees  to  the  synod 
at  its  meeting  in  October,  1909.  A postponement  until  the  meeting  of  1910 
was  agreed  upon.  Meanwhile  a careful  study  of  the  subject  was  to  be  made 
by  a committee  which  will  report  at  the  approaching  meeting. 

The  remarkable  success  of  Wooster's  president  for  the  decade  past  has 
drawn  upon  him  the  atention  of  those  who  constitute  the  Board  of  Aid  for 
Colleges  in  the  denomination  as  a whole.  Three  or  more  times  they  have 
sought  his  services  as  secretary.  The  last  attempt  was  but  a few  months  ago, 
and  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  passed  by  the  board  of  trustees: 
"‘The  flattering  offer  * * * only  accentuates  the  esteem  and  affection  in 

which  the  board  of  trustees  holds  President  Holden.  It  is  the  sense  of  this 
board  that  the  services  of  President  Holden  for  the  present  and  for  years  to 
come  are  indispensable  to  the  progress  and  development  of  the  university  of 
Wooster  and  that  it  would  therefore  be  a calamity  to  the  institution  at  this 
time  to  subtract  from  it  his  forceful  personality.  In  saying  this  we  have  all 
the  while  in  mind  President  Holden's  good,  together  with  the  prosperity  and 
destiny  of  the  university  which  must  be  forever  associated  with  his  name,  and 
which  will  remain  a monument  to  his  unselfish  devotion  and  labor,  for  it  is 
seldom  given  to  one  man  to  accomplish  so  much  in  eleven  short  years  as  the 
noble  work  he  has  accomplished  during  his  administration. 

‘‘We  are  not  unmindful  that  his  services  as  associate-secretary  would 
open  great  avenues  for  usefulness.  Nevertheless  the  work  to  be  done  by  Doc- 
tor Holden  here  must  necessarily  bring  him  in  close  and  affectionate  relations 
with  young  men  and  women  which  are  in  the  highest  sense  personal  and  that 
personal  relations  and  affectionate  regard  are  the  highest  earthly  rewards. 

“The  board  therefore  respectfully  asks  President  Holden  to  remain  with 


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the  University  of  Wooster  and  prays  God  that  he  may  be  permitted  to  give 
many  years  to  the  work  to  which  he  seems  to  have  been  divinely  called.”  At 
the  recent  commencement  the  constant  expressions  of  undisguised  satisfaction 
on  the  part  of  all  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  the  university — faculty,  alumni, 
patrons,  students  and  citizens — furnished  ample  evidence  that  the  affectionate 
respect  and  devout  wishes  of  the  board  of  trustees  awakened  loyal  echoes  in 
all  hearts. 

VI. THE  FACULTY. 

Now  that  the  governing  principles  of  the  University  have  been  discovered 
and  described  and  the  chronicle  of  events  has  been  brought  down  to  date, 
there  remain  many  aspects  of  this  multiform  life  which  are  best  understood 
and  estimated  when  treated  separately.  They  vary,  of  course,  in  relative  im- 
portance, but  no  one  of  them  can  be  fairly  omitted.  And  precisely  for  that 
reason  each  must  be  dealt  with  as  briefly  as  may  be  at  all  consistent  with  the 
purposes  of  this  historical  sketch. 

Faculty  changes  have  been  many,  naturally,  and  it  is  impossible,  though 
the  material  is  at  hand,  to  give  even  the  names,  dates,  antecedents  and  char- 
acteristics of  so  large  a number.  The  inner  history  of  the  teaching  body  has 
been,  what  it  might  have  been  expected  to  be  for  a body  of  men  gathered  to 
practice  such  definite  principles  for  so  noble  an  end,  one  of  great  harmony. 
Personal  animosities  have  been  unknown.  Differences  in  religious  convictions 
have  led  to  but  one  resignation.  Changes  for  inadequacy  have  been  very  few. 
Those  who  have  gone  to  other  fields  of  usefulness  have  entered  upon  them 
with  warm  commendations  from  the  body  they  left.  Many  names  are  starred 
thus  in  the  records,  of  which  mention  can  be  made  only  of  two.  Dr.  Edgar  W. 
Work,  of  New  York,  and  Prof.  Dr.  James  Wallace,  of  Macalester  College. 
Some  have  been  added  to  the  faculty  in  later  years  who  have  received  the 
warmest  and  most  appreciative  welcome,  but  none  have  seemed  more  worthy 
or  competent  than  Wooster’s  own  product,  such  as  Notestein,  who  is  the  glory 
of  our  teaching  force,  and  that  ideal  dean — Compton.  Lecturers  who  gave 
their  services  gratuitously  were  Judge  Welker  (United  States  court),  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Jeffers  (while  professor  at  Western  Theological  Seminary)  and  Prof. 
John  De  Witt  (while  at  Lane  Seminary).  The  first  faculty  has  been  frequent- 
ly described  and  the  pen  of  the  present  writer  would  be  ready  enough  in  linger- 
ing over  their  gifts  and  graces,  since  it  has  been  his  privilege  to  have  personally 
known  them  all  in  one  or  another  relation  of  life.  But  space  forbids  except  to 
mention  the  exceptional  ability  as  teacher  and  author  of  Dr.  C.  S.  Gregory, 
whose  forcefulness  and  analytic  talent  can  never  be  forgotten  and  whose  bow 


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yet  abides  in  strength  as  a brave  defender  of  that  faith  in  God’s  word,  “once 
delivered  to  the  saints.”  There  must  also  be  recorded  the  appreciative  testi- 
monial of  the  board  of  trustees  as  Dr.  Willis  Lord  sundered  his  connection 
with  that  body : “We  can  never  forget  that  he  came  to  us  at  a critical  period 
in  our  history, — when,  in  fact,  our  history  was  yet  to  be  made.  We  were  not 
insensible  then,  nor  have  we  become  so,  to  the  risks  attendant  upon  the  as- 
sumption of  the  position  to  which  we  ventured  to  summon  him.  That  the 
University  has  passed  these  perils  so  successfully  wTe  feel  is  largely  due  to  the 
wisdom,  skill  and  fidelity  of  its  first  president.  We  would  have  been  thank- 
ful if  the  students,  so  strongly  and  rightly  attached  to  him,  could  have  further 
enjoyed  his  counsels,  sympathy  and  instruction.  * * * Associated  as  his 

name  must  ever  be  with  the  infancy  of  the  Lhiiversity.  we  know  that  Dr.  Lord 
will  always  be  interested  in  its  prosperity. ” 

For  those  who  have  “ fallen  upon  sleep”  while  still  members  of  the  faculty 
there  must  be  reserved  an  assured  place  in  the  grateful  memories  of  their  suc- 
cessors. In  every  case  they  were  held  in  highest  esteem  by  the  people  of  the 
city  and  county  as  well  as  by  the  University  community.  They  had  obtained 
this  testimony,  that  they  pleased  most  those  who  knew  them  best. 

The  first  of  those  whose  ‘‘hands  were  laid  to  the  plow,  but,  behold!  it  was 
a palm,”  \vas  Miss  Annie  B.  Irish,  Ph.  D.  She  possessed  rare  gifts  and  had 
enjoyed  some  unusual  advantages.  The  board  of  trustees  entered  this  record  : 
“The  death  of  Miss  Annie  B.  Irish  has  touched  our  hearts  with  profound  sor- 
row as  a personal  bereavement.  By  her  lovely  and  symmetrical  Christian 
character,  her  remarkably  able  management  of  her  department  and  her  faithful 
and  efficient  work  as  a Christian  among  the  students,  she  had  won  our  warm- 
est admiration  and  love.  Counting  by  years,  her  life  was  short;  counting  by 
work  done  and  results  achieved,  it  was  longer  than  that  of  many  who  have 
attained  to  threescore  and  ten  years.”  Miss  Irish  died  February  12.  i88r>. 
Her  portrait  was  presented  to  Hoover  Cottage,  June  6,  T889,  and  memorials 
of  her  winning  character  and  elevating  influence  were  read  by  ladies  repre- 
senting the  Woman’s  Advisory  Board. 

The  whole  community  shared  in  the  grief  of  the  University  circle  when 
Karl  Merz,  Mus.  D.,  the  founder  of  our  musical  department,  was  taken  from 
us.  His  death  occurred  in  January,  1890.  The  following  testimonial  was 
published  soon  after:  “A  man  of  remarkable  abilities  and  diversified  gifts,  de- 
veloped by  unremitting  application,  he  mastered  and  enriched  the  science  and 
art  of  music  in  its  composition  and  literature,  and  gained  a more  than  national 
reputation. 


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“As  exemplary  and  great-hearted  as  he  was  industrious  and  efficient,  he 
had  by  eight  years  of  unceasing  kindness  won  an  exceptional  place  in  the  con- 
fidence and  warmest  affections  of  the  whole  community. 

“He  was  attached  to  his  associates  in  the  faculty,  invariably  found  on  the 
side  of  just  authority  and  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  ideal  of  the  institution. 

“A  fervent  and  intelligent  religious  faith  both  underlaid  and  crowned  his 
life.  It  is  hoped  that  the  department  he  adorned  and  toiled  for  may  ever  bear 
testimony  in  its  future  development  to  the  gifts  and  character  and  faith  of  its 
founder.  " 

The  close  of  the  same  year  (December  22,  1890)  witnessed  the  removal 
of  Dr.  James  Black,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  from  the  work  to  which  a long  and  fruitful 
life  had  been  devoted.  The  records  of  the  board  of  trustees  show  how  pro- 
foundly the  fifteen  years  of  his  professorship  (Greek  and  English)  had 
wrought  themselves  into  the  University's  life.  The  board  emphasizes  its  esti- 
mate of  “his  superior  intellectual  capabilities,  his  high  literary  qualifications 
for  the  position  he  occupied  and  his  unexcelled  genius  as  a teacher.  * * * 

Above  all  they  would  bear  testimony  to  the  unfaltering  strength  of  his  religious 
convictions,  and  the  power  of  his  spiritual  life  as  displayed  in  the  class-room 
* * * and  in  all  social  contact  with  his  fellow  men.  The  pervading  pres- 

ence of  his  gentle  piety  was  like  the  sweet  scent  of  a field  the  Lord  hath  blessed. 
He  was  loyal  to  duty  in  every  thought,  faithful  in  every  service,  exemplary 
in  word  and  act,  overflowing  with  loving  kindness  to  every  man  and  every  crea- 
ture. His  Christian  consistency  was  never  questioned  while  the  influence  of 
his  noble  character  impressed  every  soul  that  drew  within  the  magic  circle  of 
his  consecration."  When  this  minute  was  read  on  the  following  Commence- 
ment Day  “the  whole  audience  reverently  rose  and  remained  standing  in  ex- 
pression of  their  concurrence  in  the  sentiments  of  the  resolution/’ 

Dr.  O.  X.  Stoddard,  LL.D.,  was  a member  of  the  first  faculty  and  al- 
ready well  known  as  a professor  of  natural  science  when  Wooster's  doors  were 
opened.  He  became  emeritus  in  1883,  though  continuing  lectures  to  the  senior 
class,  and  died  February  10,  1892.  The  board  of  trustees  recorded  that  he 
“was  a striking  exemplification  of  the  saying:  ‘To  be  is  to  teach.'  He  taught 
by  what  he  was  as  well  as  by  spoken  or  written  word.  * * * He  was  a 

Christian  man  of  science.  To  him  the  heavens  and  earth  and  all  things  therein 
declared  the  glory  of  God.  * * * He  had  a high  and  chivalrous  sense  of 

honor — a Christian  gentleman  without  fear  and  without  reproach.  * * * 

Hundreds  of  men  and  women  in  this  and  other  lands  hold  him  in  grateful 
remembrance  as  a man  and  as  a teacher  and  will  perpetuate  his  influence  in 
ever  widening  circles." 


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Another  testimonial  describes  him  thus : “A  wise  man  and  length  of  days 
were  in  wisdom's  hand  for  him.  A student  of  nature's  mysteries  and  re- 
warded by  her  sympathy.  An  artificer  in  all  substances  to  express  all  forces. 
A careful  student  of  mind  finding  its  impress  and  majesty  everywhere  super- 
ior to  matter.  A master  in  morals,  public  and  private,  teaching  the  noblest 
type  of  citizenship  and  illustrating  it  in  a life  devoted  to  a large  and  intelligent 
patriotism.’'  Doctor  Stoddard  possessed  mechanical  genius  and  some  ap- 
paratus made  with  his  own  hands  is  still  in  use  in  our  laboratories. 

Nearly  a decade  passed  before  Prof.  S.  J.  Kirkwood,  Ph.  D.,  LL.  D. 
(mathematics  and  astronomy),  passed  away.  He,  too,  had  been  a member  of 
the  original  faculty  and  one  of  those  who  brought  an  already  established  repu- 
tation to  the  service  of  the  institution.  With  one  exception  (Notestein),  his 
life  as  a professor  projects  the  longest  line  of  active  service.  Coming  in 
1870,  he  gave  up  his  work  only  with  his  life  on  June  24,  1901.  The  observa- 
tory is  the  monument  of  his  extra-professorial  industry.  He  delivered  most 
of  the  lectures  and  solicited  much  of  the  funds  which  made  such  an  equipment 
so  early  in  the  University's  history  possible.  An  admiring  friend  has  pro- 
vided ten  thousand  dollars  as  a partial  endowment  for  a professorship  of 
astronomy  which  shall  perpetuate  Doctor  Kirkwood's  name  and  memory  in 
connection  with  that  in  which  the  Professor's  preferences  were  pronounced 
and  on  which  he  had  made  great  progress  in  preparing  a text-book.  Doctor 
Kirkwood's  interests  in  students  was  such  as  to  commend  their  entire  con- 
fidence and  attract  their  affectionate  regard.  He  loved  to  teach  the  import- 
ance of  character, — that  sum  of  the  moral  attributes  in  which  Kant  found  the 
value  of  human  personality  outweighing  all  the  stars.  He  counseled  every- 
thing which  would  satisfy  the  preferences  of  the  student-body  and  be  at  the 
same  time  consistent  with  a conscientious  regard  to  the  sacred  trust  as  to  their 
welfare  reposed  in  the  University's  governing  body.  He  refused  other  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  profit  to  abide  with  the  interests  he  had  done  so  much  to 
build  up.  The  memory  of  his  personal  Christian  influence  will  long  be  cher- 
ished by  Wooster's  alumni  and  alumnae,  along  with  their  sense  of  indebtedness 
for  the  mental  vigor  and  positive  knowledge  his  clear  and  skillful  instruction 
in  the  mazes  of  mathematics  brought  them. 

Director  Byron  J.  Oliver  had  taken  charge  of  the  department  of  music, 
in  1893.  when  his  highly  esteemed  and  most  competent  predecessor.  D.  F. 
Conrad  (one  of  Karl  Merz's  pupils),  had  gone  abroad  for  a second  term  of 
foreign  study.  Mr.  Oliver  soon  proved  himself  thoroughly  furnished  for 
every  good  work  in  piano,  organ  and  theory,  as  Well  as  in  the  capacity  of  con- 


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ductor.  In  a continuous  service  of  nearly  twelve  years  (interrupted  only  bv 
one  year  of  organ-specializing  in  Berlin)  he  grew  into  a place  of  confidence 
and  personal  influence  only  second  to  that  of  the  founder  of  the  department, 
while  probably  excelling  the  latter  in  matters  of  teaching — technique.  He 
died,  after  brief  illness,  January  29,  1905.  Director  Oliver  began  his  life's 
work  as  a teacher  under  the  admirable  school-policy  of  Canada,  his  native  land. 
Not  until  he  had  reached  maturity  did  he  give  himself  to  music  and  therein 
he  profited  above  many  who  made  an  earlier  consecration.  He  was  a thorough 
teacher,  an  inspiring  conductor,  and  an  excellent  manager.  Very  early  in  his 
youth  he  had  professed  his  faith  in  Christ  and  made  it  evident  always  that 
Christian  principle  sustained  every  purpose  he  formed.  He  knew  the  best 
in  sacred  as  well  as  in  secular  music  and  conducted  every  church-service  with 
profound  reverence  and  true  feeling.  He  carried  forward  the  work  of  the 
department  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  commenced.  The  memorial  window 
in  the  chapel  but  faintly  expresses  the  abiding  esteem  and  affection  of  which  he 
is  still  the  object  in  our  entire  community. 

The  last  of  our  co-laborers  to  fall  beside  his  work  was  Prof.  William  H. 
Wilson  (mathematics  and  astronomy).  Wooster  was  his  Alma  Mater  (class 
of  ‘89)  and  never  had  she  a more  loyal  son  or  one  more  thoroughly  apprecia- 
tive of  her  original  ideals.  He  became  at  once  a teacher  in  his  chosen  line  of 
study  and  proved  his  competence  from  the  beginning.  Advanced  to  a pro- 
fessorship in  that  excellent  institution,  Geneva  College,  and  supplementing  his 
natural  gifts  by  graduate  study,  and  privileged  to  take  part  in  observation  of 
an  eclipse,  he  demonstrated  originality  i\\  research  as  well  as  efficiency  in 
teaching.  By  nature  he  was  accurate.  It  was  part  of  his  remarkably  sym- 
metrical and  steadfast  character.  If  ever  a fine  life  was  indicated  by  a fault- 
less youth,  it  was  true  in  Professor  Wilson’s  case.  The  boy  was  father  to  the 
man.  The  young  man  was  the  index  of  the  maturity  which  had  just  been 
reached,  in  its  fullest  sense,  when  he  was  called  away  from  earth.  It  was  a 
great  gratification  to  him  to  be  selected  to  succeed  his  former  instructor ; and 
he  brought  all  his  ingenuity  and  exact  methods,  as  well  as  all  his  strong  per- 
sonal power  as  a manly  Christian,  to  the  service  of  the  institution  he  loved. 
His  life  throughout  was  transparently  sincere,  and  probably  no  member  of 
the  entire  faculty  ever  obtained  at  as  early  a period  of  professional  experience 
so  wide  and  deep  an  influence  among  the  students.  He  became  specially  effec- 
tive in  sustaining  high  ideals  in  athletics.  While  insisting  upon  ball-playing 
of  a high  grade  he  mightily  convinced  the  players  that  the  obligation  to  be 
Christian  gentlemen  in  fair-play  and  courtesy  was  to  lie  lield  as  first  and  funda- 


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mental  in  every  arena.  He  died  in  June,  1907,  and  the  wound  in  our  hearts 
is  still  unhealed  despite  the  comfort  we  have  in  a successor  (Professor  Gable) 
of  like  competence  and  character. 

Concerning  the  contemporary  faculty,  it  must  be  recorded  that  they  repre- 
sent in  more  than  thirty  personalities  many  of  the  best  educational  centres  of 
our  own' land  and,  by  graduate  study,  of  other  lands.  So  many  members 
have  been  connected  with  the  university  so  long  that  unity  of  life  and  opinion 
and  a continuity  in  development  has  been  aided.  Some  of  those  longest  here 
remain  most  effective  in  service.  Others  are  bringing  new  contributions 
through  experience  of  life  in  the  later  developed  condition  of  the  larger  univer- 
sities at  home  and  abroad.  In  1901  seven  additions  were  made.  The  latest 
are  Dr.  Oscar  F.  Wisner  (Wooster  ’81),  formerly  president  of  the  Christian 
College  in  Canton,  China,  who  has  taken  the  chair  of  missions.  Mr.  Delbert 
G.  Lean,  who  enters  with  great  acceptance  upon  his  work  in  the  department 
of  oratory;  Robert  Granville  Caldwell  (Wooster  ’04),  who  comes  to  the  de- 
partment of  history  after  experience  in  India  and  in  Huron  College;  and 
Professor  Meyer,  who  comes  from  Bethany  College,  West  Virginia,  to  be 
assistant  in  Greek,  Latin  and  German. 

Leave  of  absence  had  occasionally  been  granted  for  considerable  periods 
of  foreign  study  before  1906.  But  then  the  administration  felt  strong  enough 
to  provide  the  appropriation  for  a substitute,  which  permitted  a professor  to 
use  his  salary  for  a year  in  furthering  his  preparation  for  subsequent  work. 
The  custom  is  an  expensive  one,  but  marks  a great  step  in  advance  by  giving 
established  men  the  coveted  opportunity  for  wider  observation  and  research. 
It  began  appropriately  with  the  senior  Professor — Notestein.  The  present 
writer  followed  in  1907-8.  Dean  Compton  succeeded,  then  the  privilege  fell 
to  Professor  Bennett  (chemistry)  and  just  now  Prof.  John  G.  Black  (math- 
ematics and  geology)  is  enjoying  it. 

During  all  these  years  many  assistants  in  various  departments  have  been 
employed  and  this  has  proven  to  be  an  exceedingly  helpful  method  of  providing 
men  trained  for  competence  as  professors  in  other  institutions  and  for  tempor- 
ary assistance  in  the  absence  of  members  of  our  own  faculty. 

The  secretary  of  the  faculty  is  designated  from  time  to  time  and  he  is 
usually  chosen  from  among  the  more  recent  additions  to  that  body. 

This  office  was  formerly  accompanied  by  responsibility  for  the  work  of 
the  registrar.  But  increasing  members  and  the  necessity  for  ascertaining  the 
propriety  of  receiving  certificates  from  schools  of  all  grades,  together  with  the 
demand  for  accuracy  in  the  record  of  each  student’s  work  (and  this  accented 
by  the  fire-loss  of  previous  records)  have  resulted  in  a registrar  (Lester  H. 


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Wolfe)  whose  whole  time  is  given  to  these  varied  uses.  No  office  could  have 
proved  a greater  convenience  at  many  points  in  the  university's  life  and  no 
officer  could  have  more  speedily  brought  the  entire  force,  educational  and 
administrative,  into  obligation  for  his  intelligent  and  ready  aid.  Professor 
Notestein  bore  the  burden  of  most  of  these  duties  for  many  years  and  as  usual 
“nec  tetigit  quid  non  ornavit.”  He  devised  the  scheme  used  before  the  fire. 
Then  came  Professor  Behoteguy’s  tenure  of  the  office,  but  his  careful  work 
was  reduced  to  ashes.  Now  thoroughly  organized  in  a series  of  standing 
committees,  with  a system  of  careful  observation  of  what  transpires  in  our 
secondary  schools  and  in  our  greater  universities,  and  re-enforced  bv  the  ob- 
servations of  some  member  whose  sabbatic  year  may  be  spent  in  educational 
centres  of  the  old  world,  we  may  consider  Wooster’s  enlarged  and  enlarging 
faculty  as  worthy  the  confidence  of  its  constituency. 


VII. THE  TRUSTEES. 

It  was  the  good  fortune  of  the  present  writer  in  coming  to  Wooster 
f 1883)  to  know  some  members  of  the  original  board  of  trustees.  And  in  the 
study  of  the  institution’s  life  I have  been  additionally  impressed  with  their 
supreme  earnestness,  their  strong  faith,  their  vision  and  their  prevision.  Many 
of  them  continued  to  bear  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day  for  many  years  after 
the  doors  were  successfully  opened  in  1870.  The  first  loans  were  made  by 
the  trustees  themselves,  in  order  to  meet  exigencies.  They  held  many  meet- 
ings and  canvassed  many  plans.  Two  of  them  I had  known  during  my  boy- 
hood in  Indiana — the  Rev.  L.  I.  Drake  and  Dr.  W.  W.  Colmery.  They  were 
all  self-sacrificing  and  ingenious  in  devising  methods  to  meet  the  demands  of 
each  year.  Of  the  whole  number  but  one  survives — David  Robison,  Jr.,  of 
Toledo.  He  represented  the  synod  of  Columbus  from  1866  to  1877  and  the 
synod  of  Toledo,  from  1877  to  1883.  Long  a resident  of  Wooster,  he  is  still 
interested  in  the  city  and  its  welfare.  The  board  was  largely  composed  of 
ministers,  as  befitted  the  existing  circumstances.  It  is  now  made  up  largely 
of  laymen  from  the  ranks  of  business  and  professional  life.  It  is  impossible, 
though  it  could  not  fail  to  be  interesting,  to  print  a full  list  with  any  such  com- 
ments as  the  roster  would  deserve.  A high  degree  of  faithfulness  to  their 
trust,  often  at  great  personal  inconvenience,  was  characteristic  of  them  all. 

Lucas  Flattery  resigned  in  1882  and  a minute  of  appreciation  and  regret 
was  entered.  Peter  Foust  was  elected  in  1883  and  died  in  June,  1901.  The 
board  recognized  his  seventeen  years  of  service.  “Quiet  and  unobtrusive  in 
disposition,  he  yet  exhibited  an  unflagging  interest  in  the  university  by  a uni- 


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formerly  faithful  attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  the  board  and  its  executive 
committee.  * * * We  place  on  record  our  appreciation  of  the  life  and 
character  of  our  departed  brother/' 

In  1886  Dr.  James  Eels,  the  well  known  professor  of  theology  at  Lane 
(member  of  the  board  since  1882),  passed  to  his  reward.  “His  lofty  char- 
acter and  wide  influence  in  the  cause  of  Christ.”  as  also  his  “interest  in  this 
institution  and  his  wise  counsels  and  efforts  in  its  behalf'  are  gratefully 
acknowledged. 

Two  years  more  and  the  one  to  whom  all  looked  as  Elisha  to  Elijah  was 
translated.  A great  void  was  created  for  all  friends  of  Wooster  when  John 
Robinson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  died  June  15,  1888.  It  was  touching  a battery  of 
reserved  faith  and  courage  to  meet  him.  He  had  so  long  brooded  over  the 
university  in  its  prenatal  state  that  he  could  not  help  hovering  over  it  after- 
wards. He  prepared  the  early  reports  to  the  synods  and  the  earliest  appeals 
to  the  churches.  He  was  often  on  the  executive  committee  (though  not 
resident  in  Wooster)  and  on  the  examining  committees.  He  may  fairly  be 
said  to  have  done  more  for  the  university  in  the  twenty-two  years  next  after 
the  granting  of  the  charter  and  before  it  than  any  other  man.  The  handsome 
bronze  tablet,  with  its  appropriate  inscription,  which  used  to  stand  on  the  main 
stairway  of  the  old  building  should  be  restored  in  the  new.  In  the  catalogue 
of  1888-9,  it  is  printed  on  a separate  page  that  “for  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century  no  publication  concerning  the  synodical  university  was  issued  which 
did  not  contain  the  name  of  this  venerable  man.  He  was  its  ardent  advocate 
as  a hope  and  as  a plan.  After  its  realization  he  was  the  first,  and,  until  his 
death,  the  only  president  of  its  board  of  trustees.  He  gave  it  his  energies, 
his  prayers  and  his  means.  * * * It  is  the  fervent  desire  of  the  board  of 

trustees  and  of  the  faculty  that  his  life-long  views  concerning  the  duty  and  the 
opportunity  of  the  church  in  the  higher  education  under  denominational  con- 
trol, may  be  regarded  as  typical  among  the  ministers  and  churches  of  Ohio,  as 
it  is  their  assured  conviction  that  the  memory  of  his  high  character  and  ma- 
tured Christian  graces  and  useful  life  will  never  perish  from  among  us.”  It 
is  added  in  the  hoard's  own  minute  that  Doctor  Robinson  was  never  absent 
from  a meeting  except  on  one  occasion  and  then  he  was  “visiting  in  Scotland." 
“In  every  time  of  trial  his  wise  counsel  and  courageous  stand  and  loving  ad- 
herence to  the  right  made  him  the  centre  about  which  others  might  rallv. 

* * * He  was  meek,  pure  and  straightforward,  as  he  was  prudent,  per- 

sistent and  true.  He  presided  with  dignity  and  grace  and  cast  over  the  meet- 
ing of  the  board  the  tender  unction  and  hallowed  expression  of  one  who 
walked  with  God.  His  earnest  and  touching  prayers  lifted  us  to  the  verv 

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portals  of  the  skies.  * * * A touching  expression  of  his  love  to  Wooster 

University  appears  in  the  fact  that,  out  of  the  scanty  earnings  of  a long  life 
he  has  devoted  one  thousand  dollars  to  establish  a scholarship  in  memory  of 
his  beloved  wife.  And  we  rejoice  that  the  children  of  our  honored  friend 
have  signified  their  determination  to  found  a similar  scholarship  to  his  mem- 
ory/’ 

Xo  one  of  all  the  noble  men  who  have  stood  by  the  University  in  its 
perplexities  has  been  of  more  real  service  than  the  Honorable  J.  W.  Robin- 
son (of  Marysville).  Entering  the  board  in  1871.  he  continued  in  deepest 
interest  and  activity  until  his  death,  in  1899.  He  was  thus  identified  with 
the  three  decades  of  struggle  and  advance.  The  board  records  its  “deep 
sense  of  the  loss  sustained  in  the  death  of  one  of  the  University's  earliest 
and  warmest  friends.  * * * He  was  in  profoundest  sympathy  with  the 

principles  for  the  maintenance  and  propagation  of  which  the  University  was 
founded.  His  counsels  were  characterized  by  eminent  wisdom  and  in  times 
of  special  difficulty  were  marked  by  sagacity,  foresight  and  gentle  moderation. 
He  loved  the  University.  In  her  prosperity  he  greatly  rejoiced  and  when  for 
any  cause  her  welfare  seemed  in  jeopardy  his  sorrow  was  sincere  and  deep,  but 
not  stronger  than  his  patience  and  skill  in  helping  to  bring  her  out  of  trouble 
and  into  a large  and  wealthy  place.’  He  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a help- 
ing hand  to  the  University  in  the  way  of  financial  aid  and  the  supreme  token 
of  his  fostering  spirit  in  this  respect  was  his  legacy  of  ten  thousand  dollars 
which  has  so  lightened  our  load  and  brightened  our  future  today. 

“With  thankfulness  to  God  for  giving  the  University  such  a friend,  in 
loving  memory  of  his  virtues  and  with  solemn  purpose  to  emulate  his  de- 
votion to  the  interest  of  our  beloved  institution,  we  inscribe  this  memorial 
upon  our  records." 

In  June,  1900,  we  lost  a friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Pratt,  whose 
membership  in  the  board  had  been  confined  to  the  initial  years  from 
the  charter  in  1866,  to  the  opening  in  1870.  During  that  period  he  took 
most  effective  part  in  aiding  to  construct  the  first  curriculum  and  in  fixing 
the  conditions  of  entrance.  His  efficient  friendship  was  not  limited  to  that 
period,  however.  The  board's  minute  says:  “He  was  ever  a devoted  friend 
of  the  University  and.  during  these  years,  contributed  liberally  to  its  support — 
his  benefactions  amounting  to  over  twelve  thousand  dollars.  He  was  a 
sincere,  devout  and  earnest  Christian,  whose  life  was  a consistent,  lovely 
representation  of  the  Christian  character.  In  his  various  pastorates  he 
proved  a faithful  minister  of  the  Covenant  and  was  universally  honorcd 
and  beloved  by  the  entire  community  where  he  resided." 


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Dr.  Charles  S.  Pomeroy,  long  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church 
of  Cleveland,  became  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  in  1883.  He  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  John  Robinson  as  president  of  the  board  in  1888.  He  repre- 

sented the  University,  amid  surroundings  which  were  strongly  drawn  in 
other  directions,  always  with  discretion  but  always  with  firm  preference 
for  the  institution  of  church  control  and  ownership.  He  died  suddenly 
in  September,  1894.  “Doctor  Pomeroy,*’  says  the  record,  “was  a marked 
man,  distinguished  for  his  natural  abilities,  his  scholarly  attainments,  his 
mechanical  genius,  his  genial  Christian  character,  his  delightfully  interest- 
ing public  address,  his  evangelistic  and  spiritually  helpful  preaching  and  his 
wise  counsels  as  a member  of  this  body,  and  in  the  ecclesiastical  bodies  of 
our  church.  He  was  a thorough  Presbyterian,  a firm  defender  of  our  faith  and 
was  decided  in  his  views  of  Presbyterian  government.  But  his  sympathies 
were  as  broad  as  the  Christian  church  and  his  voice  was  heard  in  the  support 
of  whatever  promised  to  be  useful  to  men  or  for  the  enlargement  of  the 
Redeemer’s  Kingdom.” 

In  1892,  the  resignation  of  John  McClellan,  as  treasurer,  was 
reluctantly  accepted  by  the  board  of  trustees,  and  a testimonial  (by 
Doctor  Taylor)  was  ordered  to  be  read  from  the  commencement  plat- 
form, declaring  that  “among  the  early  advocates  of  the  establishment  of  the 
University  none  other  aided  with  greater  activity,  zeal  and  liberality.”  His 
labors  in  connection  with  the  erection  of  the  main  building  were  recognized 
as  “indefatigable  and  conspicuous.”  His  service  as  trustee  and  treasurer 
endured  for  more  than  twenty-five  years  and  “he  was  present  at  every  meet- 
ing of  the  board,”  besides  proving  an  “energetic  and  self-sacrificing  member 
of  the  executive  committee.”  As  treasurer  his  administration  was  marked 
by  “wisdom,  justice  and  kindness”  and  thus  he  “won  the  favor  of  the  public, 
the  gratitude  of  the  board,  and  the  universal  friendship  of  the  faculty  and 
students.” 

In  1900  (March  30),  at  nearly  ninety  years  of  age,  Mr.  McClellan  died 
in  faith.  The  board  of  trustees  again  expressed  its  sense  of  his  early  and 
abiding  and  effective  interest  in  the  University.  He  had  executed  his  dif- 
ficult duties  “with  conspicuous  fidelity,  skill  and  unusual  knowledge  of  human 
nature.”  By  his  “devotion  of  extra  labor  and  thought”  and  bv  his  “hope- 
fulness in  dark  days  he  stimulated  others  to  loyalty  and  consecration  in 
the  work.”  “The  simplicity,  transparent  honesty  and  sterling  integrity 
of  his  character”  are  emphasized. 

While  the  trusteeship  of  Jacob  Frick  was  comparatively  brief,  it  was 
marked  by  deep  interest  and  by  generous  and  efficient  aid  in  the  financial  dif- 


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ficulties  then  encountered.  The  board  laments  his  loss  ( he  died  November 
17,  1901)  : “His  simplictiy  of  manner,  the  honesty  and  integrity  of  his 

character,  his  manifest  helpfulness  and  kindness  to  others  stamped  him  a man 
of  high  Christian  character.” 

In  June,  1898.  the  board  of  trustees,  in  accepting  from  J.  H.  Kauke  the 
gift  of  the  property  now  known  as  the  conservatory,  passed  resolutions  of 
heartfelt  recognition  of  his  “unselfish  service”  of  many  years  in  “advancing 
the  work  to  which  he  has  given  so  much  of  his  time,  his  strength,  his  means 
and  his  prayers.”  He  died  suddenly  on  Sabbath  morning,  March  20,  1904. 
At  its  next  meeting  this  minute  was  entered  upon  the  record  of  the  board, 
expressing  its  deep  sense  of  tbe  “loss  which  the  institution  has  sustained.’" 
He  was  the  oldest  member  of  our  board  and  the  sole  survivor  (save  one) 
of  the  original  incorporators.  “Pre-eminent  among  the  men  whose  labors 
and  liberality  secured  the  location  of  the  synodical  college  in  this  city,  he 
gave  to  it  an  untiring  devotion  and  for  thirty-eight  years  sacrificed  time,  money 
and  strength  to  its  upbuilding,  maintenance  and  enlargement.  He  had 
passed  the  Mead  line’  of  fifty  years  when  the  University  was  founded,  but 
for  more  than  a third  of  a century  he  gave  his  unfailing  and  exuberant  vitality 
to  the  care  and  nursing  of  the  institution  he  loved.  Day  after  day,  usually 
before  attending  to  his  own  business,  he  was  on  the  hill,  attending  to  the 
needs  of  professors  and  students  with  indefatigable  zeal  and  patience. 

“And  this  was  true  not  alone  of  one  season  but  of  all  seasons.  Summer 
and  winter,  day  and  night,  he  wrought  and  planned,  meeting  perplexities 
and  bridging  difficulties,  unceasingly  careful  in  the  economical  use  of  the 
University’s  funds  and  giving,  especially  in  later  years,  a large  part  of  his 
time  gratuitously  to  the  care  of  the  building  and  grounds. 

“His  interests  in  both  teachers  and  scholars  was  unfailing.  He  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  struggles  of  the  students  while  here  and  followed 
them  in  after  years  with  sympathetic  watchfulness,  rejoicing  in  their  suc- 
cess and  grieving  over  their  failures  and  defects.  His  own  life-battle, 
with  his  disadvantages  and  straitened  circumstances  in  early  life  to  the 
comfort  and  affluence  of  later  years,  fitted  him  to  be  a true  friend  and  coun- 
sellor of  those  who  in  poverty  were  seeking  to  gain  an  education.  After 
eighty-six  years  of  busy  and  fruitful  labors  he  entered  into  rest.” 

It  would  be  hard  to  find  in  any  community  a more  remarkable  history 
than  the  life-course  of  Captain  Kauke.  Some  pains  should  be  taken  to  pre- 
sent it  to  this  community  as  a priceless  inheritance,  an  asset  of  more  than 
economic  value,  a perpetual  stimulus  to  the  nobler  triumphs  of  character  over 


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circumstance  and  a brilliant  tribute  to  native  intellect  and  to  its  power,  under 
stimulus  of  high  morality  and  a deep  religious  faith,  to  assimilate  the  most 
valuable  results  of  culture  without  submission  to  its  tedious  processes. 

Two  years  later  (June,  1906)  the  board  traces  carefully  the  life  history 
of  the  Rev.  John  C.  Holliday,  D.D.,  always  useful  and  widely  known — a 
trustee  from  1888  to  1906.  He  died  suddenly  while  pastor  at  Norwood, 
Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  February  of  the  latter  year.  Absent  in  seventeen  years 
but  from  one  meeting  of  the  board  and  then  far  away  in  Palestine,  he  was  a 
model  of  punctuality.  He  had  been  the  Prohibition  candidate  for  governor 
in  1897  and  received  the  largest  vote  (7,558)  ever  given  to  a similar  candidate. 
He  was  especially  useful  to  the  whole  church  (Presbyterian)  in  our  state  by 
the  well-ordered  scheme  of  home  missions  which  he  devised.  “Fidelity,  con- 
scientiousness and  efficiency  characterized  all  his  relations  to  the  University.” 
Dr.  Holliday's  solid  acquirements,  sustained  convictions,  and  ready  sympa- 
thies conspired  to  make  him  a man  of  mark  in  any  line  of  duty  for  Christ  and 
fellow  men.  The  board  expresses  its  “profound  sense  of  the  greatness  of  its 
bereavement*” 

At  the  same  meeting  (June,  1906)  the  death  of  Harry  True  (of  Marion), 
which  had  occurred  since  the  February  meeting  of  that  year,  was  recorded. 
He  was  a “trustee  by  lineage.  His  father,  Dr.  H.  A.  True,  was  one  of  the 
original  incorporators."  * * * Despite  large  business  interests  he  was  a 

faithful  member  of  the  Board.  He  was  “too  genuine  a man  to  herald  his 
worth,  but  when  put  to  the  test  he  revealed  his  equipment  and  splendid  char- 
acter." He  had  unusual  literary  taste,  and  was  “a  manly  man,  an  upright 
citizen,  a generous  helper  of  a worthy  cause,  a friend  worth  having,  always  a 
gentleman  and  a devout  and  consistent  Christian." 

Among  the  earlier  trustees  were  two  whose  tenure  of  office  was  not  long 
but  their  interest  was  deep  and  permanent.  Of  these,  William  D.  Johnson 
(1873-5)  endowed  the  chair  of  mathematics  and  astronomy  in  the  sum  of 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  This  gift  was  one  of  the  most  encouraging 
evidences  of  future  success  during  the  days  of  the  early  struggles.  The  board 
marks  “the  exemplary  spirit  and  devoted  piety"  of  the  generous  trustee  and 
records  its  gratitude  to  God  for  the  bequest  in  his  will.  It  deserves  to  be 
entered  here  that  Mrs.  Johnson,  when  the  railroad  bonds  in  which  the  endow- 
ment was  transferred  were  repudiated  by  the  county  which  authorized  them, 
paid  the  interest  ($1,500)  for  many  years  until  finally  by  legal  process  the 
county  was  compelled  to  make  good  the  principal.  It  is  hard  to  see  how  the 
institution  could  just  then  have  gone  forward  without  this  singular  act  of 
generosity. 


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The  trusteeship  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  R.  B.  Moore  was  also  brief  (1871-74).  . 
but  he  held  a life-interest  in  the  university's  work  and  welfare.  After  other 
donations,  he  gave,  in  1904.  ten  thousand  dollars  as  a foundation  for  a pro- 
fessorship of  astronomy  and  as  a memorial  to  his  life-long  friend.  Professor 
Kirkwood.  But  a few  months  before  his  death  in  May,  1906,  he  “gave  utter- 
ance to  the  hope  that  the  university  would  always  remain  true  to  the  tradi- 
tions and  ideals  of  its  founders/’ 

Brief  mention,  at  least,  should  be  made  of  many  of  these  worthy  men, 
who  have  served  in  the  capacity  of  trustees  during  these  forty  years.  The 
whole  number  is  one  hundred  and  forty-three.  Of  these,  sixty-eight  have 
died.  The  list  includes  men  of  mark  in  all  the  professions.  Naturally  the 
clergy  were  called  upon  first  and  seventy-six  of  the  whole  number  have  been 
in  the  ministry.  Teachers,  lawyers,  business  men  and  now  and  then  a phys;- 
cian,  make  up  the  remainder.  In  the  existing  board,  as  by  the  catalogue  of 
1909-10,  there  appear  twenty-five  names  (omitting  the  president,  who  is  a 
member  ex  officio).  Of  these,  only  six  are  clergymen  (with  a seventh  who  is 
an  honorary  trustee),  four  are  lawyers,  one  is  an  editor,  one  is  an  educator, 
and  the  remainder  are  business  men.  It  would  be  but  just  to  remember  that 
the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  W.  Colmery.  one  of  the  original  board,  is  credited  with 
having  aided  William  D.  Johnson  to  decide  in  favor  of  endowing  his  professor- 
ship. He  also  sent  donations  from  his  own  slender  resources  when  kept  bv 
increasing  infirmity  from  attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  the  board.  His 
tenure  lasted  from  1866  to  1895.  As  much  might  be  said  for  Hugh  Bell's 
long  and  faithful  service  from  1871  to  1898;  for  the  short  service  of  that 
estimable  Christian  lawyer  of  Cadiz,  Josiah  Estep  (i885-’88).  Dr.  B.  K. 
Ormond,  once  resident  in  our  city,  maintained  an  effective  interest  from 
1893-1904.  Dr.  E.  L.  Raffensperger  (of  Marion)  proposed  the  name  which 
the  institution  now  bears,  at  the  close  of  a long  committee  discussion.  He 
was  instrumental  in  the  proposed  location  at  West  Liberty.  His  term  identi- 
fied him  with  the  period  of  inception  ( 1866-70).  The  widely  known  attorney 
at  law.  William  Rush  Taggart  (now  of  New  York,  then  of  Salem.  Ohio),  was 
a member  of  the  board  and  an  efficient  aid  from  1877  to  1889.  J.  G.  Peebles 
came  a long  way  from  Portsmouth  and  at  an  advanced  age  for  the  years  be- 
tween 1883  and  1897.  He  gave  freely  of  bis  own  means  and  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  the  university  a bequest  of  two  thousand  dollars,  the  disposal  of 
which  had  been  left  to  his  judgment  by  his  sister.  Mrs.  Hamilton.  Dr.  George 
C.  Heckman  (1855-88).  the  Rev.  Dr.  David  A.  Wallace  ( 1880-83).  the  ^ev- 
Dr.  Thomas  A.  McCurdy  ( 1876-85).  Dr.  Willis  Lord  ( 1877-9),  Dr.  David 
A.  Tappan  (1897-9).  Dr.  J.  R.  llelwig  { 1894-98)  and  Dr.  George  P.  Hays 


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(1887-8)  were  all  college  presidents  and  gave  the  values  of  their  varied  ex- 
periences to  the  counsels  of  the  governing  body.  Dr.  Abram  D.  Hawn  of 
Delaware  ( 1874-79)  still  survives  to  maintain  a loyal  interest  in  Wooster; 
Dr.  A.  B.  Marshall  ( 1890  to  ’94),  then  of  East  Liverpool  and  now  in  transitu 
to  the  presidency  of  the  theological  seminary  at  Omaha,  should  be  coupled 
with  Dr.  William  McKibbin  (1894-1902),  now  president  of  Lane  Theological 
Seminary,  in  appreciative  remembrances.  The  Hon.  A.  E.  Jones,  recently 
commissioner  of  education  in  Ohio  and  long  superintendent  at  Massillon,  gave 
us  good  counsel  from  1893  to  1901.  Judge  William  McSurely.  since  busied 
in  important  cases  in  Chicago,  gave  most  efficient  help  during  reconstruction 
after  the  fire  ( 1901 -4)  having  secured  a most  welcome  donation  of  five  thou- 
sand dollars  from  the  authorities  of  the  Pennsylvania  Leased  Lines.  Myron 
Wick  (of  Youngstown),  elected  in  1901.  generously  aided  in  the  rebuilding 
and  then  in  completing  the  great  effort  to  reach  the  five-hundred-thousand  dol- 
lar point  in  1908,  on  reaching  which  so  much  was  conditioned.  He  resigned 
last  year  and  this  year  has  been  called  to  higher  service  in  the  better  land.  Alva 
Agee,  now  of  Pennsylvania  State  College,  was  with  us  heart  and  soul  from 
1905-8  during  his  residence  in  our  city.  Samuel  J.  McMahon  (Cambridge 
banker)  was  generously  efficient  from  1888-1903.  Taken  all  in  all,  this  list 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-three  trustees  helps  to  prove  that  the  synodical  col- 
lege has  proved  to  be  solidly  imbedded  in  the  best  heart  and  mind  of  our 
church  in  this  state.  Wooster  has  been  able  to  command  those  who  were 
able  to  serve  her  interests  intelligently  as  well  as  faithfully. 

During  the  third  administration  (June,  1893)  ^ie  proper  steps  were 
ordered  for  enlarging  the  number  of  the  trustees  by  synod-election  from  nom- 
inations by  the  “alumni  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Central  Alumni  Associa- 
tion.'' This  action  was  carried  out,  involving  the  passing  of  a general  law 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  Ohio.  It  has  proven  a wise  and  satisfactory  step. 
A number  of  those  most  interested  and  useful  in  the  board  have  been  added 
by  this  expedient:  and  this  result  will  be  cumulative  in  the  future. 

There  have  been  five  presidents  of  the  board.  Dr.  John  Robinson  ( i86f>- 
1888)  ; Dr.  Charles  S.  Pomeroy  ( 1888-1894)  : Dr.  A.  A.  E.  Taylor  ( 1895- 
1902)  : Dr.  Samuel  S.  Palmer  ( 1902-5)  and  Louis  H.  Severance,  the  present 
incumbent.  Lucas  Flattery  was  the  first  secretary,  in  office  from  1866  to 
1878.  Dr.  T.  K.  Davis  succeeded  in  a service  of  thirty  years  from  1878  to 
1908.  Since  then  Jesse  McClellan  has  held  the  office,  as  he  has  held  that  of 
treasurer  from  1885.  succeeding  his  father,  John  McClellan,  whose  tenure  of 
that  important  office  lasted  from  1866  to  1885. 


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Among  the  fiscal  secretaries  mention  must  be  made  of  Dr.  George  P. 
Hays’  pioneering  and  organizing  in  1868  and  1869,  without  which  the  raising 
of  the  two  hundred  fifty  thousand  dollars  endowment  deemed  indispensable  for 
setting  the  university  in  motion  could  not  have  been  realized,  and  of  Dr.  T.  K. 
Davis’  continuous  and  successful  employment  in  this  capacity  from  1871  to 
1875.  The  Rev.  Robert  M.  Donaldson  gave  up  choice  pastorates  for  this 
difficult  work  from  1895  to  1898.  Since  1904  the  burden  has  rested  upon 
those  experienced  workmen  in  this  vineyard  fin  which  there  are  grapes  enough 
but  not  easily  accessible),  the  Rev.  Charles  R.  Compton,  Ph.  D.,  and  the  Rev. 
Samuel  W.  Douglas.  One  who  knows  something  of  their  task  heartily  wishes 
them  the  faith  and  patience  which  alone  can  perpetually  ( to  use  a borrowed 
expression)  “renew  the  solicitor's  nerve.” 

It  is  due  the  faithfulness  and  efficiency  of  Dr.  T.  K.  Davis,  connected  with 
the  university  in  one  capacity  or  another  from  April  1,  1867 — thus  reaching 
forty-three  years  and  constituting  a longer  nexus  than  now  exists  with  any 
other  person  living — to  give  place  to  an  extract  from  his  letter  to  the  board 
when  resigning  the  secretaryship  in  1908:  “The  institution  was  founded  on 

the  Rock  of  Ages,  by  men  of  profound  convictions  in  this  central  and  influen- 
tial state,  at  a time  when  the  older  and  wealthier  colleges  of  the  country 
seemed  to  be  losing  their  grip  on  the  Christian  faith.  Merely  as  an  additional 
college  to  the  many  in  Ohio  it  was  not  needed.  But  as  a college  connected 
with  and  controlled  by  the  Presbyterian  church  it  was  greatly  needed.  The 
Presbyterian  church  in  Ohio  was  suffering  and  losing  ground  for  want  of  a 
college  of  its  own.  I believed  that  it  was  needed  by  our  country  and  the 
world  as  a college  that  would  stand  for  Christ  and  the  Bible  as  long  as  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Ohio  would  be  faithful  to  her  Lord  and  Master.  Mv 
work  as  secretary  has  kept  me  in  touch  all  these  years  with  the  internal  life 
and  work  of  the  university  and  it  has  been  a great  joy  to  me  that  the  trustees 
and  faculty  have  never  wavered  from  the  position  taken  by  the  board  of 
trustees  at  the  first  meeting  in  December.  18 66.”  [See  the  resolutions  quoted 
elsewhere  in  this  sketch.] 

The  most  important  section  of  the  board  of  trustees  is  and  always  has  been 
the  executive  committee.  It  is  something  of  an  equalizing  consideration  to 
remember  that  if  our  city  receives  some  special  advantages  from  the  university 
it  must  always  contribute  the  management  through  this  committee — in  close 
connection  with  the  president  as  a member  ex  officio — of  many  most  important 
concerns  of  the  university-life.  Questions  of  policy  as  well  as  of  detail  come 
l>efore  it  for  decision.  Some  are  committed  directly  to  it  by  the  board,  and 
others  are  urgent  because  the  meetings  of  the  board  are  infrequent.  There 


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must  be  management  of  the  investments  also  by  a sub-committee  (on  finance). 
There  is  constant  demand  for  time  and  judgment  and  sympathetic  study  of 
various  situations  on  the  part  of  the  executive  committee.  Right  nobly  have 
our  best  citizens  responded  to  these  demands  during  these  more  than  forty 
years.  I may  not  dare  to  specialize  beyond  mentioning  the  extraordinary 
devotion  of  John  H.  Kauke — for  so  many  years  the  chairman — and  the  con- 
tinuous and  indispensable  services  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  O.  A.  Hills  since  1885. 
Every  crisis  through  which  the  university  has  passed  has  called  for  renewed 
devotion  and  activity  on  the  part  of  this  committee. 

Closely  connected  with  the  general  work  of  the  trustees,  there  has  ex- 
isted since  1892  an  advisory  board  of  women.  The  number  was  to  be  equal 
to  that  of  the  trustees  and  their  names  were  to  be  reported  to  the  synod  for 
confirmation.  It  was  a roving  commission  under  which  this  advisory  board 
was  organized ; but  its  main  design  was  always  as  clear  as  it  was  important. 
It  was  meant  to  bring  together  representative  women  from  each  presbytery 
who  with  womanly  tact  and  intuition  would  find  ways  to  increase  the  efficiency 
of  the  institution  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  young  women  who  came  into 
residence  in  the  university.  In  1896  “the  board,  recognizing  the  zeal  with 
which  the  advisory  board  have  given  themselves  to  the  work  of  fostering  the 
university,  would  suggest  to  them  that  they  have  a sub-committee  Who  shall 
regularly  visit  the  institution  and  report  from  time  to  time  to  the  faculty  or 
board  what,  in  their  judgment,  would  promote  the  efficiency  of  the  university 
especially  in  the  matter  of  securing  to  our  young  lady  students  accommodations 
and  surroundings  that  will  approximate  their  life  in  the  university  to  that 
of  a Christian  home.”  The  thanks  of  the  board  for  continued  aid  along  the 
lines  in  which  so  much  has  been  done  to  increase  the  attractiveness  of  the 
institution  to  the  mothers  and  daughters  of  our  constituency,  have  been  fre- 
quently expressed.  As  early  as  June,  1880,  Doctor  Taylor  had  suggested  a 
“Woman’s  Association  to  aid  in  promoting  the  higher  education  of  young 
women  in  the  university.”  The  usefulness  of  the  advisory  board  is  constant- 
ly increasing  and  their  suggestions  receive  most  respectful  attention  from  the 
trustees.  It  was  in  connection  with  this  organization  that  the  efficient  work 
of  Mrs.  Dr.  J.  H.  W.  Stuckenberg  was  done  in  forming  Wooster  leagues  in 
several  Ohio  cities.  These  organizations  quickened  interest  in  certain  circles 
to  the  point  of  valuable  co-operation. 

Closely  connected  with  the  foregoing  items  must  be  mentioned  the  honor- 
roll  of  those  who  through  the  financial  pilgrimage  of  the  forty  years  past  have 
been  signal  helpers.  There  heads  the  list,  of  course,  the  fine  face  and  figure 
of  Ephraim  Ouinby,  Jr.,  whose  gift  of  the  campus  undoubtedly  secured  the  lo- 


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cation  of  the  university  at  W ooster,  and  who  gave,  also,  later  a professorship. 
The  pastor  Reed  gave  encouragement  and  prevailing  prayer.  Capt.  John  H. 
Kauke  gave  liberal  donations  at  the  beginning,  a full  professorship  later,  paid 
for  the  transfer  of  the  conservatory  property,  and  always  an  inexhaustible  store 
of  personal  concern  and  superintendence.  The  Johnson  professorship  was  a 
gleam  of  hope  for  the  larger  endowments  so  much  needed.  David  Robison. 
Jr.,  gave  means  and  time  as  a member  of  the  original  board  of  trustees  and 
is  now  its  sole  survivor.  Mr.  Purdy,  of  Mansfield,  and  John  Black,  of  Zanes- 
ville. added  some  of  the  larger  sums  of  the  early  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyd 
Mercer  endowed  the  Biblical  chair.  Mrs.  Mary  Myers  was  one  of  the  few 
who  could  add  five  thousand  dollars  to  the  original  subscriptions  for  endow- 
ment. Early  and  middle  and  late.  Dr.  J.  H.  Pratt  came  to  the  institution’s 
help.  C.  S.  Bragg,  of  Cincinnati,  planted  the  first  library  as  a centre  of 
intellectual  stimulus  with  a gift  of  five  thousand  dollars.  In  the  middle  period 
there  came  to  us  William  Thaw's  repeated  gifts,  including  the  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  which  made  certain  the  Hoge  professorship  of  morals 
and  sociology.  And  Mrs.  William  Thaw  founded  a memorial  scholarship  to 
that  noble  Christian  gentleman  (her  father),  Josiah  Copley.  Then  came, 
from  the  same  beneficent  hand,  the  five  thousand  dollars  and  more,  which 
realized  that  finely-conceived  plan — the  homes  for  the  children  of  missionaries. 
Benjamin  S.  Brown,  of  Columbus,  gladdened  all  hearts  bv  a perpetual  scholar- 
ship (one  thousand  dollars)  and  a professorship  (twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars). Selah  Chamberlain's  ten-thousand-dollar  bequest  carried  us  over  the 
construction  exigencies  of  1891-2,  and  literally  gave  ns  "wings."  Henry 
Flagler,  of  New  York,  gave  one  thousand  dollars.  That  veteran  of  Christian 
service,  John  Peebles,  of  Portsmouth,  helped  the  work  for  himself  and  for  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Hamilton.  Judge  J.  W.  Robinson’s  bequest  of  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars, with  Dr.  Pratt's  five  thousand  dollar  gift,  prepared  the  wav  for  the  large 
things  which  were  to  come. 

And  what  an  honor-roll  is  that  of  the  past  eleven  years!  H.  C.  Frick's 
library  building  was  not  only  a promise  of  spring,  but  the  “one  swallow" 
which,  contrary  to  the  proverb,  seemed  enough  to  “make  a summer."  Then 
came  Mrs.  Davidson  and  the  Memorial  Chapel  with  Mrs.  Livingstone  Taylor's 
five  thousand  dollar  organ  in  it,  and  the  five  times  greater,  later  gift  in  the 
stress  of  the  effort  for  the  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  ending  with  March 
31.  1908.  And  how  these  larger  givers  have  multiplied  since  the  fiery  ordeal! 
Here  begin  the  astonishing  gifts  of  Andrew  Carnegie;  of  the  Rockefeller  (ien- 
eral  Education  Board;  and  of  the  ever-generous  patron-saint  (shall  1 say)  of 
the  institution.  Louis  H.  Severance.  Along  with  these  how  wonderfully 


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sprang  up  from  willing  hearts  and  open  hands  the  large  gifts  of  John  Con- 
verse (of  Philadelphia),  of  Dr.  R.  B.  Moore:  of  Mrs.  Darwin  James  and 
other  ‘‘elect  ladies”  of  New  York;  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Mather  (of  Cleveland),  of 
Miss  Denny  and  Miss  Spring  and  Mrs.  Curry,  of  Pittsburgh:  of  Solon  Sever- 
ance, who  took  such  effective  pity  on  the  condition  of  a library  magnificently 
housed  but  helpless  to  fill  its  own  shelves.  There  have  kept  coming  from 
very  many  sources  the  scholarships  (of  one  thousand  dollars  each)  for  pay- 
ment of  tuition  for  the  children  of  missionaries.  There  have  also  been  entered 
some  large  contributions  on  the  annuity  plan,  which  will  prove  no  doubt,  to 
be  the  forerunners  of  yet  more  numerous  arrangements  of  this  character — a 
plan  so  satisfactory  to  the  annuitant  and  so  certain  ultimately  to  enrich  the 
treasury  of  the  university. 

All  these  things  are  recorded  (and  it  is  but  a partial  enumeration)  that 
faith  and  hope  may  be  animated  by  experience.  In  the  crisis  of  rebuilding 
how  plainly  it  Was  proven  in  some  of  the  larger  gifts,  already  recounted,  and 
in  the  prompt  and  generous  response  of  the  city  of  Wooster  through  James 
Mullin’s  gift  of  five  thousand  dollars,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Frick's  one 
thousand  dollars  and  the  similar  sum  from  Walter  Mullins  and  from  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John ' McSvveeney,  besides  the  self-denying  smaller  gifts  from  every- 
where, that  the  high  purpose  of  Wooster's  founders  would  never  lack 
friends  and  helpers.  So  it  has  been  and  so  it  will  always  be.  True  to  her 
noble  mission,  help  and  deliverance  will  arise  in  every  exigency.  Patient 
waiting  and  working  are  the  only  conditions  of  prosperity  for  an  institution 
devoted  to  the  aims  for  which  Wooster  was  founded. 

VIII.  THE  ALUMNI. 

Here  is  a most  winning  theme  and  one  full  of  interest.  Only  the  rigid- 
ities of  time  and  space  could  compel  a brief  treatment. 

The  number  for  the  forty  years  compares  strikingly  well  with  the  out- 
put of  institutions  which  have  ampler  state  foundations  or  are  created  by 
hitherto  unprecedented  private  endowments.  It  is  much  beyond  the  record  of 
any  ecclesiastical  college  known  to  the  writer.  The  grand  total  gives  ns  col- 
legiate alumni  up  to  May,  1910,  1402.  All  departments  carry  the  figure  to 
1705.  The  report  to  synod  (October.  1909),  is  willing  to  test  all  college  life 
by  “the  service  it  renders  to  the  world  through  its  alumni.”  A table  is  printed 
showing  that  of  the  1393  graduates  of  the  collegiate  department.  378  (27.13 
per  cent)  have  gone  into  religious  work:  376  (26.99  per  cent)  into  collegiate 
and  secondary  teaching:  142  (10.19  per  cent)  into  law:  91  (6.53  per  cent) 


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into  medicine  and  236  (16.94  per  cent)  into  business.  Wooster  has  furnished 
1 1 college  presidents  and  54  college  professors,  of  whom  44  are  men  and  10 
are  women — a contribution  of  67  members  to  the  faculties  of  institutions  of 
full  collegiate  or  university  standing.  “The  quality  of  the  scholarship  product 
of  Wooster  is  indicated  by  three  facts;  first  the  large  and  growing  demand  for 
Wooster  alumni  as  college  professors  and  for  important  positions  in  normal 
schools,  academies  and  high  schools : second,  the  books  of  scholarly  merit 

written  by  Wooster  men ; third,  the  large  number  who  pursue  graduate 
courses  in  the  large  universities  and  the  many  fellowships  and  scholarships 
which  they  win  in  competitive  theses  or  by  their  high  grade  of  work  during 
their  first  graduate  year.”  Abundant  details  exist  to  make  good  these  claims. 
Ten  fellowships  were  won  during  1903-4.  Four  of  a then  recent  class  took 
fellowships  at  Yale,  Columbia,  Chicago,  and  Wisconsin.  A “Roll  of  Honor” 
has  been  voted  for  those  who  do  such  things. 

The  distribution  of  the  alumni  shows  the  Wooster  preparation  for  a life- 
work  is  not  limited  to  any  environment.  Out  in  the  West,  there  are  24  in 
California.  20  in  Colorado,  10  in  North  Dakota,  in  Oregon,  13;  in  Kansas, 
28 ; in  Washington,  22.  Coming  Eastward,  we  find  62  in  Illinois,  477  in 
Ohio.  125  in  Pennsylvania.  In  Massachusetts  there  are  10;  New  York,  58. 
Going  to  the  far  East,  there  are  15  in  India  and  30  in  China.  Again  we  must 
regret  the  necessity  of  omitting  most  of  the  names  of  those  referred  to.  Mere 
mention  can  be  made  of  such  men  as  Professor  Hyslop,  in  moral  and  mental 
science:  Joseph  Collins,  in  mathematics;  William  Henderson,  in  chemistry: 
Professor  Culler  (Miami),  in  physics;  Dr.  Edgar  Work,  in  authorship;  W.  W. 
White,  in  the  great  Bible  school  of  New  York,  and  J.  C.  White,  at  the  head  of 
the  laymen’s  missionary  movement,  and  Professor  Kingery  (Wabash),  with 
his  editions  of  Latin  texts,  and  many  distinguished  missionaries;  and  ex-Gov- 
ernor  Morrison  and  Professor  Chadock  of  Pennsylvania  University,  and  Pro- 
fessor Wallace  Notestein  (history)  and  ex-President  James  Wallace,  whose 
heroic  devotion  saved  Macalester  College;  and  of  such  women  as  Mrs.  Ella 
Alexander  Boole,  Mrs.  Mary  Mills,  Mrs.  Hanna  Cox  and  the  Misses  Popper. 
These  names,  taken  almost  at  random,  give  evidence  of  real  vitality  in  Woos- 
ter’s work. 

Every  year  the  bond  strengthens  as  the  number  increases.  Organiza- 
tion is  being  perfected  rapidly.  The  next  decade  will  bring  the  fiftieth  anni- 
versary and  observation  convinces  the  writer  that  the  semi-centennial  is  a point 
of  new  departure  for  the  alumni  of  a great  and  growing  institution.  Wooster 
men  and  women  have  better  means  now  of  knowing  what  the  other  Wooster- 
ites  are  doing.  The  admirable  Alumni  Round  Table  in  the  Wooster  Quarter - 


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ly  is  now  supplemented  by  a regular  bulletin,  packed  with  information.  Woos- 
ter’s diploma  means  more  each  year.  The  children  of  the  benign  mother's 
first  generation  are  coming  to  drink  of  the  same  fountain.  The  four  mission- 
heroes,  Ritchie,  Pinkerton,  Devor  and  Noyes,  lie  buried  in  China,  Brazil  and 
Africa;  but  their  souls  “are  marching  on”  in  the  recruits  who  annually  say: 
“Here  am  I,  send  me.”  Wooster’s  alumni  have  given  one  professorship 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  and  they  know  this  is  but  a beginning  for  an  ever- 
enlarging  body  in  ministering  to  the  ever-growing  demands  of  advanced 
Christian  thinking  and  knowing  and  doing.  Experience  has  proven  that  the 
high-grade  students  (taken  by  classes)  do  the  high-grade  work  in  life.  A great 
mission  is  worth  great  preparation. 

IX.  HISTORY  BY  DEPARTMENTS. 

i.  First,  attention  may  be  given  to  those  which  have  disappeared.  And 
among  these  the  first  place  is  due  to  the  medical  department.  Undoubtedly 
our  institution  owed  its  title  of  “university”  to  the  expectation  that  a medical 
department  would  begin  its  functions  at  once  and  be  followed  bv  a department 
of  law.  The  main  building  bore  distinct  traces  of  adaptation  to  the  need  of 
a medical  department.  But  it  was  found  expedient  to  accept  an  already  estab- 
lished medical  school,  a “going  concern”  in  Cleveland.  It  opened  simultane- 
ously with  the  collegiate  department.  There  were  long  struggles  to  maintain 
it  by  the  self-denying  and  capable  professors.  Hospital  facilities  were  lacking 
at  times.  For  a while  it  became  only  a summer  school.  Reorganization  was 
had  and  enlargement  of  facilities  followed.  Standard  instruction  was  given. 
Four  years  were  required  for  completing  the  course.  Some  of  Cleveland’s 
best  surgeons  were  members  of  its  faculty.  A building  for  instruction  be- 
came imperatively  necessary.  That  was  beyond  the  power  of  the  university 
at  the  time.  A change  was  acceded  to  and  the  medical  department  passed 
under  the  charter  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University.  Just  now  in  the  inter- 
ests of  each  institution  and  of  medical  education  in  general,  a union  has  been 
formed  with  the  medical  department  of  Western  Reserve  University,  long 
known  for  unusually  good  facilities  and  high  standards  of  admission.  In 
bidding  this  department  farewell  in  1895,  the  following  was  published:  “It 
has  been  impossible  for  the  university,  burdened  with  the  beginnings  of  things, 
to  occupy  any  other  than  an  almost  passive  position  toward  the  medical  de- 
partment at  Cleveland.  What  could  be  done  without  assuming  any  pecuniary 
responsibility  was  done  in  the  hope  that  the  enterprise  might  find  such  friends 
in  its  immediate  surroundings,  as  would  meet  its  needs.  * * * The  rec- 


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ord  of  the  past  twenty-six  years  has  been  an  honorable  one  for  the  university 
and  for  the  medical  faculty,  which  has  managed  to  sustain  the  entire  expenses 
of  the  department  and  to  maintain  a high  standard  of  efficiency/’ 

A second  department  has  been  discontinued — the  military.  It  opened 
under  Lieutenant  (now  Captain)  A.  C.  Sharpe  in  1883.  His  commission  to 
teach  was  renewed  and  he  remained  until  1888.  Lieutenant  Wilkinson  suc- 
ceeded him  for  two  years  and  the  instruction  ceased  in  1890.  On  the  whole, 
the  experiment  succeeded.  The  drill  was  an  effective,  mainly  out-door,  sup- 
plement to  the  gymnasium  instruction.  The  carriage  of  men  who  underwent 
the  exercises  was  strikingly  improved.  The  result  was  good  as  to  health,  as 
to  neatness,  and  as  to  the  habit  of  immediate  and  simultaneous  movement 
under  orders.  The  university  endeavored  to  administer  the  trust  implied  in 
the  appointment  of  an  officer  conscientiously,  and  favorable  reports,  we  under- 
stand. were  made  to  the  government  by  the  officers  of  inspection. 

The  post-graduate  department  opened  in  the  collegiate  year  of  1881-2. 
Doctor  Taylor,  its  originator,  was  later  its  dean.  Half  a dozen  courses  of 
advanced  work  were  laid  down  to  be  pursued  in  absentia,  but  with  a view  to 
constant  and  detailed  examination  of  the  studies  and  laboratory  work.  These 
courses  were  strengthened  from  time  to  time  until  they  seemed  to  be  full 
equivalents  for  the  work  demanded  for  similar  degrees  in  the  larger  institu- 
tions. There  were  disadvantages,  no  doubt,  connected  with  such  a plan,  but 
they  were  reduced  to  a minimum  by  great  care  in  the  selection  of  candidates 
for  these  advanced  degrees,  such  previous  preparation  being  insisted  upon  as 
made  it  reasonably  certain  that  they  could  profitably  pursue  their  studies  with 
no  further  direction  by  the  professor  in  charge  than  could  be  given  by  corre- 
spondence. The  members  enrolled  grew  beyond  expectation  and  it  was  dem- 
onstrated that  a large  class  exists  which  desires  direction  in  advanced  studies, 
but  for  which  university-residence  is  impossible.  Ministers,  teachers,  pro- 
fessors, with  a few  lawyers  and  physicians,  entered  the  lists.  Rut  finally  the 
burden  grew  too  heavy  for  the  smaller  faculty  of  that  day.  and  a sentiment 
hostile  to  all  in  absentia  study  developed  in  the  college  circles.  During  1898-9 
measures  were  taken  to  bring  the  work  to  a close.  Xo  new  candidates  were 
received  and  the  last  degrees  were  conferred  in  1903. 

2.  The  library  of  a college  is  increasingly  esteemed  as  one  of  its  most 
important  departments.  That  that  should  not  have  even  the  endowment  of  a 
single  professorship  which  underbuilds  all  the  professorships  is  a scandal — to 
say  nothing  of  the  demand  upon  the  general  fund  for  appropriations  to  meet 
current  expenses.  It  has  not  been  for  want  of  the  right  estimate  of  the 
library-function  that  Wooster  is  still  minus  a library  endowment.  Even  when 


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small,  the  library  was  diligently  used.  Housed  in  its  plain  shelves  more 
“takings’’  were  recorded  than  were  found  to  exist  in  an  institution  with  a 
sixtv-thousand-dollar  library  building.  The  four  stages  of  development  in- 
clude the  primal  donation  of  C.  S.  Bragg  (American  Book  Company,  Cincin- 
nati). That  five  thousand  dollars  attracted  other  library  fragments.  Better 
facilities  came  under  the  second  administration  with  a librarian  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  a reading  room.  The  third  stage  comes  with  the  “wings”  in  the 
third  administration.  About  1892  there  was  a separate  stack-room  and  a 
larger  reading  room  furnished  with  suitable  desks  and  the  beginning  of  better 
cataloguing.  Judge  Welker’s  important  gift  of  a complete  set  of  Congres- 
sional Records  was  hailed  with  joy,  as  were  the  contributions  from  Dr.  James 
Hoge’s  library.  The  contributions  of  the  second  president.  Doctor  Taylor, 
at  various  times,  exceed  in  number  and  value  the  gifts  of  any  other  contributor, 
Mr.  Bragg’s  excepted.  It  was  most  fitting  that  the  uplifting  gift  of  H.  C. 
Frick  should  be  the  first  bird  of  promise  in  the  fourth  administration.  That 
building,  planned  by  Ximmons  (Wooster  ’87),  is  the  classic  ornament  of  the 
whole  campus.  It  contains  all  conceivable  library  conveniences  in  its  com- 
pleted form  (1906).  As  an  initial  surprise  it  amazed  us — but  as  a complete 
l:ook-palace  it  comforts  and  reassures  us.  We  cannot  long  have  such  a cage 
without  the  birds  it  is  built  for.  The  appeal  is  now  made  in  connection  with 
the  present  strenuous  effort  for  increased  endowment  by  the  president,  to 
whose  Midas-touch  the  building  was  the  first  response.  It  is  a pleasure  to 
echo  that  appeal  here.  Let  the  benevolent  remember  scripta  manent.  Books 
are  the  waymarks  of  civilization.  I wish  it  were  possible  to  tarry  here  for 
even  brief  characterization  of  the  admirable  and  thoughtful  addresses  pro- 
nounced at  the  dedication,  including  the  eloquent  tribute  of  President  Holden 
to  the  generous  donor.  Xor  can  I stay  to  trace  the  growth  of  the  really  valu- 
able library  already  within  this  handsome  enclosure.  Professor  Xotestein 
saved  the  old  library  by  insisting  upon  its  removal  to  the  scarcely  complete 
new  building  but  a month  or  two  before  the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  old 
building.  And  he  has  been  acknowledged  generalissimo  of  the  progress  since. 
He  founded  the  mission-alcove  with  the  proceeds  ( three  hundred  dollars)  of 
a prize  won  by  his  brain  and  pen.  He  has  pushed  forward  the  Dewey  system 
of  cataloguing.  He  has  presided  over  a number  of  purchases  which  have 
given  us  many  a series  of  Poole-indexed  publications  rapidly  becoming  inac- 
cessible. Special  obligations  are  due  to  Messrs.  L.  H.  and  Solon  Severance, 
of  Cleveland,  whose  tastes  and  travels  have  led  them  to  1>e  the  largest  (almost 
the  only)  givers  of  large  sums  to  the  library-shelves.  The  whole  faculty  and 
the  whole  student-body  join  in  thanking  them.  The  accession-lists  show  over 


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thirty-four  thousand  books  as  the  total  enrollment  of  these  seried  ranks  of 
learning’s  infantry.  Excluding  duplicates  and  losses  (as  well  as  pamphlets), 
we  have  now  about  thirty  thousand  volumes.  From  October  i,  1908,  to  Sep- 
tember 30,  1909,  net  gain  was  one  thousand  three  hundred  forty-one  volumes, 
besides  six  hundred  eighty-seven  pamphlets.  Whoever  says  “library"’  in 
Wooster  says  Dr.  T.  K.  Davis,  the  honored  librarian  emeritus.  Much  as  Miss 
Bechtel  deserves  praise  for  accuracy  and  system  and  patience  and  ability  to 
make  the  library  useful  to  its  maximum,  and  much  as  we  must  gladly  acknowl- 
edge the  valuable  service  of  her  assistants,  the  meed  of  esteem  and  admiration 
must  not  be  withheld  from  him,  whose  efficient  care  (“respect  property”  e.  g.) 
and  perfect  knowledge  of  the  library’s  resources  all  along  its  growth  have 
furnished  just  the  aid  required  in  the  studies  and  general  culture  of  the 
student-body.  How  earnestly  he  has  endeavored  to  make  the  room  a “temple 
of  silence”  that  it  might  be  a temple  of  thought  also.  What  a brave  fight  he 
has  made  for  the  elusive  intellectual  as  against  the  intrusive  emotional ! Many 
generations  of  students  rise  up  to  call  him  blessed. 

3.  A third  specific  work  is  that  of  the  preparatory  department.  At  the 
close  of  the  first  collegiate  year  order  was  taken  by  the  board,  through  the 
executive  committee  and  the  faculty,  for  the  organization  of  a sub-freshman 
class.  This  resulted  in  the  whole  department  which  entered  upon  its  work 
with  the  opening  of  1872-3  and  was  cordially  approved  at  the  close  of  that 
year  by  the  board.  The  dangers  of  such  an  experiment  were  fully  appreciated 
and  wisely  guarded  against  from  the  beginning  and  high  standards  were  in- 
sisted upon  which  have  brought  their  reward  ever  since.  The  Rev.  J.  A.  I. 
Lowes,  an  experienced  superintendent  of  schools,  was  the  first  principal.  De- 
tails of  subsequent  history  may  be  omitted,  save  to  mention  that  some  of  our 
best  professors  did  their  first  work  in  this  department  and  thereby  earned 
their  promotion.  Miss  E.  Pendleton,  A.  M.,  deserves  the  greatest  esteem  for 
having  contributed  to  and  conserved  the  best  spirit  of  the  department  since 
1889.  Adjunct  professor  of  English  since  1901.  An  epoch  arrived  with  the 
principalship  of  J.  H.  Dickason.  In  1895  he  became  instructor  and  temporary 
principal.  In  1896  he  was  made  principal  and  adjunct  professor  of  Latin 
and  given  a seat  in  the  faculty.  Progress  in  all  directions  has  been  constantly 
made.  Demand  arose  as  early  as  1896-7  for  a school  of  review  and  improved 
methods  for  the  teachers  of  secondary  schools.  This  has  resulted  in  the  pres- 
ent permanent  arrangement  for  pedagogical  instruction  in  this  department. 
An  earlier  demand  ( 1897)  was  perceived  for  a commercial  department.  After 
various  experiments  this,  too,  has  found  a safe  and  permanent  lodgment  in  the 
academy  with  excellent  appointments  and  a varied  curriculum.  As  early  as 
ten  years  ago  a full  four  years’  course  was  provided  with  such  variations  in 


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the  curriculum  as  make  the  department  eminently  serviceable,  even  for  those 
who  do  not  expect  to  pursue  the  higher  education.  The  very  first  class  under 
the  new  arrangement  graduated  twenty-five.  It  is  believed  that  the  courses 
now  offered  “present  as  valuable  and  compact  groups  of  four  years  of  study 
as  can  be  selected."  Experienced  instructors  only  are  employed.  Credit  is 
accepted  from  high  schools.  Reports  are  made  three  times  a year  to  parents. 
“Helping  hours'"  are  provided  for  those  who  “show  marked  need  of  super- 
vision/" and  thus  better  habits  of  study  are  attained.  The  latest  catalogue 
shows  two  hundred  and  eight,  not  counting  those  in  the  commercial  course. 
The  department's  ideal  is  the  first-class  New  England  Academy.  That  ideal 
is  elementary  thoroughness  and  accuracy,  as  determining  the  student’s  future 
success.  The  equipment  of  the  academy  in  Taylor  Hall  is  believed  to  lie 
superior  to  any  similar  department  in  connection  with  any  college.  German 
is  the  only  language  from  the  first  lesson  in  that  tongue.  The  academy  gradu- 
ates easily  find  employment  as  teachers.  In  the  college-life  the  sophomore 
prizes,  in  the  proportion  of  nineteen  out  of  twenty-six  students,  have  gone  to 
those  prepared  in  the  academy.  Senior  honor-men  and  oratorical  and  debat- 
ing honors  show  the  same  results. 

4.  The  summer  school  comes  naturally  next.  Its  beginnings  are  (rela- 
tively) ancient.  The  modest  arrangement  of  1876  was  designed  to  give 
“students  the  opportunity  to  bring  up  studies  in  which  they  were  deficient.'* 
Twenty  students  were  enrolled.  Fourteen  of  these  are  classified  elsewhere  in 
the  catalogue  and  the  summer  school  contingent,  pure  and  simple,  was  just 
six.  The  purposes  declared  in  catalogue  of  1879  were  more  complex.  (1) 
For  teachers;  (2)  for  those  below  entrance  standard;  (3)  for  those  less  pro- 
ficient in  their  classes;  (4)  for  the  winter-school  teachers;  (5)  for  conditioned 
collegians.  The  president,  assisted  by  “a  select  corps  of  teachers,"  was  put  in 
charge.  In  1883-4,  Professor  John  Boyd  took  care  of  the  school.  Professor 
James  Wallace  followed  in  1884-5  with  emphasis  on  making  up  college  de- 
ficiencies. Thus  it  went  on  with  varying  success  and  small  numbers — Prof. 
John  G.  Black  being  mostly  responsible  for  the  management.  In  1893-4  cata- 
logue, fifty-three  enrollments  are  reported.  In  1896  J.  H.  Dickason  joined 
Professor  Black  and  special  work  for  teachers  in  preparation  for  examina- 
tions or  positions  was  undertaken.  That  was  the  need  to  be  met.  It  has  proved 
a veritable  foundation  of  sweet  waters — a sort  of  artesian  well.  Lectures 
were  provided  in  1897  an(l  aims  more  fully  advertised.  One  hundred  forty 
were  in  attendance.  In  1898.  two  hundred  were  reported.  The  next  year 
(Dickason  and  Sauvain.  principals)  the  number  rose  to  two  hundred  eighty- 
three. 

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In  1900  the  special  imprimatur  of  the  hoard  of  trustees  was  put  upon 
the  growing  enterprise  “as  an  invaluable  adjunct  to  the  educational  forces  of 
the  institution/’  Use  of  buildings  was  formally  granted  and  an  annual  re- 
port to  the  board’s  winter-meeting  suggested.  By  the  betterment  of  each 
year’s  temporary  faculty  and  vigorous  use  of  all  methods  of  making  known 
the  attractions  of  the  place,  the  patronage  was  steadily  increased  until  it 
reached  and  just  passed  the  mark  of  a thousand  enrollments  for  this  year 
(1910).  The  university  buildings  are  overtaxed  and  the  city  authorities  allot 
a neighboring  school  house.  The  busiest  of  educational  centres  during  the 
eight  weeks  is  here.  Reviews  for  examination,  studies  in  methods,  sciences 
(mental,  social  and  natural),  mathematics,  history,  languages,  all  are  pursued 
with  prompt  vigor.  Besides  all  the  regular  work  there  are  chapel  hours  with 
ringing  addresses,  and  “round-table”  conferences,  with  the  accompaniment 
of  clicking  type-writers  and  hammer-blows  in  the  manual  training  and  the 
ripple  of  musical  fingers  and  the  songs  of  choral  singing  and  the  competitive 
struggle  of  orators;  to  say  nothing  of  the  wit  and  wisdom  of  the  high-class 
lecturers  or  the  wild  yells  of  the  ball  ground  or  the  fearfully  early  excursions 
of  the  nature  students,  or  the  savory  odors  of  the  domestic-science  department. 

Much  of  the  work  is  elementary,  but  some  of  it  counts,  according  to  strict 
regulations,  on  college  credits  and  even  for  the  Master’s  degree.  The  admir- 
able location,  the  well-adapted  buildings,  the  co-operation  of  the  university 
faculty,  the  enthusiasm  of  members,  the  impulse  of  practical  values,  the  com- 
parison of  experiences,  the  ample  library  and  the  very  brevity  of  the  flying 
weeks;  all  tend  to  make  the  summer  school  a scene  of  intense  life  and  fruitful 
endeavor.  Yet  variety  and  recreation  are  so  wisely  intermingled  with  stimu- 
lus and  exertion  that  the  whole  effect  is  refreshing  rather  than  exhausting  and 
cannot  but  tell  powerfully  on  the  general  level  of  the  teaching  force  of  the 
state.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  marked  success  of  Wooster’s  summer 
school  has  incited  so  many  like  enterprises  that  the  good  custom  has  now  be- 
come well-nigh  universal.  A markedly  successful  feature  is  found  in  the 
helpful  teachers’  agency  by  the  arrangements  of  which  positions  are  secured, 
the  salaries  of  which  aggregate  something  beyond  half  a million ! The  genial 
Superintendent  Dickason  is  known  throughout  the  state  and  not  only  finds  his 
wav  to  institutes  and  other  meetings  of  teachers,  but  sends  them,  through  all 
avenues,  a literature  of  penetrating  freshness  and  homely  wit  and  of  convic- 
tions that  are  convincing. 

5.  The  University  of  Wooster  was  early  convinced  of  the  dignity  and 
value  of  music  and  art  as  instruments  of  culture  and  character.  The  way 
was  found  open  for  something  of  art  work  almost  from  the  very  beginning  of 


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the  second  administration  (1873).  Drawing  for  the  preparatory  department 
and  some  mechanical  draughting  for  the  collegiate  were  introduced.  Special- 
ized work  seems  to  have  begun  in  the  year  1875  under  the  intelligent  care  of 
Miss  Louise  Stoddard.  Miss  Josephine  Ormond  (now  Mrs.  Calder)  took 
charge  in  1884  and  1885,  notably  extending  the  course.  Miss  Emma  Sonne- 
decker  (now  Mrs.  Spencer)  presided  from  i892-’96,  following  Miss  Nellie 
Coover,  i887-’9i.  Since  the  installation  of  Miss  Claribel  Durstine  (1896)  the 
scope  of  the  instruction  has  been  enlarged,  additional  facilities  have  been  pro- 
vided in  the  new  buildings,  and  the  department  has  been  recognized  in  college 
credits,  and  as  furnishing  electives  when  the  literature  of  the  subjects  is  com- 
bined with  the  practice  of  the  various  arts.  It  is  increasingly  useful  and  at- 
tractive. 

The  musical  department  was  opened  in  1882.  Doctor  Taylor  saw  his 
opportunity  to  engage  in  it  Dr.  Karl  Merz,  already  a teacher,  writer  and 
editor  of  great  reputation  in  Ohio  and  elsewhere  in  the  United  States.  Karl 
Merz  (the  simple  dignity  of  history  most  befits  him)  was  born  in  Germany  and 
at  first  dedicated  to  the  priesthood.  At  the  age  of  about  eighteen  he  broke 
away  from  that  purpose  and  came  to  Philadelphia  where  he  began  at  once  his 
career  as  organist  and  teacher.  At  first  violently  Romanist  in  conviction  (so 
much  so  as  to  tear  out  of  a volume  presented  to  him  by  his  pupils  the  portrait 
and  history  of  Luther),  he  finally  became  an  equally  earnest  Protestant  Chris- 
tian. “When  I had  experienced/'  he  said,  “the  lightning  of  the  Gospel  I 
understood  the  thunder  of  Luther."  He  would  have  devoted  himself  at  once 
to  the  ministry  but  for  the  advice  of  his  trusted  friend,  Dr.  O.  N.  Stoddard. 
Both  were  then  in  Oxford,  Ohio.  It  is  significant  of  his  integrity  that  when 
in  1871  the  present  writer,  representing  the  Pennsylvania  College  for  Women, 
sought  to  disengage  him  for  a much  more  lucrative  position,  he  refused  be- 
cause of  a pledge  given  to  the  proprietor  of  the  female  college  in  which  he  had 
charge  of  the  department  of  music.  At  the  golden  moment  when  release  had 
come,  Wooster  was  fortunate  enough  and  Doctor  Taylor  venturesome  and 
wise  enough  to  secure  his  services.  The  board  would  only  approve  the  plan 
provided  that  “music  should  not  be  made  a part  of  the  regular  course  and  that 
the  instruction  be  self-sustaining."  But,  with  Karl  Merz  at  the  oar  success 
was  certain.  He  was  not  only  well  and  favorably  known  but  a tireless  worker 
and  a man  of  many  resources  and  much  ingenuity  in  their  employment.  From 
the  beginning  the  elevated  views  of  this  remarkable  man  were  accepted  and 
cherished  with  enthusiasm  by  his  pupils,  by  the  university  circle  and  by  the 
whole  community.  Frequent  public  expression  was  given  to  these  views. 
Perhaps  as  satisfactory  a quotation  as  any  may  be  made  from  words  of  the 


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present  writer,  published  in  1895,  anc^  showing  the  permanency  of  the  first  im- 
pressions : “Music  will  not  be  taught  merely  as  an  ornamental  accomplishment* 
but  as  part  of  a complete  education.  It  has  been  placed  upon  an  equality  with 
other  selective  studies.  The  literary  atmosphere  of  the  university  ought  to 
stimulate  the  development  of  musical  culture  and  should  receive  a certain 
warmth  from  its  presence.  The  school  of  music  is  organized  with  a four-fold 
purpose:  (1)  To  combine  musical  and  literary  studies  as  a broad  basis  for 

regular  collegiate  work.  ( 2)  to  use  the  art  of  music  as  a means  of  intellectual, 
aesthetic  and  moral  culture:  (3)  to  furnish  instruction  in  all  branches  of  music 
to  special  and  general  students:  (4)  to  educate  teachers  of  music/* 

Karl  Merz  interested  the  public  first  by  lectures  on  the  Saturday  after- 
noons, accompanied  with  performance  by  pupils.  Then,  as  numbers  grew,  he 
yielded  to  persuasion  and  entered  upon  the  series  of  oratorio  concerts  which 
has  been  continued  to  this  day  and  which  has  resulted  in  distinct  education  and 
elevation  of  musical  taste  and  feeling  in  our  entire  community.  As  early  as 
1888  there  were  two  hundred  and  sixty  names  enrolled.  One  of  the  most 
interesting  efforts  was  called  “a  musical  trip  around  the  world*’  in  which,  in 
successive  afternoons,  primitive  music  and  national  anthems  and  customs  were 
illustrated  and  explained.  One  said  of  a certain  Palestrina  concert,  given  in  a 
series  upon  epochs  of  musical  development : “Only  in  Wooster  coufd  such  a 

programme  be  heard.”  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Music  was  conferred,  I think, 
in  1885.  His  salary  was  increased.  He  was  made  a member  of  the  faculty 
and  the  hope  was  expressed  “that  he  may  not  be  disturbed  in  his  position  by 
any  flattering  offers  but  may  continue  at  the  head  of  our  musical  department 
which  owes  its  advanced  position  and  remarkable  success  so  largely  to  his 
masterly  management  and  rare  devotion/' 

When  he  called  my  attention  to  a specially  complimentary  notice  by  the 
editor  of  a Philadelphia  musical  journal  (The  Etude ,)  he  added  sadly:  “But 
this  all  comes  too  late.  It  is  the  swan’s  song.”  Strangely  enough,  it  was  but 
a few  months  thereafter  that  he  was  snatched  away  from  us.  Let  me  quote 
here  the  language  Qf  the  minute  I submitted  to  the  board,  in  June.  1890 — 
after  his  death  on  January  30th  of  that  year.  “ * * * We  regard  it 
alike  our  duty  and  privilege  to  put  thus  upon  record  for  those  who  come  after 
us,  our  vivid  appreciation  of  the  divine  favor  in  having  given  Professor  Merz 
to  the  university  to  leave  the  stamp  of  his  elevating  and  refining  and  religious 
influence  upon  the  important  work  to  which  he  gave  himself.  He  was  a thor- 
ough artist,  deeply  learned  in  the  literature  of  his  art,  a tireless  worker,  a 
brilliant  editor,  gentle  and  winning  in  his  address,  the  truest  of  friends,  the 
fondest  of  fathers,  and  a thoroughly  devout  and  consistent  Christian.  It  is 


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our  fervent  prayer  that  the  department  may  preserve  forever  the  impression 
of  his  cultivated  taste,  his  unwearied  industry  and  his  devout  piety.” 

Dr.  Henry  Hubert  Haas  remained  but  one  year  and  proved  a contrast  to 
his  predecessor  in  several  important  respects.  But  he  was  an  excellent  teacher 
of  the  piano. 

The  University  called  home  from  his  studies  in  Germany  one  of  its 
own  graduates,  a favorite  pupil  of  Karl  Merz — D.  F.  Conrad  (class  of  *86). 
His  work  from  1891-3  was  most  eminently  satisfactory.  He  was  skillful, 
prompt  and  faithful.  Further  study  lured  him  away  again  to  Germany 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  J.  Byron  Oliver,  who  continued  in  office  until 
removed  by  death  in  January,  1905.  Time  enough  has  passed  to  disclose 
the  many  aspects  of  character  and  talent  for  which  Director  Oliver  deserves 
to  he  held,  as  he  is  held,  in  affectionate  remembrance  among  us.  He  grew 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  in  general  culture.  He  proved  to  be 
an  excellent  conductor  of  the  oratorio  chorus  and  brought  out  the  old  and 
the  new  successfully.  He  was  permitted  to  install  the  small  first  organ 
and,  after  the  fire,  to  direct  the  construction  of  the  great  instrument  with 
which  Mrs.  Livingstone  Taylor  indowed  the  department  and  the  chapel.  The 
“Singers’  Club”  gained  wide  reputation  under  his  care  and  the  “White 
Robed  Choir”  was  introduced.  As  it  was  with  Karl  Merz,  so  was  it  with 
Byron  Oliver — nothing  could  be  suffered  to  disturb  the  deep  reverence  each 
felt  for  everything  which  had  to  do  with  the  “service  of  song  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord.”  An  elaborate  minute  was  inscribed  by  the  board  of  trustees 
upon  its  record  and  a memorial  window  bears  testimony  to  the  continued 
regard  cherished  for  him.  I quote  a few  words  from  the  minute  referred  to : 
“He  was  equally  beloved  as  a teacher  and  as  a man.  He  possessed  a 
charming  personality  with  unaffected  simplicity  of  manner,  always  gentle- 
manly in  speech  and  conduct.  * * * Not  a hard  master  * * * by 

mingled  gentleness  and  persistency  * * * he  brought  forward  the  least 

promising  to  some  measure  of  creditable  achievement.  * * * His  influ- 

ence in  the  musical  education  of  the  city  was  widespread.  It  has  been  well 
said : ‘His  passion  for  the  best  things  in  his  art  has  been  communicated  to 

the  University  life,  and  has  made  us  familiar  with  the  best  products  of  con- 
secrated genius.’  ” There  were  touching  evidences  of  the  fact  that  he  “had 
won  the  warmest  place  in  the  hearts  of  all  cultivated  people  of  the  city.” 

Director  J.  L.  Erb  came  at  once  in  1905  from  a recognized  position  in 
New  York  and  has  proved  in  every  wav  worthy  of  his  eminent  predecessors. 
In  speaking  and  writing  (he  has  written  a life  of  the  celebrated  German  mu- 
sician— Brahms),  in  the  art  of  composition  and  in  that  of  conducting 


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he  has  proven  equal  to  all  the  demands  of  the  position.  The  department 
grows  in  character  as  in  numbers.  The  Conservatory  is  well  adapted  to 
its  uses  and  the  outlook  is  promising. 

Along  with  these  talented  directors  the  department  has  enjoyed  the 
services  of  many  instructors  of  rare  gifts.  Tn  piano-teaching  mention  must 
especially  be  made  of  Miss  Mary  T.  Glenn  (1898-1904),  of  Mr.  Carey  E. 
McAfee  (1895-98)  and  of  Miss  Edna  B.  Riggs — since  1901 — made  adjunct 
professor  in  1907.  In  vocal  instruction  we  were  privileged  in  the  rare  voice 
and  fine  method  of  Mrs.  Minnie  L.  (Carrothers)  McDonald  (1891-1901), 
in  the  admirable  work  of  Mrs.  Francis  E.  (Glenn)  Brewer  (1901-4),  as 
‘in  that  of  Miss  Miller  and  Mrs.  Wilson  (of  Columbus)  for  shorter  periods. 
Under  Mr.  Harrold  Hutchins  the  vocal  outlook  is  now  better  than  for  some 
years.  The  violin — a department  of  instrumental  music  we  would  gladly 
have  enlarged — has  known  the  brilliant  touch  of  Miss  Anna  M.  Hunt 
(1893-5)  anfl  the  rare  talent  of  the  virtuoso  Mrs.  Caroline  (Harter)  Wil- 
liams. and  the  sound  instruction  of  Mr.  George  F.  Schwartz,  now  presid- 
ing successfully  over  a large  department  of  music  in  the  West.  Carl  Duer- 
ringer,  the  present  teacher,  is  both  proficient  as  a performer  and  diligent 
as  a teacher.  It  is  hoped  that  a small  orchestra  can  now  be  formed. 

The  epochs  in  the  growth  of  the  department  have  been  the  inauguration 
of  the  larger  chorus  work  and  the  enlargement  of  ‘‘Old  Music  Hall”  under 
the  first  director,  for  which  the  credit  is  due  to  Dr.  O.  A.  Hills.  Then  came 
the  first  organ  (1894-5).  Then  a degree.  Bachelor  of  Music,  was  granted 
the  graduates  (but  that  was  abandoned  in  1899).  Various  extensions  and 
modifications  of  the  course  were  made  and  hvmnologv  introduced  as  a 
subject  of  study.  The  Conservatory  was  fitted  up  and  occupied,  and  then, 
after  the  fire,  came  the  great  organ  in  Memorial  Chapel.  Artists’  recitals 
have  been  given,  which  have  brought  before  the  student-body  and  the  com- 
munity some  of  the  most  distinguished  soloists  and  lecturers  of  the  country. 
Glee  clubs  for  men  and  for  women  receive  constant  attention.  There  is  also 
a University  hand,  which  has  been  maintained  with  greater  interest  since 
the  gift  of  a superb  set  of  instruments  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Frick.  The  department 
is  now  fairly  abreast,  in  its  personnel  and  equipment,  of  its  original  ideal. 
It  remains  for  the  University’s  constituency  to  give  it  sufficient  patronage 
and  it  will  soon  equal  any  similar  department  in  an  educational  institution. 
Nothing  more  would  he  needed  to  establish  that  conclusion  than  to  know  what 
underlies  the  following  ( partial)  list  of  special  talent  found  in  the  graduate 
list:  Miss  Florida  (Parsons')  Stevens  (now  teacher  and  piano-virtuoso 

of  Chicago)  1889:  Mrs.  Tda  (Speer)  Coan  (1884):  D.  F.  Conrad  ( i88f>)  : 


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Miss  Alice  M.  Firestone  (piano,  ’87,  organ,  ’05)  ; Miss  Bessie  Merz  (now 
teaching  in  New  York)  1887;  Emmanuel  C.  Zartman  (now  presiding  over 
the  department  of  music  at  Tiffin,  Ohio)  ; Miss  Anna  E.  Hunt  (piano  and 
violin,  ’88)  ; Benjamin  Welty  (1890 — head  of  a department  in  the  West); 
Carey  E.  McAfee  and  Reno  Meyer  (classmates  1891);  Miss  Elizabeth  R. 
Speer  (1892)  ; Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Beer  (now  one  of  the  world’s  best  con- 
traltos) 1898;  Miss  Josephine  Cook  (1899);  Miss  Regina  Barnes  (1904); 
Miss  Ora  M.  Redett,  1906;  Miss  Dessa  Brown  (1908),  with  Messrs  Hart  and 
Keim,  recent  tenors.  Perhaps  the  most  talented  of  all  has  been  just  lost 
to  the  world,  in  which  he  promised  to  be  among  the  most  eminent  pianists, 
by  sudden  death — Ralph  E.  Plumer  (organ,  1905,  piano,  1906,  collegiate, 
1906).  In  the  near  future  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  department,  which  can  be 
made  more  useful  in  many  ways,  may  share  in  the  large  endowments  which 
seem  to  be  coming  to  the  University. 

6.  The  homes  for  missionaries  and  their  children  deserve  an  honored 
place  in  this  record.  The  crying  need  for  such  homes  as  would  offer  shelter 
and  care  and  education  to  the  children  of  missionaries,  both  of  whose  parents 
remained  at  work  in  the  foreign  field,  was  first  emphasized  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Wherry,  who  was  marooned  at  Chicago  by  the  care  of  his  family  for  some 
of  the  years  which  he  well  knew  might  be  most  fruitful  for  the  great  work 
he  had  been  compelled  to  leave  in  India.  Application  being  made  to  Mrs. 
William  Thaw,  of  Pittsburg,  for  aid  in  establishing  such  homes  elsewhere, 
she  saw  at  once  the  propriety,  the  satisfaction  to  those  on  the  firing  line,  and 
the  true  economy  of  the  proposal  for  the  church  in  the  home  land.  Prefer- 
ences already  established  for  this  University,  because  of  its  declared  Christian 
ideals,  its  distinctly  denominational  character,  its  central  position  and  the 
lower  cost  of  living  which  prevailed  here,  determined  her  to  make  a propo- 
sition conditioned  upon  the  location  at  Wooster.  The  board  of  trustees 
passed  the  following  minutes  in  June,  1892:  “The  board  recognizes  with 

great  satisfaction  the  action  of  the  executive  committee  in  consenting  to  the 
condition  on  which  the  proposal  of  Mrs.  William  Thaw  (that  generous  friend 
of  the  University  and  of  missions)  has  been  made,  viz.,  to  give  five  thousand 
dollars  to  provide  two  homes  for  the  children  of  foreign  missionaries  at 
Wooster,  fifteen  thousand  dollars  to  be  raised  in  addition,  and  to  give  five 
hundred  dollars  annually  for  five  years  to  support  the  work,  one  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  being  also  to  be  provided  yearly  for  this  purpose.  To 
the  pledge  of  free  tuition  to  the  children  in  these  homes  the  board  freely 
consents.”  The  properties  cost,  with  the  necessary  additions  and  modifica- 
tions, over  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Some  contributions  must  still  be  made 


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in  the  wav  of  maintenance.  ‘‘Each  child  cost  the  Homes,  for  maintenance 
alone/’  says  the  report  of  last  year,  “four  dollars  and  forty-four  cents  per 
week,  while  the  amount  received  per  week  for  each  child’s  board  and  home 
privileges  is  three  dollars,  twenty-seven  and  one-half  cents.  This  weekly 
deficit  was  met  by  interest  on  endowment  funds  [the  endowment  is  small] 
and  by  contributions  from  friends.  The  fiscal  year  closed  without  a debt.” 
The  inmates  of  these  homes  are  in  all  stages  of  education  from  primary 
grades  to  university  seniors.  The  Westminster  family  (for  girls  and  very 
young  hoys)  represented  last  year  “thirteen  different  homes  and  nine  dif- 
ferent countries.”  In  the  Livingstone  home  were  “nine  college  men,  eight 
preparatory  boys  and  three  little  boys  in  grammar  grades.”  It  is  evident  at 
a glance,  without  and  within,  that  these  homes  mean  comfort  and  kindly 
care,  tempered  with  only  such  control  as  is  necessary  for  the  safeguarding 
of  mutual  interest  and  happiness.  The  health  record  is  most  gratifying.  Not 
a single  death  at  either  of  the  homes  has  occurred  among  the  one  hundred 
and  fifty  who  have  been  sheltered  in  them  since  1893.  The  whole  history  of 
these  seventeen  years  has  been  one  of  blessing,  and  many  grateful  as  well 
as  anxious  hearts  are  turned  toward  these  homes  from  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
They  are  not  local  institutions.  They  are  the  property  of  our  whole  de-- 
nomination  through  its  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  and  they  are  its  only 
property  serving  this  noble  purpose.  The  University  redeems  its  pledge  of 
free  tuition  and  the  church  in  general  is  providing  slowly  sufficient  perma- 
nent scholarships  to  enable  the  institution  to  meet  this  expenditure.  Main- 
tenance of  the  homes  is  an  entirely  separate  matter.  “No  money  given  to 
the  University  goes  to  the  maintenance  of  the  homes,  or  vice  versa.”  The 
best  evidence  of  the  divine  pleasure  in  this  enterprise  is  found  in  the  number 
of  these  sons  and  daughters  of  missionaries  who  have  returned  or  are  pre- 
paring to  return  to  foreign  fields,  and  generally  to  that  one  in  which  they 
were  born.  These  homes  mean  much  to  those  for  whom  inevitable  separa- 
tion from  their  children  must  always  prove  one  of  the  sharpest  trials  asso- 
ciated with  their  obedience  to  the  “great  commission.” 

Congenial  to  the  work  just  considered,  and  as  a kind  of  sequent,  there  has 
arisen  a desire  to  provide  for  missionaries  on  furlough  so  that  their  years 
of  reinvigoration  might  be  spent  with  their  families  about  them  in  the  locality 
in  which  their  children  were  being  educated.  The  first  of  these  comfortable 
houses  given  to  meet  this  need  was  presented  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Mather,  of 
Cleveland,  and  bears  the  name  of  the  “Julia  Gleason  Home,”  in  memory  of 
the  donor's  venerated  mother.  Mrs.  Mather's  unexpected  death  last  year 
was  recorded  with  sincerest  grief  by  the  board  of  trustees  in  a minute  em- 
phasizing “its  profound  appreciation  of  her  1>eautiful  character,  her  many 


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and  generous  sacrifices  for  this  institution  and  her  sincere  loyalty  to  every- 
thing it  represents.  * * * She  was  like  her  blessed  Master.  * * * We  cherish 
her  memory  as  sacred/’  L.  H.  Severance,  in  his  recent  journey  through 
the  Orient,  had  occasion  to  notice  yet  more  carefully  than  before  the  “anxiety 
of  the  missionaries  about  to  leave  for  America  on  furlough”  and  was  moved 
to  provide  two  additional  dwellings  for  the  special  purpose  of  allaying  that 
anxiety.  One  of  them  is  called  the  “Juliana  Long  Home,”  after  his  grand- 
mother, the  wife  of  Cleveland’s  earliest  physician.  The  other  is  named  for 
Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Adams,  “the  first  lady  missionary  sent  out  by  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Cleveland. ’’  Other  dwellings  will  the  more  certainly  be  provided 
localise  a noble  woman  has  purchased  the  requisite  site  for  two  or  more  and 
has  conveyed  it  to  the  University  to  await  the  building  thereon  bv  some  one 
who  shared  the  purchaser’s  enthusiasm. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  most  of  the  pressure  toward  the 
provisions  just  noted  exists  in  full  force  for  home  missionaries  and  their 
children.  The  University  asks  respectfully  the  same  for  each  and  more  for 
both. 

7.  The  Florence  H.  Severance  Bible  and  Missionary  Training  School 
was  opened  September  16,  1903.  It  was  appropriate  that  such  a school  should 
find  its  proper  attachment  to  the  Wooster  stem,  for  in  June,  1871,  at  the  close, 
that  is,  of  the  University's  first  year,  the  board  of  trustees  solemnly  recog- 
nized the  endowment  of  a chair  of  Biblical  instruction  according  to  a wish 
expressed  and  through  means  furnished  in  the  will  of  Boyd  J.  Mercer,  of 
Mansfield,  Ohio.  And  so,  early  as  1873,  d was  resolved  that  a missionary 
professor  should  be  elected  “provided  means  could  be  raised  to  meet  the 
expense,  before  the  next  meeting  of  the  board.”  When  Mr.  Louis  H.  Sever- 
ance introduced  the  proposal  it  was  immediately  resolved  that  “such  a school 
was  needed  and  that  preparations  for  opening  this  fall”  should  be  made — if  the 
expense  could  be  met.  That  was  settled  by  the  offer  of  the  same  generous 
friend  to  provide  for  the  salaries  of  two  professors  for  five  years.  In  June, 
1908,  in  a letter  to  the  board  of  deep  thoughtfulness  and  earnestness  Mr. 
Severance  requested  that  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  he  had  just  contributed  to  the  University 
should  be  set  apart  for  this  school  and  that  any  surplus  above  expenses  should 
become  a part  of  the  principal  until  the  total  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  should  be  reached.  Mr.  Severance  expressed  the  conviction 
that  the  best  way  to  bring  about  world-wide  evangelization  was  “to  strengthen 
Christian  education  to  mould  the  ruling  minds  for  successive  generations.” 
“This  work,”  he  continues,  is  fundamental  to  the  life  and  work  of  the  church. 
In  this  spirit  this  college  was  founded.  It  is  a rare  privilege  to  build  on  such  a 


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foundation  and  to  aid  in  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  the  first  board  of  trus- 
tees.” Announcing  his  conviction  that  the  only  hope  of  those  who  sit  in  dark- 
ness “is  to  hear  the  gospel  from  the  lips  of  those  that  know  the  Word  and  are 
striving  faithfully  to  live  it,”  he  could  not  but  see  that  “young  men  and  women 
of  our  Christian  colleges  are  needed  as  preachers,  teachers,  evangelists,  lay- 
workers  and  kindergarten  leaders  more  than  ever  before."  “That  such  young 
men  and  women  may  be  properly  trained  for  this  work  in  surroundings  and  at- 
mosphere meet  for  such  service,  and  that  the  work  may  go  on  for  all  time  and 
be  left  to  no  uncertainty,  I donate  to  you  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars for  the  purpose  of  establishing,  in  loving  memory  of  my  wife,  Mrs.  Flor- 
ence H.  Severance,  a permanent  endowment  fund  for  the  Florence  H.  Sever- 
ance Bible  and  Missionary  Training  School — a department  in  the  University 
of  Wooster.”  The  trust  is  being  carefully  administered  by  able  men.  Its  efifect 
is  not  confined  to  those  who  are  exclusively  connected  with  this  department. 
Its  varied  and  attractive  courses  are  elected  by  numbers  of  regular  collegiate 
students,  and  thus  the  influence  of  Bible  study  and  mission  experience,  joined 
with  study  of  fundamental  truth  and  ingenious  methods,  gains  larger  power 
constantly.  “The  infiltration  of  distinctly  religious  material  into  liberal  edu- 
cation at  Wooster  is  in  consequence  much  greater  than  seen  in  other  Christian 
colleges.  This  influence  is  further  extended  by  the  co-operation  of  other 
departments.”  (Nolan  R.  Best,  Interior,  May  19,  To).  The  work  of  the  de- 
partment appeals  to  at  least  seven  different  classes,  “(T)  Those  who  expect 
to  become  foreign  missionaries;  (2)  those  who  design  to  be  pastors’  helpers 
in  the  larger  cities;  (3)  those  who  intend  any  kind  of  city  mission  work; 
(4)  those  who  look  forward  to  being  lay  missionaries  in  the  home  field;  (5) 
those  who  desire  increased  usefulness  in  any  chosen  sphere  of  activity ; 
(6)  those  contemplating  work  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  or  Y.  W.  C.  A.  associations; 
and  (7)  students  from  foreign-speaking  communities.”  All  the  resources  of 
the  university,  so  far  as  they  can  aid  this  work,  may  be  freely  drawn  upon, 
and  its  benefits  are  diffusive  throughout  the  whole  university  community. 
Those  who  have  the  work  in  charge  are  specially  fitted  for  every  phase  of  it 
by  home  and  foreign  study  and  experience.  The  department  would  take  us 
deeper  into  the  religious  consciousness  and  progress  of  our  race  and  kindle 
sympathy  with  all  religions,  while  accenting  the  infinite  superiority  of  the 
Christian  system  and  of  God’s  holy  word. 

X.  MISCELLANY. 

Under  this  general  term  there  must  be  grouped,  with  brief  notices  of 
each,  many  matters  intimately  connected  with  the  internal  life  of  the  uni- 


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versity.  As  largely  independent  of  each  other,  it  will  matter  little  in  what 
order  they  are  presented. 

1.  The  conferment  of  honorary  degrees  has  been  in  the  past  (especially 
in  America)  a much-abused  college  function.  Judging  by  observation  and 
knowing  something  of  the  number  of  candidates  who  are  pressed  upon  boards 
of  trustees,  and  of  the  motives  of  various  kinds  which  facilitate  the  distribu- 
tion of  these  titular  ornaments,  one  is  disposed  to  reckon  the  position  of  our 
university  as  rather  conservative.  Including  1909,  there  have  been  one  hun- 
dred fifty-five  degrees  of  Doctor  of  Divinity ; forty-five  have  been  accorded  the 
Doctor  of  Laws:  twenty-three  have  received  the  Doctor  of  Philoso- 
phy ; twenty  the  Master  of  Arts  and  five  others  have  been  recognized  each  by  a 
little  used  degree.  The  total  is  two  hundred  forty-eight.  The  clergy  have 
profited  (if  it  has  been  a profit)  by  more  than  half.  I have  heard  of  no  declin- 
atures save  one.  Looking  over  the  printed  list  one  cannot  but  note  the  many 
really  eminent  men  who,  like  good  wine,  needed  “no  bush/’  and  the  number  of 
excellent  and  useful  men  whom  no  title  could  make  eminent  but  who  will  incon- 
testably have  won  at  the  great  assize  the  plaudit,  “Well  done/'  In  1898  a 
committee  of  the  board  expressed  its  opinion  concerning  the  faculty  commenda- 
tion (a  prerequisite  according  to  the  law  of  the  university)  that  “we  are  in 
danger  of  quite  too  freely  distributing  honorary  degrees.”  Later  a rule  has 
been  made  requiring  statements  by  the  faculty  as  well  as  nominations  and  that 
notification  of  the  nominations  must  be  made  at  the  February  meeting  of  the 
board  preceding  the  June  meeting  at  which  degrees  are  usually  conferred.  This 
encourages  the  hope  of  the  writer,  and  of  the  negligeable  number  of  those  who 
hold  similar  opinions,  that  the  flagrant  evil  of  honorary  degrees,  though  it  be 
now  the  age-long  practice  of  the  educational  world,  will  be  gradually  restricted 
to  those  who  have  no  need  of  it  and  so  disappear. 

2.  Interesting  as  other  evidences  of  intellectual  activity  and  moral  char- 
acter in  a student  body  may  be,  wise  observers  will  attach  great  significance  to 
the  college  publications,  especially  those  managed  mainly  or  wholly  by  students. 
In  this  respect  our  university  must  be  acknowledged  to  have  shown  enterprise 
in  the  series  reaching  through  The  Collegian  (published  by  the  literary  socie- 
ties) ; the  great  blanket-sheet  commencement  editions  (so  full  of  fine  character- 
istic material  for  detailed  history)  ; The  Voice,  early  among  college  weeklies: 
The  Christian  College  and  The  Wooster  Quarterly,  together  with  the  annual 
Index.  Two  of  these  publications  were  sustained  by  faculty  and  alumni,  as 
the  Quarterly  still  is.  Kindly  co-operation  of  faculty  and  student  organiza- 
tions created  a weekly  journal  (The  Voice)  invaluable  to  those  who  wisli  to 
keep  in  touch  with  the  college  life.  The  Quarterly  is  indispensable  as  an  in- 


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dex  of  the  higher  literary  work  of  our  graduates  and  by  its  ever-fresh  “Round- 
Table,*’  at  which  increasing  numbers  are  coming  to  be  guests.  Much  is  yet 
before  us  in  the  development  of  the  real,  but  largely  latent,  power  of  students, 
faculty  and  alumni  in  creditable  literary  work. 

3.  On  the  question  of  commencement  exercises  the  institution  has  stood 
stanchly  by  the  just  conception  that  the  graduating  class  should  form  the 
centre  of  interest.  That  day  is  their  day  and  not  to  be  given  away  to  any 
adventitious  aid  from  without.  The  men  and  women  who  have  been  receiving 
the  training  of  the  whole  plexus  of  college  forces  are  the  specimens  of  handi- 
work worth  exhibiting.  As  the  classes  grew  larger — and  as  early  as  1877 — the 
faculty  was  requested  by  the  board  to  restrict  the  speaking  to  not  over  twelve 
persons  and  to  select  these  according  to  scholarship.  Variety  has  been  intro- 
duced but  all  the  class  graduating  must  prepare  orations  and  the  questions  of 
how  many  shall  speak  and  how  they  are  to  be  selected  are  variously  disposed 
of  as  they  occur.  The  blanket-sheets  referred  to,  preserve  so  much  of  the 
real  life  of  the  university  as  expressed  at  the  great  occasion  of  the  year,  that 
it  seems  a pitv  they  could  not  have  been  preserved  and  bound  in  order.  In 
reviewing  carefully  many  of  them  I have  found  much  to  admire  in  the  subjects 
chosen,  the  treatment  given  them,  the  constant  evidence  of  wide-awakedness  on 
the  substantial  issues  of  the  time  and  even  in  the  innocent  prodding  of  the 
prophets  and  the  affectionate  ( ?)  advice  of  the  retiring  ( ?)  seniors  to  the 
juniors  whom  they  affected  to  believe  were  patterns  of  all  they  ought  not  to 
be.  As  for  stingless  and  good-natured  college  pasquinades,  I would  say  again 
that  I have  seen  many  a youth  ripen  under  them  as  a good  apple  under  the 
sun — not  even  omitting  the  blushes. 

4.  Training  in  the  fine  art  of  expression  has  arrived  at  Wooster,  dis- 
placing the  imperfect  and  largely  artificial  thing  known  as  elocution.  There 
has  been  constant  progress  in  this  direction.  J.  C.  Sharpe  (Wooster,  ’83) 
was  efficient.  Byron  King  and  Claude  Davis  and  Miss  De  Voe  and  Chambers 
and  Strong  and  Dresser  did  good  work.  But  the  present  incumbent,  Delbert 
E.  Lean,  has  a university  professorship  to  fill  instead  of  a precarious  living  to 
make  by  private  pupils,  as  was  so  often  previously  the  case.  The  better  posi- 
tion gives  the  work  a broader  basis.  Training  for  forensic  work  of  all  kinds 
is  carried  forward  and  results  are  seen  in  the  local  and  general  contests,  and 
especially  in  the  vigor  and  power  of  the  debating  teams.  Throughout  the 
forty  years  Wooster  has  held  an  honorable  position  in  oratory  and  just  now 
seems  with  the  successful  debates  and  the  winning  work  of  our  remarkably 
intelligent  and  able  Chinaman  P.  W.  Kuo,  to  be  on  the  top  of  the  wave. 


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5.  Naturally  connected  with  public  speaking  conies  into  view  the  place 

and  power  of  the  literary  societies.  Testimonies  of  highest  character  by  most 
distinguished  men  (James  Blaine,  for  example)  give  them  highest  rank  in  prac- 
tical preparation  for  life’s  work.  They  stimulate  and  develop  the  independent 
activities  of  students ; they  bring  out  talent  and  exhibit  character ; they  teach 
poise  and  self-control;  they  sharpen  the  forensic  faculties  and  help  to  discern 
fallacies  and  to  find  the  joints  in  an  opponent’s  harness ; they  prepare  for  in- 
fluence in  all  deliberative  assemblies  by  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law ; they 
are  great  schools  for  mutual  esteem  and  fine  demonstrators  of  the  democracy 
of  talent.  It  is  a wonder  and  a disappointment  when  any  hindrance  to  supreme 
interest  in  their  work  arises.  Yet  Wooster  has  seen  a very  special  early  de- 
velopment in  this  direction  yield  to  periods  of  comparative  indifiference  and 
partial  neglect.  I regret  that  space  cannot  be  afforded  for  a careful  review 
of  the  early  planting  and  successful  operation  of  the  odd  and  hardly  under- 
stood “Alpha,”  with  the  permanent  Athenaean  and  Irving  and  Willard,  the 
Lowell  and  Lincoln,  and  the  later  Castalian  and  Orio.  In  all  of  them  good 
work  has  been  done ; but  it  remains  true  that  still  better  work,  and  that  by 
larger  numbers,  may  yet  be  done.  At  present  writing  there  seems  to  be  a dis- 
tinct revival  of  interest,  and  at  the  same  time  a considerable  energy  expended 
in  clubs  with  a literary  purpose,  together  with  “Congressional.”  of  a political 
cast,  and  the  “Peace  Association,”  with  its  wide  affiliations  and  humane  im- 
pulses. Details  cannot  be  given,  but  the  outlook  is  encouraging  along  the 
whole  line.  The  president's  report  to  the  synod  of  1909  indicates  the  faculty’s 
deep  interest  in  the  work  of  these  societies:  “In  order  to  foster  their  work. 

Friday  evening  has  been  exclusively  reserved  for  them.  The  membership  of 
these  organizations  consists  of  one  hundred  ten  men  and  one  hundred  eight 
women.” 

6.  The  system  of  prizes  and  honors  is  closely  related  to  the  literary  life 
of  the  university.  This  is  not  the  place  for  a mature  study  of  the  problem 
which  such  a system  presents  in  either  its  intellectual  or  ethical  relationship. 
But  it  may  well  be  questioned  whether  all  forms  of  competition  are  not  injuri- 
ous and  all  forms  of  co-operation  helpful  toward  the  true  social  ideals.  That 
the  higher  motives  should  rule  in  education  in  view  of  their  character-reveal- 
ing and  character-making  power,  it  seems  a truism  to  observe.  In  a Christian 
college  it  would  seem  that  all  true  ideals  should  rule  and  that  is  tantamount  to 
saying  that  delight  in  learning  for  itself;  experience  and  power  gained  in  study 
and  in  communicating  the  resulting  acquirements;  the  honor  from  without 
which  comes  from  having  done  well ; the  honor  from  within  with  which  con- 
science crowns  those  who  have  done  their  best ; the  value  of  every  exact  fact 


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as  a thought  of  God  and  a toon  to  our  race ; and  the  supreme  satisfaction  of 
having  done  all  worth  doing  under  the  Master’s  eye,  ought  to  be  found  suffi- 
cient to  arouse  the  mind,  to  fix  the  attention,  to  stir  the  emotions  and  to  de- 
termine the  will  to  serious  and  continued  endeavor.  The  last  of  these  great 
motives  or  intellectual  exertion  might  well  be  held  first  and  foremost  in  all 
institutions  which  bear  the  Christian  name.  The  time  must  come,  if  Christ’s 
kingdom  is  to  come,  when 

“Only  the  Master  shall  praise  and  only  the  Master  shall  blame. 

And  no  one  shall  work  for  money,  and  no  one  shall  work  for  fame ; 

But  each  for  the  joy  of  the  working  and  each  in  his  separate  star, 

Shall  draw  the  thing  as  he  sees  it,  for  the  God  of  things  as  they  are.’’ 

Must  we  not  have  a care  lest  by  including  the  lower  motives  we  dim  the 
power  of  the  higher,  and  open  the  way  for  the  construction  of  inferior  char- 
acter. 

However  this  may  to,  the  historian  must  record  the  fact  that  here,  too, 
Wooster  has  been  conservative.  Neither  honors  nor  prizes  are  pushed  strong- 
ly to  the  front,  though  both  exist.  They  have  existed  in  one  form  or  another 
from  the  opening  years.  Commencement  honors  have  sometimes  reached  the 
number  of  six,  though  now  there  remain  but  two.  “Sunima  cum  laude," 
“Magna  cum  laude 99  and  “Cum  laude9 * are  still  distributed.  Prizes  were  offered 
for  the  early  society  contests.  In  1875  the  graduating  class  established  the  Jun- 
ior Oratorical  prize.  In  1876  the  two  prize  scholarships  for  Sophomore  profi- 
ciency were  established  on  a foundation  provided  by  Doctor  Taylor.  The 
“trustee  prizes’’  were  continued  for  many  years  by  annual  contributions  from 
members  of  the  board  and  were  distributed  to  those  who  came  out  of  the 
preparatory  department  to  enter  the  freshman  class,  with  the  highest  grades. 
The  tost  scholar  in  approved  high  schools  may  now  receive  a scholarship. 
There  is  the  annual  prize  of  the  Oratorical  Association ; and  that  of  the  Peace 
Association,  with  the  new  Fackler  prize  for  debating  and  a prize  system  in 
the  summer  school.  As  yet  no  fellowships  have  been  established  to  he  ad- 
ministered upon  a competitive  basis. 

7.  As  compared  with  other  institutions  of  its  own  grade  Wooster’s  cus- 
toms concerning  vacations  and  holidays  may  he  styled  progressive.  The  uni- 
versity has  chosen  the  shorter  period  for  the  college  year,  and  acknowledges 
every  legal  holiday  by  suspending  all  class  exercises.  After  repeated  endeav- 
ors to  “improve”  these  holidays  nothing  is  now  done  collectively  except  in  con- 
nection with  the  ecclesiastical  holiday — the  “Day  of  Prayer  for  Colleges.”  In 


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addition  to  the  former  privileges  recent  custom  seems  to  have  established  the 
elimination  of  two  more  days  from  the  working  plan,  viz : “College  Day”  and 
the  “Friday  after  Thanksgiving.” 

8.  The  question  of  dramatic  representation,  with  or  without  the  use  of 
costumes  and  stage  accessories,  was  for  some  years  agitated.  It  reached  its 
crisis  in  connection  with  class-day  exercises  in  1897.  The  board’s  decision 
seemed  to  favor  a “more  liberal  policy,”  but  the  synod  of  that  year  congratu- 
lated the  institution  on  having  “avoided  complicity  with  the  theatre.”  A 
subsequent  action  of  the  board,  waiving  discussion,  expressed  “approval  of  the 
action  of  the  faculty  in  the  matter  relegated  to  it  by  the  decision  of  the  synod,” 
and  hoped  that  “the  faculty  may  be  united  in  maintaining  the  university’s  high 
standing  as  to  the  subject-matter  of  this  part  of  their  report.”  The  faculty 
subsequently  (I  think  in  1899)  took  action  of  a different  character  and  for  the 
last  decade  dramatic  representations  have  been  freely  employed  by  the  classes 
and  literary  societies  under  supervision  of  a “Committee  on  Public  Occasion.” 
No  objection  has  been  made,  so  far  as  known  to  the  writer,  either  by  the 
trustees  or  the  synod  and  the  policy  of  the  institution  would  seem  to  have  been 
permanently  changed  in  the  liberal  direction. 

9.  Physical  culture  has  been  growing  in  favor  as  an  essential  in  a full- 
orbed  education  for  many  years — especially  as  the  English-speaking  world  has 
come  to  realize  the  beneficial  effects  of  Father  Jahn’s  Turncxercise  in  Germany. 
The  gymnasium  came  to  be  a marked  feature  in  college  equipment.  It  was 
realized  for  Wooster  in  1872  so  far  as  the  building  was  concerned.  In  1873-4 
the  furniture  was  added  and  work  begun.  The  board  recognized  this  as  an 
“occasion  of  marked  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  university”  and  the  students 
expected  good  results  from  the  practice  and  instruction.  The  out-door  sports 
seemed  to  be  arranging  themselves  in  a natural  and  easy  manner.  But  there 
began  to  be  felt  the  pressure  for  intercollegiate  and  competitive  games  with 
organized  teams  and  the  accompanying  enthusiasm.  The  existing  executive 
tried  dissuasion,  but  in  vain.  The  requisite  permission  was  given  by  the 
faculty  and  the  experiment  begun.  In  the  Commencement  Reporter  of  June, 
1888,  large  headlines  proclaim  the  success  of  the  intercollegiate  system: 
“Wooster  Downs  the  Other  Colleges”  was  conspicuously  printed.  The  trial 
term's  success  and  the  “determined  stand  taken  by  the  students  during  the  win- 
ter term”  had  been  the  means  of  “arousing  a college-spirit  to  which  Wooster 
has  been  long  unaccustomed.”  The  students  “realized  the  necessity  of  such 
contests  as  a stimulus  to  athletics  in  general  and  as  foci  on  which  could  be  con- 
centrated the  attention  and  interest  of  the  boys  as  students  of  the  same  college, 
pitting  their  strength  and  skill  against  those  of  other  colleges.  Our  faculty 


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evinced  a ready  spirit  to  enter  in  and  give  the  matter  a fair  test.  * * * 

What  has  been  the  result  ? Can  any  one  doubt  that  the  experiment  has  been 
crowned  with  success  ?”  It  is  declared  that  Wooster  had  probably  the 
champion  college-team  of  the  state  and  that  “no  noticeable  detriment”  had 
come  to  intellectual  work,  but  rather  the  contrary.  “Above  all  there  has  been 
infused  through  the  college  the  belief  that  there  is  something  complete  and 
permanent  in  the  ties  that  bind  the  students  to  their  Alma  Mater,  that  as  en- 
thusiastic upholders  of  the  university  we  are  to  meet  and  vanquish,  if  possible, 
all  competitors  on  the  oratorical  platform  and  on  the  athletic  field,  that  when 
we  have  long  severed  our  relations  to  college  life  we  will  find  our  memories 
clinging  around  our  hard-fought  struggles  as  salient  points  in  the  routine  of 
our  student-life/’  Assurance  is  felt  that  the  faculty  will  “enlarge  the  privi- 
leges of  the  athletic  association.  And  on  the  students’  side  it  can  be  pledged 
that  the  privileges  granted  will  be  used  cautiously  and  honorably.’' 

Thus  commenced  what  in  college  parlance  is  called  “Athletics.”  in  the 
University  of  Wooster.  But  difficulties  arose  and  faculty  conditions  were 
not  always  respected.  In  1890  the  board  of  trustees  appointed  a committee 
“to  study  the  whole  subject  of  intercollegiate  athletics  and  report  next  year.*' 
In  June,  1891.  that  committee  reported  and  asked  to  be  discharged  “in  view 
of  the  fact  that  intercollegiate  athletic  contests,  so  far  as  this  university  is  con- 
cerned, have  been  abolished  by  the  faculty.”  Further  action  at  the  same  meet- 
ing is  recorded  as  follows:  “Recognizing  the  value  of  physical  culture  and 

encouraging  all  proper  methods  of  promoting  it  in  connection  with  mental 
training,  we  yet  approve  of  the  action  of  the  faculty  in  regard  to  intercolle- 
giate athletic  contests,  because  of  the  loss  of  time  and  of  interest  in  study  and 
the  danger  of  demoralization  involved  in  them.” 

Discontent  with  this  decision  was  expressed  variously,  but  there  seemed 
reason  to  believe  that  Wooster's  conservative  constituency  thought  the  struggle 
worth  while,  and  acquiescence  seemed  to  be  gaining  for  some  years.  The 
gymnasium  was  improved  and  an  athletic  field  provided  just  beside  it  ( for 
inter-class  games  of  all  kinds)  at  considerable  expense  and  the  sacrifice  of 
about  one  hundred  fine  specimens  of  that  “grove  of  native  oaks”  which  the 
catalogues,  for  so  long  a period,  never  forgot  to  mention. 

In  1895  synod  met  at  Wooster  and  urgent  petitions  were  presented, 
but  that  body  sustained  the  faculty  and  trustees.  In  June,  1897.  board 
adopted  the  report  of  a committee  which,  after  mentioning  certain  gratifying 
circumstances,  contained  this  sentence : “The  commotion  over  intercollegiate 
games  has  subsided  and  the  question  may  be  regarded  as  satisfactorily  and 
safely  settled.’' 

But  during  the  winter  of  1899-1900  the  faculty  reversed  this  finding  and 


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the  board  in  June,  1900,  recorded  the  following  minute:  “The  action  of  the 
faculty  in  annulling  the  prohibition  of  intercollegiate  games  and  the  measures 
taken  by  them  to  so  regulate  the  sports  as  to  keep  both  the  plays  and  the  play- 
ers within  due  bounds,  and  in  conformity  with  the  aims  and  purposes  of  a 
Christian  university,  is  commended  and  approved.”  Financial  aid  was  granted 
in  1901  and  1902  and  an  addition  made  to  the  incidental  fee  in  order  to  meet 
the  increasing  expenses  of  the  intercollegiate  system.  The  board,  in  1902, 
considers  the  “present  method  of  guarding  and  guiding  the  athletic  interests 
of  the  university’’  as  “wisely  devised  and  successfully  administered.  The 
growth  of  interest  in  this  subject  seems  to  be,  on  the  whole,  in  a healthful  direc- 
tion.” Further  and  larger  grants  in  aid  have  since  been  made  and  a report 
is  regularly  presented  to  the  synod  as  to  the  year’s  history  on  the  arena ; and  at- 
tention is  called  to  the  endeavor  to  secure  a fair  class-standing  for  those  who 
compose  the  teams. 

A comparatively  recent  order  restores  gymnastic  enrollment,  examina- 
tions. and  practice  to  a proportion  of  attention  more  just  to  their  fundamental 
importance.  Regular  class-work  is  required  from  November  first  to  May 
15th.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  connection  with  the  competitive  games, 
to  encourage  clean  play  and  courtesy  toward  opponents.  And  no  Thanks- 
giving Day  contests  have  been  permitted.  Per  contra,  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  with  a considerable  number  of  students  and  in  all  colleges  of  the  land,  the 
relative  importance  attached  to  athletics  is  disproportionate;  that  the  system 
is  artificial  enough  to  create  a new  group  of  expenses — the  more  undesirable 
because  the  legitimate  expenditures  of  the  college  and  of  the  student  continue 
to  increase.  Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  ameliorations  of  certain  objectionable 
(not  to  say  brutal)  conditions  of  the  game  of  foremost  interest  have  not 
been 'made  by  the  faculties  and  trustees  of  our  colleges  (too  many  of  whom 
apologized  for  and  accepted  these  conditions)  except  in  response  to  convic- 
tions and  demands  of  a public  not  under  the  influence  of  the  glamour  which 
college-relations  have  thrown  about  these  fierce  competitions. 

10.  The  question  of  fraternities  (including  sororities)  has  produced  in 
many  institutions  of  higher  learning  (and  recently  in  secondary  schools)  con- 
siderable agitation.  Some  institutions  foster  them  and  claim  to  find  them 
beneficial.  Others,  as  the  United  Presbyterian,  Westminster,  Oberlin  and 
Princeton,  have  excluded  them  and  evince  no  disposition  to  introduce  them. 
They  do  not  exist  in  the  Roman  Catholic  colleges,  as  far  as  I know.  They 
do  not  much  resemble  the  different  “corps”  of  a German  university.  In 
Wooster  they  were  formed,  five  of  them,  in  the  first  administration  (1871-3). 
Others  have  been  founded  later.  No  detailed  history  can  be  attempted  here. 

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But  opposition  seemed  to  develop  at  once.  The  record  of  June,  1873, 
shows  that  “a  petition  of  fourteen  alumni  to  suppress  secret  societies  was  pre- 
sented by  Doctor  Taylor  and  was  referred  to  a committee.”  That  committee’s 
report  was  unanimously  adopted,  as  follows : “This  board  agrees  with  the 

general  sentiments  of  the  petitioners  in  regard  to  the  workings  of  college  fra- 
ternities, but  does  not  at  present  see  the  way  clear  to  enact  any  prohibitory 
statute  on  the  subject.  We  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the  deliberate  considera- 
tion of  the  faculty  and  recommend  that — as  a faculty — they  open  a friendly- 
correspondence  with  the  faculties  of  other  universities  and  colleges,  with  a 
view  to  regulating  and,  if  possible,  suppressing  them.”  In  June,  1876,  Doc- 
tor Taylor  reported  a petition  from  members  of  the  preparatory  department 
for  abolition  of  secret  societies  in  the  university.  After  discussion  a com- 
mittee reported  a minute  “in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the  discussion.”  It 
reads  thus : “While  the  board  does  not  deem  it  necessary  to  enact  a prohibi- 
tory ordinance,  they  are  constrained  to  give  it  as  their  deliberate  judgment, 
drawn  both  from  experience  and  observation,  that  secret  societies  in  colleges 
are  of  no  permanent  advantage  but  a positive  injury.  They  distract  attention 
from  legitimate  literary  duties,  cultivate  a spirit  of  insubordination,  produce 
alienations  among  students  and  are  a waste  of  time,  money  and  energy.  We 
therefore  earnestly  advise  the  students  of  the  university  to  refrain  from  any 
connection  with  these  fraternities,  and  the  president  is  hereby  requested  to  make 
known  this  judgment  of  the  board  at  the  opening  of  each  collegiate  year.” 
The  subject  came  again  under  consideration  in  June.  1889.  Recognizing  the 
fact  that  “great  prudence  and  sagacity  are  required  in  dealing  with  questions 
arising  out  of  the  relations  of  Greek  fraternities  to  the  university,”  the  board 
resolves  “that  a committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  study  the  whole  subject,  to 
report  at  the  next  meeting  and  that  the  faculty  be  requested  to  consider 
whether  any  arrangement  can  be  made  bv  which  the  meetings  of  fraternities 
can  be  held  in  rooms  of  the  university  building  and  the  other  places  of  meet- 
ing abandoned.”  This  committee  reported  progress  a year  later  and  was  con- 
tinued. There  was  also  continuance  in  1891  and  in  1892.  In  1893,  the  long 
expected  report  was  presented  upon  the  basis  of  a very  large  correspondence. 
It  was  discussed  carefully  but  not  placed  upon  the  records.  Tts  recommenda- 
tion that  “no  action  be  taken  at  this  time”  was  adopted.  The  impression  left 
by  the  discussion  was  that  the  mind  of  the  board  was  still  unchanged  as  to 
the  desirability  of  fraternities,  but  unwilling  to  encounter  the  difficulties  in 
the  wav  of  their  removal.  The  supervision  of  them  was  committed  to  the 
faculty  and  in  1894  a resolution  was  passed  “that  the  rules  adopted  by  the 
faculty  in  relation  to  the  use  of  the  halls  of  the  university,  including  the  fra- 


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ternity  halls,  are  approved  and  the  same  should  be  kindly  but  firmly  enforced.” 
Further  faculty  action  requiring  initiations  to  be  confined  to  the  fraternity 
halls  and  nothing  done  in  such  ceremonies  which  would  expose  the  candidate 
to  bodily  injury  or  demand  anything  inconsistent  with  his  self-respect,  was 
subsequently  taken. 

Owing  to  various  circumstances  the  whole  question  was  again  very  care- 
fully studied  by  the  faculty  in  the  spring  of  1908.  By  a small  majority  that 
body  voted  to  allow  matters  to  stand  as  they  were,  but  refused  to  approve  fur- 
ther multiplication  of  the  fraternal  organizations  or  the  final  establishment  of 
chapter-houses.  Appeal  was  made  by  a committee  representing  a large  num- 
ber of  alumni,  to  the  board  of  trustees.  The  result  was  thus  recorded: 
“That  the  board  of  trustees  looks  upon  the  Greek-letter  fraternities  in  Woos- 
ter as  organizations  whose  general  purposes  and  character  are  in  harmony 
with  the  aims  and  spirit  of  the  university  and  favors  their  continuance  and 
extension  under  proper  supervision  by  this  board.”  A committee  was  also 
appointed  which  reported  in  February,  1909.  A delegation  representing  an 
inter-fraternal  committee  was  also  heard.  Permanent  chapter-houses  were 
permitted.  Rules  were  established  covering  eligibility,  initiation  and  its  fees, 
class  standing  of  80  to  be  maintained  by  students  in  chapter-houses,  and  notifi- 
cation to  the  dean  of  all  initiated  members.  The  chapter-houses  are  always 
to  be  open  to  visitation  by  the  university  authorities.  These  rules  were  sup- 
plemented in  June,  1909,  placing  the  location  of  the  chapter-houses  in  the 
hands  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  restricting  invitations  to  eligibles  shown 
to  be  such  by  a certificate  from  the  dean.  This  apparently  final  settlement 
was,  however,  brought  into  question  by  the  offer  of  an  ever-generous  patron 
of  the  university  conditioning  a liberal  subscription  to  much-desired  buildings, 
upon  the  ultimate,  final  exclusion  of  the  secret  societies.  Action  upon  this 
proposal  at  the  June  ( 1910)  meeting  of  the  board  was  postponed  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  its  author,  who  was  absent  from  the  country  at  the  time.  As  a 
matter  of  justice  two  petitioning  associations  which  had  taken  “important  and 
expensive  steps”  under  the  action  of  1908,  were  allowed.  Within  the  last 
few  years  four  organizations  have  been  authorized,  of  which  two  are  resusci- 
tations of  formerly  existing  fraternities.  Whether  the  oscillating  pendulum 
has  finally  reached  its  point  of  rest,  it  remains  for  the  future  to  disclose. 

11.  In  so  young  an  institution  in  a Western  state,  and  on  a Christian 
foundation,  which  is  essentially  a democratic  one,  it  was  not  to  he  expected 
that  class  distinctions  and  disturbances  would  find  lodgment  in  Wooster.  Real 
hazing  has  never  known  tolerance  here.  The  first  president  seems  to  have 
given  it  the  coup  dc  grace  when  it  made  a first  appearance.  He  denounced  its 


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unfairness  and  its  cowardice  and  even  counseled,  it  is  reported,  the  exercise 
of  the  reserved  right  of  self-defense  to  any  needed  extent.  “Class  spirit"  has 
sometimes  sought  the  rough  way  of  expression  and  now  and  then  some 
“rushes”  have  occurred.  But  here  again  the  good  sense  of  the  student-body 
and  a determined  stand  taken  by  the  faculty  has  freed  Wooster  from  disgrace* 
ful  scenes  such  as  were  witnessed  this  very  month  in  some  of  our  Ohio  and 
Western  colleges  and  universities.  The  principle  announced  here  has  been 
that  of  the  entire  liberty  of  any  class  to  adopt  and  wear  in  peace  any  cap  or 
cane,  or  other  class  insignia  its  fancy  might  dictate.  The  “cross-country" 
connection  between  Juniors  and  Freshmen,  Seniors  and  Sophomores  has  been 
domesticated  here,  but  finds  expression  only  in  banquets.  “Upper-class  men" 
is  a phrase  sometimes  used,  but  means  little  in  the  real  life  of  the  university. 
The  capped  and  gowned  seniors  are  paid  some  special  attention  on  one  or  two 
special  occasions  and  in  being  waited  for  in  retiring  from  daily  chapel.  Plain- 
ness and  sincerity  go  well  together  and  all  artificial  distinctions  seem  inap- 
propriate in  presence  of  the  Wooster  ideal,  viz.,  that  all  estimates  which  are 
worth  while  are  based  on  character  and  conduct. 

12.  When  we  come  to  discipline,  it  is  manifest  that  Wooster  has  found 
support  against  the  foreign  university  standard  of  irresponsibility  for  the 
moral  character  and  conduct  of  students — a standard  far  too  closely  approxi- 
mated in  some  of  America's  larger  universities  and  technical  schools,  in  at 
least  three  things — (i)  the  original  and  distinctively  Christian  purpose  in 
which  the  institution  originated;  (2)  its  vital  connection  with  a denomination 
as  distinguished  for  its  ethical  as  for  its  doctrinal  standards;  and  (3)  by  its 
carefully  maintained  connection  with  the  Christian  homes  from  which  the 
large  majority  of  our  students  have  come.  Parental  co-operation  has  always 
been  sought  by  the  report  system  and  by  special  correspondence.  The  effort 
is  unceasingly  made  to  cultivate  in  every  student  an  intense  loyalty  to  the 
home  he  represents.  The  old  in  loco  parentis  idea  may  have  been  modified 
in  some  of  its  applications  but  it  has  never  for  a moment  been  abandoned. 
Naturally  the  discipline  has  been  both  firm  and  kindly,  and  the  result  has  been 
that  the  current  of  the  university’s  life  has  been  almost  uninterruptedly  placid. 
The  close  of  the  first  year  (1871)  brought  special  expression  by  the  board  of 
trustees  of  “gratification  at  the  good  order,  industry,  and  honorable  conduct 
which  has  marked  the  first  college  year."  It  was  found  necessary  to  have 
distinct  rules,  of  course,  but  these  seem  to  have  appeared  for  the  first  time  in 
1875.  All  immoralities,  including  profanity,  were  considered  disciplinable 
offenses.  Saloons  were  not  to  be  visited,  nor  were  amusement  rooms  which 
had  saloon  attachments  to  be  entered,  nor  was  intoxicating  liquor  to  be  taken 


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to  or  kept  in  the  room  of  any  student.  Public  dances  were  not  to  be  frequented. 
Special  permission  is  required  for  leaving  the  city  to  attend  conventions  of  any 
kind  or  to  accompany  an  athletic  team,  and  in  granting  such  leave  the  student’s 
class  standing  and  the  wishes  of  his  parents  are  taken  into  account.  The  so- 
called  “honor”  system  for  examinations  has  not  been  adopted — greater  re- 
liance having  been  placed  upon  Christian  conscience.  In  a notable  case  in 
1900  it  was  finally  stated  in  the  college  paper:  “The  sentiment  of  peace  and 

submission  to  the  judgment  of  the  faculty  has  been  gaining  among  the  stu- 
dents.” 

Naturally  when  forms  of  self-government  appeared  in  general  college  life 
they  could  be  appropriately  experimented  with  in  such  a college  community 
as  that  of  Wooster.  For  several  years  house-committees  in  the  dormitories 
for  young  women  have  been  established  and  more  recently  (1908)  a student 
senate  has  been  installed.  It  is  well  understood  that  these  bodies  are  ancillary 
and  complimentary  and  that  the  faculty  still  holds  itself  responsible  to  the 
board,  the  synod  and  the  constituency  of  the  university  for  the  proper  over- 
sight of  the  interior  life  of  the  college  community. 

13.  It  would  seem  almost  superfluous  to  mention  co-education  in  con- 
nection with  Wooster’s  history.  At  his  inauguration  the  first  president  (Dr. 
Lord)  thanked  the  founders  that  they  had  adopted  the  plan,  and  gave  it  not 
only  a hearty  approval  but  devoted  a substantial  portion  of  the  inaugural  to  an 
argument  in  its  behalf  grounded  upon  the  most  fundamental  considerations 
of  human  equality  in  all  conditions,  oneness  of  all  in  Christ  and  essential  simi- 
larity of  mental  endowments.  He  rejects  with  considerable  feeling,  the  in- 
timation that  the  presence  of  women  would  “prove  a disturbing  element,  un- 
friendly to  mental  concentration,  and  also  to  the  vigor  and  efficiency  of  aca- 
demic government.”  He  asserts  with  confidence  that  it  would,  on  the  con- 
trary, “give  powerful  impulsion  to  mental  activity  and  progress.”  He  avows 
it  as  his  conviction  that  “womanly  presence  in  our  colleges  and  universities 
will  conserve  order,  increase  decorum,  and  in  every  way  cherish  manliness, 
honor,  truth  and  right.”  The  eloquent  address  is  even  prophetic.  “Present- 
ly young  women  will  be  trained,  like  young  men,  for  our  college  and  uni- 
versity courses,  and  will  then  resort,  in  increasing  numbers,  to  these  higher  in- 
stitutions. In  that  day  let  the  young  men  look  to  their  laurels.  Many  a time 
it  will  happen  that  quick,  keen,  flashing  womanly  minds  will  work  out  most 
brilliantly  the  hardest  problems,  and  delicate,  womanly  hands  seize  upon  and 
bear  off  in  triumph  the  most  coveted  prizes.” 

The  policy,  thus  early  adopted  and  approved,  was  reasserted  in  the  cata- 
logue of  1873-4  thus  : “Co-education  has  proven  decidedly  successful,  the  num- 


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ber  of  young  ladies  in  attendance  having  steadily  increased,  and  their  relative 
standing  in  the  classes  proving  their  entire  ability,  in  all  respects,  to  master 
the  difficulties  of  the  college  course.”  Doctor  Taylor  (writing  about  1878  in 
Douglas’  History  of  Wayne  County)  says  of  the  young  women  of  Wooster: 
“They  are  prepared  for  teachers  or  for  an  adequate  appreciation  of  literature, 
science  and  life  in  general,  and  are  enabled  to  reason  for  themselves  and  act 
with  superior  judgment,  moving  without  embarrassment  in  the  most  culti- 
vated society  and  fitted  to  adorn  the  highest  walks  in  social  life.”  Forty  years 
of  experience  have  only  accented  the  accuracy  of  these  assertions.  It  might 
be  surprising  to  some  people  if  the  records  of  these  later  years  were  examined 
to  note  the  number  of  instances  in  which  the  “honors”  have  gone  to  those 
“quick,  flashing  womanly  minds”  which  President  Lord  foresaw.  Co-educa- 
tion prevails  in  thirty-nine  out  of  the  fifty-three  colleges  which  are  recognized 
as,  in  one  degree  or  another,  attached  to  the  Presbyterian  faith  and  order. 

There  has  inevitably  arisen  the  social  question,  however,  and  the  tempta- 
tion to  excessive  engagement  in  various  social  activities.  But  this  yields  to 
sensible  rules  founded  upon  the  usages  of  good  society  and  restricting  social 
privileges  only  in  the  degree  necessary  to  secure  the  quiet  which  conditions  at 
the  same  time  health  and  success  in  meeting  the  requirements  of  the  curriculum. 

14.  It  would  be  of  interest  and  value  if  a study  of  the  expenses  ac- 
companying an  education  at  Wooster  could  be  made.  The  original  purpose 
included,  beyond  doubt,  the  “plain  living”  as  well  as  the  “high  thinking,”  be- 
cause Wooster  was  designed  for  efficiency  in  connection  with  the  rank  and  file 
of  its  first,  though  not  its  only,  constituency — the  Presbyterians  of  Ohio.  But 
that  study  is  now  impossible  for  this  sketch.  Suffice  it  to  sav  that  it  has  been 
steadily  endeavored  to  hold  the  university,  with  all  its  increasing  advantages, 
open  to  those  of  limited  means  and  to  those  who  must  provide  for  themselves. 
From  these  classes  have  come  the  vast  majority  of  Wooster’s  students  and 
from  among  them  have  emerged  those  by  whom  its  records  are  most  adorned. 
The  students  have  never  paid  the  entire  expense  of  their  education,  of  course, 
and  the  most  liberal  arrangements  have  been  made  in  aid  of  various  classes  of 
students.  While  expenses  have  increased  it  cannot  be  said  that  this  increase 
has  been  in  proportion  to  the  additional  advantages  offered  or  beyond  the  un- 
avoidable increment  due  to  higher  prices  in  all  departments  of  life.  This 
reasonable  adjustment,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  maintained,  since  nothing  in  splendor 
of  equipment  could  compensate  the  university  for  a loss  of  accessibility  to 
those  of  whom  we  may  speak  as  “the  middle  class,”  the  “hone  and  sinew”  of 
every  democracy. 


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15.  There  remains  but  one  thing  more  in  this  miscellany  and  that  may 
he  styled  the  department  of  propaganda,  which  has  been  inaugurated  in  the 
administrative  offices.  The  resources  of  ingenious  statement,  adapted  to 
many  classes  and  communities,  have  been  taxed  for  the  presentation  of  Woos- 
ter’s claims  to  consideration,  patronage  and  contributions.  Space  will  per- 
mit the  quotation  of  only  a few  titles,  such  as:  “Why  Go  to  College ?”  “Why 
Go  to  the  University  of  Wooster?”  “Education  from  the  Christian  Point  of 
View”  ; “Why  Should  the  Denominational  College  Live?” — which  query  is  an- 
swered in  twenty-two  brief  sentence  suggestions;  “From  Farm  to  College”; 
“An  Ideal  Place  for  Self-Discovery,”  are  other  titles  in  this  most  persuasive 
literature.  It  unfolds  the  lines  of  opportunity  in  modern  education  and  the 
demands  these  create  which  an  institution  of  the  first  class — Wooster  s class — 
must  prepare  to  meet.  It  is  a literature  full  of  information,  stimulus  and 
broad  outlook.  It  demonstrates  plainly  with  what  ease  and  certainty  our 
constituency — aided  by  friends  of  education  everywhere — can  build  upon  the 
ample  foundations  laid  by  forty  years  of  experience  and  the  marvelous  de- 
velopment of  the  fourth  decade.  May  it  penetrate  homes  and  hearts  without 
number. 


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CHAPTER  XXIII. 


TOWNS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Aside  from  the  city  of  Wooster,  the  chief  metropolis  of  Wayne  county, 
there  are  several  good-sized  towns  and  villages  which  have  been  mentioned 
incidentally  in  the  various  township  histories,  but  in  this  chapter  a more  ex- 
tended account  will  be  given  of  them. 

DOYLESTOWN  VILLAGE. 

This  prosperous  village  was  laid  out  by  William  Doyle,  after  whom  it 
was  named,  on  December  9,  1827,  and  it  was  incorporated  August  6,  1867. 
The  first  house  was  erected  in  the  village  on  a vacant  lot  standing  between 
what  was  afterwards  Mrs.  Diebers  and  Mr.  Shondel’s  grocery.  It  was  a 
log  house,  built  by  William  Doyle,  who  occupied  it  as  a tavern,  sold  whisky 
and  allowed  dancing.  The  first  doctor  was  a Mr.  Pierpont,  who  stole  a 
horse  while  on  a visit  in  the  East  and  was  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary.  The 
first  election  was  held  in  December,  1866,  for  municipal  officers. 

The  mayors  who  have  served  this  incorporation  are  as  follows:  1866-8, 

A.  H.  Purcell:  1869,  Moses  Bugher:  1870.  J.  B.  Weaver:  1871.  J.  B. 
Weaver;  1872,  A.  H.  Purcell;  1873,  A.  H.  Purcell;  1874,  W.  T.  Bigelow; 
1875  to  1877,  W.  J.  Bigelow*;  * * * 1886  to  1890,  Allen  Hassing;  1890  to 
1902,  G.-W.  Barkhamer;  1902  to  1903,  John  Whitman;  1903  to  1905,  G.  W. 
Barkhamer;  1906  to  1910,  B.  R.  Tagg. 

The  present  officers  are.  Mayor,  B.  R.  Tagg;  clerk,  O.  B.  Heffleman; 
treasurer,  N.  R.  Zimmerman;  marshal,  Levi  Whitman;  fire  chief,  Henry 
Roth;  health  officer,  E.  Dannemiller;  Councilmen,  A.  Gantes,  J.  A.  Myers, 
William  Jenior,  A.  Math.  M.  S.  Fleck,  David  Beal. 

The  village  owns  a large  two-story  town  hall,  and  at  present  the  public 
schools  are  in  session  in  it.  while  the  new  school  building  is  being  completed. 

The  present  physicians  of  the  towrn  are  Dr.  A.  E.  Stepfield,  homeopathic ; 
Dr.  E.  R.  Spencer.  Dr.  E.  H.  McKinney,  allopathic;  W.  A.  Pursell.  dentist. 


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THE  POSTOFFICE. 

The  following  have  served  as  postmasters  at  Doylestown : William  G. 

Foster,  from  1828  to  1847;  Angus  Mclntire,  1848  to  1852;  Samuel  Rouston, 
1853  to  1856;  Orrin  G.  Franks,  1857  to  1859;  Samuel  Blocker,  i860  to 
1867;  H.  A.  Soliday,  1868  to  1872;  Henry  S.  Deisem,  1873  to  1877.  The 
list  from  1877  ls  as  follows:  H.  S.  Diersem;  1883,  E.  S.  Nichols;  1885,  C. 

D.  Gardner;  1889,  George  Jackson;  1893,  J-  V.  Hartel;  1897,  George  Jack- 
son,  who  is  still  serving  in  an  acceptable  manner.  The  present  office  is  kept 
in  a new  building  erected  by  the  postmaster  and  it  was  first  occupied  on  the 
morning  of  June  5,  ‘1909. 

The  first  rural  free  delivery  route  was  established  out  from  Doylestown 
in  December,  1904,  and  the  second  route  started  in  May,  1905.  The  length 
of  the  former  is  twenty-three  and  one-half  miles,  while  the  latter  is  twenty- 
four  miles  in  length.  At  first  the  office  was  at  Chippewa,  south  of  town,  and 
was  removed  in  1874. 


CHURCHES  OF  DOYLESTOWN. 

That  Doylestown  is  a worshiping  people  is  seen  by  the  presence  of  four 
neat  church  edifices — the  Methodist  Episcopal,  built  in  1885;  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran,  built  in  1867;  the  Catholic,  built  in  1877,  and  the  Presbyterian,  a 
frame  building,  and  the  oldest  of  all  edifices  in  the  town.  For  more  in  detail 
concerning  these  churches,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  Churches 
of  the  county,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

LODGES  AND  SOCIETIES. 

Doylestown  is  the  home  of  the  following  fraternities : The  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  instituted  about  1880,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Macca- 
bees, Foresters,  Sons  of  Herman.  The  Odd  Fellows  own  a fine  block  and 
lease  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  order.  Odd  Fellowship  was  first  established 
here  in  August,  1854.  The  lodge  now  numbers  one  hundred  and  twelve 
members.  At  one  time  there  existed  a flourishing  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public post,  known  as  J.  Galehouse  Post,  No.  227,  but  owing  to  the  death  of 
all  but  four  or  five  comrades  of  the  Civil  war  who  belonged,  the  post  was 
abandoned  in  1904. 


INDUSTRIES  AT  DOYLESTOWN. 

From  an  early  day,  for  a town  of  its  size,  Doylestown  has  ever  been  a 
lively  manufacturing  place.  It  still  holds  good  that  early-day  reputation. 
Among  the  institutions  worth  mentioning  here,  may  be  named  the  Empire 


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Mower  and  Reaper  Works,  established  in  the  fifties.  Its  present  condition 
seems  flourishing  for  a small  factory.  Its  president  is  Samuel  Miller. 

Of  the  more  modern  factories,  may  be  mentioned  the  Buckeye  Alumi- 
num Company,  established  in  1903.  coming  from  Quincy.  Massachusetts. 
Their  specialty  is  making  communion  sets,  which  are  of  a rare  and  beautiful 
design  and  find  a ready  sale  in  various  parts  of  this  country.  W.  H.  Huff- 
man is  the  president ; W.  R.  Miller,  secretary  and  treasurer,  with  Leon  Ward 
as  its  manager.  They  employ  about  twenty-five  men. 

Another  aluminum  industry  here  is  the  comb  factory,  in  which  a num- 
ber of  skilled  workmen  are  employed  and  they  produce  a fine  grade  of  combs 
for  the  hair.  This  was  established  by  home  capital  in  1903-4.  J.  A.  Myers 
is  the  manager  of  the  stock  company. 

A new  concern,  starting  up  in  the  fall  of  1909.  is  the  second  comb  fac- 
tory, which  produces  from  a Doylestown  invention  a superior  article  in  way 
of  a fibre  comb.  It  is  dark,  like  rubber,  but  very  tough  and  flexible.  It  is 
operated  with  home  capital  and  is  incorporated  for  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars.  Its  president  is  Bert  Myers. 

BANKING. 

The  banking  business  is  well  taken  care  of  here  by  the  Doylestown 
Banking  Company,  with  D.  J.  McDaniel,  president;  J.  W.  Zimmerman, 
vice-president ; George  Landis,  cashier.  The  capital  of  this  banking  company 
is  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  while  its  deposits  were,  in  1909,  three  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

TOWN  OF  CRESTON. 

This  was  formerly  known  and  platted  in  1865  as  Saville,  but  when  the 
railway  company  established  a town  by  that  name  elsewhere — over  the  county 
line — this  place  was,  for  a time,  called  Pike  Station,  it  being  situated  on  the 
old  Cleveland  pike  road.  But  in  1881  it  was  changed  to  Creston.  It  is 
situated  in  Canaan  township,  near  the  north  line  of  Wayne  county,  and  now 
has  a population  of  about  twelve  hundred.  It  has  the  following  transporta- 
tion lino:  The  Wheeling  & Lake  Erie  line;  the  Erie.  Baltimore  & Ohio 

line  and  the  Cleveland  and  Southwestern,  which  is  the  electric  intenrban 
road,  built  about  1001 . from  \Y<x)ster  to  Cleveland. 

The  present  professional  men  of  Creston  are  Doctors  T.  D.  Ilollings-, 
worth.  J.  W.  Irvin.  A.  C.  Kenestick,  William  Orr,  Van  I.  Allen,  R.  T. 


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Baird  and  G.  H.  Smith,  dentist;  Price  Russell,  attorney;  J.  E.  Elliott,  real 
estate,  loans  and  notary  public. 

The  present-day  industries  here  flourishing  are  The  Buckeye  Concrete 
Company,  manufacturing,  in  the  largest  plant  in  Wayne  county,  fence  posts, 
hitching  posts,  arbor  posts,  porch  posts,  water  troughs,  building  blocks,  etc. ; 
Pickle  and  Preserving  works,  which  is  doing  a good  business,  the  owners 
being  Messrs.  Lutz  & Schramm ; Creston  Hoop  and  Stave  Company,  the 
most  extensive  works  of  the  town;  the  Creston  Wood  Handle  Company,  who 
make  all  sorts  of  tool  handles  from  the  native  timber  of  the  immediate 
vicinity;  the  White  Rose  Creamery;  D.  G.  Hay's  roller  flouring  mills,  etc. 

The  hotels  of  the  town  are  the  Arcade  and  the  Hotel  Creston. 

The  newspaper  of  the  place  is  the  newsy,  independent  paper  known  as 
the  Creston  Journal , est  dished  in  1880  and  now  edited  and  printed  by  its 
owner,  F.  M.  Sulliger. 

The  schools  of  the  town  are  held  in  a fine  two-story  frame  school 
building. 

There  are  the  following  civic  societies  represented  in  this  place;  The 
Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  ‘and  Maccabees  orders. 

The  churches  are  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  the  Presbyterian,  of 
which  mention  is  made  fully  in  the  church  chapter. 

POSTOFFICE. 

At  an  early  day  the  postoffice  was  kept  at  old  Jackson,  but  in  about 
1864-5  it  was  established  at  what  is  now  Creston.  The  postmasters  from 
the  first  have  been  as  follows;  Elmer  St.  John,  serving  at  least  eight  years; 
Phillip  Baum,  serving  four  years;  G.  W.  Littel,  four  years;  J.  T.  Miller, 
four  years;  C.  P.  Smith,  four  years;  N.  I.  McGlenn,  from  1893  to  1897,  ail(J 
John  McGuff,  from  1897  to  the  present  time.  There  are  now  two  free  rural 
delivery  routes  out  from  this  town. 

INCORPORATION. 

Creston  was  incorporated  June  2,  1899;  the  following  have  served  as 
mayors:  The  first  mayor  was  Warden  Wheeler,  who  served  until  April  10, 

1900,  when  he  was  followed  by  Price  Russell,  who  served  until  April  9, 
1902.  Mr.  Russell  was  succeeded  by  William  B.  Jordan,  serving  until  Jan- 
uary 31,  1906,  and  he  was  killed  on  the  Wheeling  & Lake  Erie  railway. 
February  11,  1907.  W.  H.  Peters  took  Mr.  Jordan’s  place  and  is  the  present 
(1909)  mayor. 


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Two  great  fanning  industries  must  not  be  omitted  in  the  history  of  this 
place.  The  onion  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  near  the  town  limits, 
the  property  of  Wean,  Tenney  & Company,  where  immense  quantities  of 
best  grade  onions  have  been  produced  for  many  seasons  in  succession,  and 
where  are  employed  scores  of  men  and  women  in  planting,  cultivating  and 
harvesting,  crating  and  shipping  onions  to  far  and  near  markets. 

Then  the  Jordan  Brothers  immense  celery  farm,  embracing  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  acres  and  on  which  land  is  produced  the  finest  variety  of  table 
celery,  which  also  gives  employment  for  many  persons  and  has  come  to  be 
sought  after  at  far  distant  points,  and  is  very  profitable. 

BANKING. 

Creston  has  a good  banking  house,  known  as  the  Stebbins  Banking 
Company,  its  president  is  \Y.  P.  Stebbins;  the  cashier  is  C.  A.  Stebbins.  and 
assistant  cashier,  E.  D.  Arthur.  Its  capital  is  ten  thousand  dollars,  while 
the  deposits  are  sixty-five  thousand  dollars.  The  bank  occupies  a fine,  mod- 
ern-style banking  house,  constructed  of  stone  and  brick. 

TOWN  OF  ORRVILLE. 

Orrville  is  located  in  Green  and  Baughman  townships  and  has  a popula- 
tion of  something  over  three  thousand.  The  town  owns  its  own  water  plant 
and  electric  light  plant  and  has  recently  put  in  a sanitary  system  of  sewerage. 
The  place  was  incorporated  in  1864  and  the  following  have  served  as  its  may- 
ors : William  Gailey,  1865;  William  M.  Orr,  Alexander  Moncrief,  Dr.  A.  C. 
Miller,  Mahlon  Rouch,  J.  F.  Seas,  S.  D.  Tanner,  G.  W.  Barrett,  N.  L.  Royer, 
Warren  Ramsey,  Levi  Neiswanger,  J.  M.  Fiscus,  Dr.  Faber,  George  Starn, 
D.  F.  Griffith.  The  present  town  officials  are : D.  F.  Griffith,  mayor,  Charles 

Arnold,  marshal;  A.  L.  Reed,  clerk;  F.  M.  Tanner,  treasurer;  board  of  public 
service,  Frank  Reichenbach,  E.  C.  Bowman  and  Ralph  Kinney;  councilmen, 
John  Kropf,  Adam  Fogel,  H.  P.  Shantz,  E.  E.  Schrantz,  E.  P.  Willaman,  H. 
P.  Leickheim. 

Orrville  was  named  in  honor  of  Hon.  Smith  Orr.  The  town  has  an  ex- 
cellent town  hall,  a brick  building,  of  two  stories,  with  town  offices  and  engine 
rooms  attached. 

The  accompanying  reminiscences  will  give  the  reader  a fair  compre- 
hension of  the  wav  this  place  was  started  and  will  prove  interesting,  as  well. 

There  are  four  churches  in  Orrville  and  the  Catholics  expect  to  build  soon. 
The  present  churches  are  the  Presbyterian,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Reformed 
and  English  Lutheran  denominations  (see  church  chapter  elsewhere  for  this 
and  other  towns  in  Wayne  county). 


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The  fraternal  societies  of  the  town  are  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  Royal 
Arcanum,  Knights  of  Honor,  National  Union  and  Maccabees  orders. 

The  physicians  are  Doctors  Blankenhous,  Brooks,  Campbell,  Grady, 
Irvin  and  Shie. 

A postoffice  was  established  at  this  point  in  1863-64  and  the  postmasters 
who  have  served  came  in  the  following  order:  Alexander  E.  Clark,  J.  F. 
Seas,  David  L.  Moncrief,  Henry  Shriber,  J.  W.  Hostetter,  Proctor  Seas, 
Henry  E.  Taylor,  G.  D.  McIntyre. 

In  1902  there  were  two  free  rural  delivery  routes  established  out  from 
Orrville,  and  in  1905  two  more. 

There  are  two  excellent  school  buildings — one  erected  in  i860  and  one 
dedicated  in  1908,  a fine  structure. 

The  town  has  the  distinction  of  owning  its  excellent  equipped  electric 
lighting  plant  and  its  wrater  works,  which  were  installed  in  the  nineties.  The 
water  works  were  put  in  in  1897  and  derive  the  best  quality  of  drinking  water 
in  Ohio  from  four  tubular  wells  sunk  to  the  great  depth  of  eight  hundred  feet. 
Drinking  fountains  for  man  and  beast  are  found  on  the  principal  streets. 
With  paved  streets  and  good  sewers,  electric  lights  and  an  abundant  supply 
of  the  purest  water,  the  place  is  fast  putting  on  “city  airs.” 

The  town  is  well  advertised  and  is  served  with  the  latest  news  bv  twro 
good  local  newspapers,  spoken  of  in  the  Press  chapter — the  Crescent  and 
Courier. 

The  attorneys  of  Orrville  at  this  date  are  S.  N.  Coe  and  Ryer  & Starn. 

The  commercial  hotel  of  the  place  is  an  excellent  one  and  is  styled  The 
Hurd. 

A Board  of  Industry  keeps  seeking  out  additional  business  firms  and  fac- 
tories for  Orrville.  Its  secretary  is  now  Charles  Craft. 

The  railroad  interests  are  very  extensive  at  Orrville.  The  companies 
here  represented  are  the  Pennsylvania  lines  ; the  Wabash  ; the  Cleveland,  Akron 
& Columbus  of  the  Pennsylvania  system.  The  latter  road  has  its  division 
and  machine  shops  at  this  point  and  it  is  rumored  that  soon  a great  enlarge- 
ment of  the  Pennsylvania.  Pittsburg.  Ft.  Wayne  & Chicago,  w ill  be  made  here, 
in  way  of  shops  and  division  interests. 

ORR  VI  ELK'S  INI  >U  ST  R I KS . 

Orrville  is  the  home  of  the  following  factories  and  industrial  interests: 
The  Orrville  Milling  Company’s  roller  mill,  in  which  the  daily  capacity  is  about 
eight  hundred  barrels.  This  was  established  in  the  early  seventies  as  a bulir- 
stone  mill,  hut  was  later  changed  to  a full  roller-process  flouring-mill.  Other 


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industries  are  the  mattress  factory;  the  Champion  thresher  factory;  Cottage 
Creamery,  a branch  of  the  Sugarcreek  Creamery,  established  here  in  1909; 
the  Cyclone  Drill  Company,  that  manufactures  many  kinds  of  drills  and  coal 
mining  and  well  machinery  and  employs  more  than  forty  men ; the  C.  C.  Haff- 
ner  harness  factor}' ; Orrville  Bed  Spring  Company ; the  Iron  Hand  and  Power 
Pump  factory,  a new  concern  that  promises  much  in  the  near  future  to  Orr- 
ville; the  Gemill  phonograph  factory,  making  an  invention  of  the  place  a 
profitable  industry,  and  many  lesser  factories. 

The  first  move  toward  putting  in  electric  lights  was  by  the  ordinance 
passed  February  1.  1892,  when  the  scheme  of  providing  for  light,  heat  and 
power  was  inaugurated. 

The  Orrville  board  of  water- works  trustees  was  organized  April  16. 
1894.  as  follows:  D.  F.  Griffith,  A.  H.  Postlewait  and  C.  C.  Davidson. 

It  may  be  well  to  give  a list  of  some  of  the  more  important  factories  that 
have  from  time  to  time  been  located  here — in  fact  the  citizens  here  have  al- 
ways tried  to  keep  a line  of  paying  industries  going.  Many  have  long  since 
dropped  from  the  list,  moved  elsewhere  or  gone  out  of  business  entirely. 

January.  1877,  a patent  was  granted  to  Mr.  Askins  for  a glass  coffin;  a 
joint  stock  company  was  formed  to  make  the  same  and  two  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars  was  subscribed.  Five  men  were  employed.  The  presi- 
dent of  the  company  was  William  M.  Orr.  D.  G.  Horst,  treasurer,  and  Jacob 
I..  Askins,  superintendent. 

The  Orrville  Planing  Company  was  organized  in  1867  with  a joint-stock 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars;  it  finally  passed  to  Joseph  Snively. 

A hand-rake  and  fork  manufactory  was  established  here  by  Boydston  & 
Ramsey,  in  1871.  and  did  a splendid  business. 

The  Orrville  Pottery  was  established  in  1862  by  Amos  Hall  and  Robert 
Cochran,  who  sold  it  in  1877  to  Kckert  and  Flickengcr.  who  made  immense 
quantities  of  crocks,  jugs,  fruit  jars,  etc. 

File  Orrville  Tannery  was  established  in  1864,  by  Ludwiek  Pontius,  and 
was  the  first  industry  of  its  kind  in  Orrville. 

HANKING. 

1 he  Hxchange  Bank  was  established  here  in  18B8,  by  Jacob  Brenneman 
and  David  Hoist.  It  was  later  styled  Brenneman  & Horst's  Bank. 

1'he  Orrville  National  Bank  was  organized  with  forty  thousand  dollars 
capital,  and  now  has  deposits  amounting  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  Its  present  officers  are  H.  IF  Strauss,  president;  Isaac  Pontius,  vice- 
president;  F.  F.  Strauss,  cashier. 


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ORVILLE  BEFORE  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

[Xote — In  the  year  1890  two  citizens,  J.  F.  Seas  and  D.  G.  Evans,  were 
conferring  on  the  matter  of  holding  a reunion  of  those  who  were  residents  of 
Orrville  in  1860.  W.  S.  Evans  happened  to  drop  in  from  Michigan,  enroute 
to  Tennessee,  while  the  matter  was  being  considered,  and  was  asked  to  pre- 
pare a paper  on  his  recollections  to  be  read  at  the  proposed  meeting.  The  re- 
union did  not  materialize,  but  the  paper  was  later  published  ( Courier , July 
22,  1890)  and  reads  as  follows:] 

The  spring  of  i860  found  Orrville  a small  unincorporated  village  with  a 
population  of  probably  five  hundred  inhabitants.  As  nearly  as  I can  recollect 
tlie  business  interests  of  the  place  were  represented  as  follows : Fischer  Bros, 

and  M.  Whitmyer,  groceries:  Bailey  & Evans,  drugs  and  groceries;  David 
Mast,  dry  goods:  Reaser,  Skelton  & Burkholder,  dry  goods;  J.  F.  Seas,  post- 
master and  hardware;  D.  L.  Moncrief,  drugs;  Fletcher  Brothers,  harness; 
Philip  Krick,  shoemaker;  Mr.  Hart,  shoemaker;  Reaser  Brothers,  blacksmiths; 
Munn  & Lefever,  cabinetmakers  and  furniture;  Kirk  Johnson,  miller;  Jerome 
Ammann,  cooper;  S.  K.  Kramer,  grain  dealer;  Gailey  & Herr,  grain  dealers; 
George  Brown,  tailor;  James  Postlewait,  wagonmaker;  Joel  Levers,  cabinet- 
maker; J.  B.  Heffleman,  tinner;  Hy  Smith  tinner;  Joseph  Snavelv,  saw-mill; 
J.  C.  Speicher.  American  House,  with  the  characteristic  Joseph  Wiley  as  chief 
clerk  and  guest  solicitor  at  all  passenger  trains ; A.  E.  Clark,  physician 

At  that  time  we  had  two  railroads,  the  Pittsburg  & Ft.  Wayne  and  the 
Cleveland,  Zanesville  & Cincinnati,  now  the  Cleveland.  Akron  & Columbus. 
John  McGill  was  the  agent  for  the  Adams  Express  Company,  as  also  for  the 
Union  Express  on  the  Cleveland,  Zanesville  & Cincinnati  railroad.  C.  N. 
Storrs  was  agent  for  the  Cleveland,  Zanesville  & Cincinnati  road,  with 
Patrick  Cuinlan  as  baggage  master.  Henry  McGill  was  baggage  master 
for  the  Ft.  Wayne  road,  with  Thomas  McGill  as  night  watch.  The 
switch  engine  for  transferring  cars  from  one  road  to  another  in  those  busy 
days  was  a yoke  of  large  oxen  engineered  by  “old  Kennedy.”  whose  highly 
musically  toned  voice  could  be  heard  incessantly,  “Git  up  Buck,  go  on  Berrv.“ 
One  clay  one  of  the  oxen  became  sick  and  John  McGill  telegraphed  to  the 
master  of  transportation  at  Alliance  that  there  would  be  some  delay  in  handling 
cars,  because  the  switch  engine  burst  a fine  and  wanted  a man  sent  clown  at 
once  .to  repair  it.  Mr.  Kennedy  also  controlled  the  d raying  business  and  car- 
ried the  mail.  John  D.  McNulty  was  telegraph  operator  in  the  office  opened 
bv  the  Ft.  Wayne  railway  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1859,  and  W.  S. 
Evans  was  a student  and  messenger  bov  about  the  office.  At  that  time  Orr- 


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ville  enjoyed  a train  service  on  its  two  roads  which  was  exceedingly  con- 
venient and  accommodating  to  the  citizens  of  the  place,  and  in  one  respect  more 
seasonable  in  hours  than  at  any  other  station  point  on  the  road  between  Pitts- 
burg and  Chicago,  in  the  fact  that  at  any  other  station  on  the  road  there  were 
no  more  passenger  trains  earlier  than  7 A.  M..  nor  later  than  9 P.  M.,  afford- 
ing good  opportunities  to  go  to  Wooster  and  return  twice  or  three  times  a day. 
and  to  Cleveland  and  return  between  7 A.  \1.  and  7 P.  M.  The  whistle  of  a 
locomotive  engine  on  Sunday  would  have  been  as  much  of  an  innovation  as  the 
opening  of  business  houses  on  that  day  would  at  present.  The  American 
House  was  the  only  hotel  in  the  place,  and  in  consequence  enjoyed  a pros- 
perous patronage  under  the  management  of  mine  host.  Jacob  Speicher.  who 
frequently  entertained  his  guests  with  vivid  tales  of  valorous  deeds  and  sin- 
gular experiences  in  good  old  Pennsylvania  style,  amongst  which  was  the  un- 
paralleled feat  of  taking  up  a well  and  moving  it  across  the  road.  The  Amer- 
ican was  a popular  house.  In  i860  there  were  but  three  brick  buildings  in  the 
embryonic  city  of  W ayne,  and  they  were  the  residences  of  John  McGill, 
Brenneman  & Horst's  store  building  and  the  residence  of  C.  X.  Storrs.  south 
of  the  town  hall.  There  were  no  buildings  south  of  the  Ft.  Wayne  tracks 
except  a few  Irish  shanties  and  an  old  warehouse,  and  the  residence  of  Kin- 
ney Harris,  a small  opening  in  the  woods,  about  where  the  fine  residence  of 
Mrs.  Jacob  Brenneman  now  stands.  Fast  of  Main  street  was  a body  of 
woodland,  which  came  up  as  near  the  village  as  the  present  location  of  the 
coffin  factory.  West  of  that  street  and  south  from  where  the  tracks  and  depot 
of  the  Wheeling  railroad  now  are,  was  a stumpy  pasture  field  so  swampy  in 
the  spring  time  that  a cow  could  not  pass  through  it  without  becoming  mired. 
From  Church  street  north  and  east  of  Main  street,  the  only  buildings  between 
the  first-named  street  rnd  the  C.  Z.  & C.  railroad  were  the  school  house  be- 
tween the  present  site  of  the  Methodist  and  Presbyterian  churches  and  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Postlewait  on  the  hill.  In  the  spring  of  i860  there  was  not 
a foot  of  stone  or  brick  sidewalk  in  the  entire  village.  D.  G.  Evans  putting 
down  the  first  stone  walk  in  front  of  the  present  Boiling  bakery  building  ( now 
the  Orrville  National  Bank). 

There  was  only  one  church  building  in  the  place.  The  present  Reformed 
church  was  known  as  the  I'nion  church,  and  was  used  on  alternate  Sundays 
by  the  Methodists  and  Presbyterians,  the  ministers  coming  from  Dalton  to 
conduct  the  services.  There  w as  no  resident  minister  in  the  place  during  that 
year,  although  there  had  been  one  or  more  previous  to  that  time.  The  school 
was  about  the  same  as  any  ordinary  district  school.  There  was  no  bakery. 


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planing-mill  or  factory  of  any  kind,  no  dentist,  lawyer  or  photographer,  no 
regular  saloon,  no  mayor,  council,  marshal,  yet  there  was  very  little  rowdyism 
or  unlawful  disturbance  in  the  absence  of  these  minions  of  the  law.  We  had 
no  bank  to  take  care  of  our  money  for  us,  and  in  fact  none  of  us  were  very 
much  burdened  with  the  safe-keeping  of  the  filthy  lucre! 

Neither  did  we  have  the  advantage  of  that  great  leverage  which  booms 
the  wonderful  future  of  a western  town  before  an  astonished  public,  and  to- 
day proclaims  a prosperous  city,  where  yesterday  stood  and  howled  the  coyote 
and  prairie  wolf — the  printing  press  and  newspaper.  If  we  wished  to  make 
our  greatness  known,  it  had  to  be  done  by  word  of  mouth  from  stumps  or 
housetops,  and  the  stumps  were  more  plentiful  than  housetops  in  those  days. 

In  the  summer  of  i860  we  had  the  memorable  campaign  which  preceded 
the  great  Rebellion  and  made  Abraham  Lincoln  President.  Our  Republican 
Wide-awakes,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Gift,  with  their  torches  and  oil 
cloth  capes,  with  a spread  eagle  painted  on  the  back  (humorously  dubbed  a 
mad  goose  by  Father  Seas),  divided  the  honors  of  displaying  their  patriotism 
with  a singularly  uniformed  company  of  Democratic  sprouts  who  marched 
as  proudly  and  shrieked  as  loudly  for  their  candidate,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the 
little  giant  of  the  West.  Although  the  campaign  was  an  unusually  hot  one, 
it  was  passed  through  without  much  bitterness  or  personal  animosity.  One 
day  during  a Republican  meeting,  a bombastic  telegraph  repairer  from  Mans- 
field was  brought  up  from  the  station  by  McNulty  and  Henry  McGill,  given  a 
few  drinks,  and  urged  by  them  to  deliver  an  opposition  speech.  He  accepted 
the  invitation  with  alacrity,  rolled  a drygoods  box  into  the  street,  mounted  it 
and  began  his  harangue.  Engineer  Brown  coming  along  at  that  moment, 
listened  a minute  to  what  the  spouter  was  saying,  concluded  that  his  utterances 
were  not  in  strict  accord  with  the  spirit  of  Republican  meetings,  calmly  walked 
up  and  knocked  the  fellow  off  the  box,  which  seemed  to  put  a decided  damper 
on  whatever  aspirations  the  embryonic  political  speaker  had  previously  enter- 
tained. The  occurrence  amused  the  Democratic  people  as  much  as  it  did  the 
Republicans. 

Thirty  years  ago  there  was  not  a pound  of  coal  burned  in  Orrville  except 
that  used  by  the  blacksmiths.  Even  the  engines  on  the  railroads  burned  wood, 
and  Orrville  was  one  of  the  most  important  points  on  the  line  for  supplying 
fuel. 

Thirty  years  has  wrought  many  changes  in  our  town  and  its  people. 
Many  of  our  friends  and  acquaintances  have  scattered  to  various  portions 
of  this  and  other  countries,  and  many,  yea,  very  many,  have  been  called  to 

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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


their  last  resting  place  and  final  reward.  What  the  next  thirty  years  will 
bring  to  probably  a majority  of  us  is  not  a matter  of  conjecture,  and  it  be- 
hooves us  to  prepare  for  that  greater  and  final  reunion  where  there  will  be 
nothing  but  pleasant  reminiscences  to  recount. 

AN  ORRYTLLE  REMINISCENCE. 

The  following  was  extracted  from  the  Orrville  local  newspaper  at  the 
time  Father  James  Taggart  had  just  passed  his  ninetieth  birthday,  in  1907: 

James  Taggart  passed  his  ninetieth  birthday  Tuesday,  October  1,  1907. 
He  is  no  doubt  the  oldest  resident  born  within  the  sound  of  the  workshops  of 
Orrville.  His  father,  Samuel  Taggart,  located  on  the  quarter  section  of  land 
now  occupied  by  the  southeast  part  of  Orrville,  April  9,  1815,  where  James 
Taggart  w as  born  in  a log  cabin  October  1,  1817. 

In  an  interview  with  Mr.  Taggart  he  gave  the  following  history  of  his 
ancestry,  in  which  he  stated  that  John  Taggart,  William  Taggart  and  James 
Taggart,  three  brothers,  came  from  Antrim,  Ireland,  just  before  the  outbreak 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which  war  they  all  enlisted  and  served  the  whole 
seven  years.  James,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  thrilling  remi- 
niscence, was  too  young  to  enlist  as  a soldier  when  the  war  first  broke  out  and 
so  for  a time  he  served  as  a wagon  boss.  His  grandfather  built  a log  cabin 
in  the  fall  of  1814  and  came  out  from  Pennsylvania  the  next  spring,  together 
wdth  a number  of  other  families,  and  James*  father  occupied  the  cabin.  At 
that  period  a good  many  emigrated  to  this  neighborhood  and  located  between 
here  and  the  state  road,  among  them  being  the  Harrises,  Careys,  Thompsons 
and  Adamses.  Rev.  Adams  was  the  first  preacher,  and  a church  was  built  on 
what  was  formerly  known  as  the  Samuel  Snavely  farm,  three  miles  to  the 
south.  There  was  then  only  a path  through  the  woods  and  every  man  who 
attended  church  or  went  away  from  home  carried  a trusty  rifle  to  protect 
himself  from  wolves,  bears,  wild  cats,  wild  hogs  and  other  wild  beasts.  The 
government  paid  a premium  of  two  dollars  on  wild  hogs,  two  dollars  on 
wolves  and  four  dollars  on  bears,  and  the  farmers  clubbed  together  to  kill 
them. 

The  state  road  those  days  from  Massillon  to  Wooster  was  scarcely  more 
than  a narrow  wagon  road  through  the  woods.  The  nearest  mill  was  two 
miles  west  of  Canton,  until  the  Beason  Stibbs  mill  was  erected  at  Wooster. 

W hen  Mr.  Taggart's  father  located  here  there  were  Indians  of  the  Wyan- 
dot tribe  in  this  neighborhood.  Punch  and  John  Jonneycake  and  one  other. 


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Johnny  Appleseed,  a noted  character  in  those  days*  who  planted  appleseeds 
all  over  the  country  and  from  which  the  first  orchards  were  obtained,  traveled 
through  this  section  of  the  country.  Punch  was  a vicious  Indian  and  he  sud- 
denly disappeared  one  night.  His  bones  were  afterwards  found  and  it  is 
supposed  he  was  killed  by  one  of  the  settlers.  The  marks  of  his  tomahawk 
were  visible  on  numerous  beech  trees  for  many  years.  He  gave  an  account  of 
a thrilling  fight  between  a man  and  a bear  in  which  his  father  was  a participant. 
A man  named  Clouse  was  a tenant  on  the  Taggart  farm  and  lived  in  a log 
cabin  situated  at  a spring  now  known  as  the  mill  pond  on  Paradise  street.  He 
was  a tanner  by  occupation  and  a fearless  hunter  and  tanned  the  hides  for 
all  the  farmers  far  and  near.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  Samuel  Taggart  went  to 
Wooster  to  pay  his  taxes  and  during  his  absence  two  bears  came  into  the  yard 
and  carried  off  a hog.  On  returning  home  Mr.  Taggart  consulted  with  Mr. 
Clouse  and  they  started  out  with  the  dogs  in  search  of  the  bears.  They  came 
across  one  of  them  near  the  site  of  the  Orrville  flour  mill.  Mr.  Taggart  wanted 
Clouse  to  shoot  the  bear,  but  he  wanted  to  kill  it  with  the  dogs.  He  always 
carried  three  butcher  knives  in  his  girdle  and  in  the  midst  of  the  fight  between 
the  dogs  and  the  bear  Clouse  rushed  in  and  stabbed  the  bear  until  it  fell  dead, 
Mr.  Taggart  in  the  meantime  holding  the  animal  by  the  ears. 

The  first  house  built  in  Orrville  was  erected  by  William  Bowman,  who 
came  to  the  vicinity  with  a saw-mill  about  1851  or  possibly  1852.  It  was  lo- 
cated west  of  the  mill  about  1851,  perhaps  on  the  corner  where  the  office  now 
stands.  William  Gailey  built  the  second  house  on  the  corner  of  Walnut  and 
Market  streets  on  the  site  of  the  one  built  later  by  Stella  and  Nettie  Gailey, 
and  the  original  building  stands  on  the  north  part  of  the  lot.  Then  old  Mr. 
Seas’  father  became  a resident  of  the  little  hamlet  and  built  a house  on  the 
Beckley  & Strauss  corner.  He  was  followed  by  Clark  & Hoover,  of  Dalton, 
who  opened  up  a store  on  the  Evans  lot,  now  occupied  by  Dr.  Shie.  From  that 
time  on  Orrville  continued  to  grow  and  grow  and  grow,  until  now  we  are  able 
to  say  we  are  some,  and  some  day  we  may  be  the  county  seat  of  Wayne 
county.  Who  can  tell  ? 

Mr.  Taggart  is  getting  quite  feeble  and  suffers  from  infirmities  received 
in  his  younger  days,  but  he  has  a remarkable  memory  and  is  a quiet  and  in- 
offensive citizen.  At  one  time  he  was  quite  wealthy,  but  lost  his  means  many 
years  ago  through  his  generosity  of  heart  to  friends. 

VILLAGE  OF  SHREVE. 

Shreve,  incorporated  in  December,  1859,  is  located  in  the  southeast  part  • 
of  Clinton  township  and  was  originally  known  as  Clinton  Station,  but  when 
incorporated  the  name  was  changed  to  Shreve.  It  was  named  in  honor  of 


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Pioneer  Thomas  Shreve,  who  came  to  the  county  in  1817  and  settled  in  Clinton 
township  in  1821.  Shreve  was  made  by  the  coming  of  the  railroad,  and  has 
always  been  a good  town  or  village.  The  north  portion  was  laid  out  by  D. 
Foltz  and  George  Stewart  and  the  south  part  by  Thomas  McConkey  and  D. 
K.  Jones — ten  acres  on  each  side  of  the  track,  but  it  has  long  since  extended 
far  beyond  these  limits.  It  now  has  a population  of  about  fourteen  hundred. 
The  first  sale  of  lots  was  in  March,  1853.  The  first  lots  in  the  village  were 
purchased  by  D.  K.  Jones  and  on  them  he  erected  a store  room  and  residence. 
The  first  building  built  in  the  place  was  a two-story  frame  house,  erected  by 
Neal  Power  in  1853.  D.  K.  Jones  was  the  first  postmaster  after  the  office 
was  moved  to  the  new  village,  but  Thomas  Shreve  had  been  postmaster  some 
years  before  while  the  office  was  at  his  house  in  the  country  near  by.  D.  K. 
Jones  also  had  the  first  dry  goods  store.  Christian  Roth  had  the  first  hotel. 
The  first  doctor  was  W.  Battles,  M.  D.,  who  located  here  in  1853.  James 
Number’s  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  place,  and  the  first  \voman  that  died 
was  Miss  Barbara  Muterspaugh. 

VILLAGE  OFFICERS. 

The  following  have  served  as  mayors  of  Shreve,  the  first  election  being 
held  at  the  old  hotel  March  10,  i860,  resulting  as  follows:  Mayor.  V.  D. 

Manson ; recorder,  William  M.  Knox ; trustees,  D.  K.  Jones,  John  Robison, 
Joseph  Dyarman,  James  Taylor  and  William  Johnson.  1861,  mayor,  Abra- 
ham Tidball;  1862,  Henry  Everly;  1863,  William  J.  Bertolett,  M.  D. : 1864, 
Z.  Lovett;  1865,  V.  D.  Manson;  1866,  V.  D.  Manson;  1867,  Elmer  Oldroyd; 
1868,  John  Pomeroy;  1869,  J-  H.  Hunter:  1870,  W.  J.  Bertolett;  1871,  C. 
M.  Kenton  ; 1872,  John  Robinson  ; 1873,  John  Robinson  ; 1874,  John  Williams  ; 
1875,  John  Williams;  1876,  Daniel  Barcits;  1877.  Daniel  Barcus;  1878.  Mi- 
chael Boothe;  1879,  John  Hughes;  1880,  William  Barry;  1881.  John  Will- 
iams; (record  lost  bv  fire  for  few  years)  : 1894-96,  Charles  Wilent;  1896-98, 
E.  G.  Oldroyd;  1898-1902.  E.  D.  Bruce;  1902-03,  John  M.  Moore:  1903-06, 
G.  Critchfield ; 1906-08.  A.  P.  Merkle;  1908-10.  O.  D.  Bruce. 

The  present  town  officers  are:  Mayor,  O.  D.  Bruce;  councilmen,  Frank: 
Denny,  Arthur  Campbell.  Joseph  Biggs,  Julius  Gleitzeman,  David  Cornelius. 
P.  E.  Miller;  clerk,  Janies  H.  Bonham;  marshal.  William  Priest;  treasurer, 
Wilev  Miller. 

Sh  reve  has  had  a good  system  of  water  works  since  1893.  The  tubular 
well  system  is  employed  and  the  water  is  now  being  pumped  to  a reservoir  on 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO.  5605 

the  hill  to  the  north  of  the  town.  The  quality  of  water  is  excellent  and  in 
abundance  for  both  fire  protection  and  domestic  uses. 

Electric  lights  have  been  the  illuminating  process  in  the  village  since  1895, 
when  E.  K.  Gardner  installed  a plant  and  conducted  it  as  the  only  one  there 
until  about  1891,  when  a company  of  citizens  formed  a stock  company  and  in- 
stalled a new  plant,  and  both  are  now  operating.  Quite  a local  fight  was  got- 
ten up  over  this  new  plant,  and  Mr.  Gardner  persisted  in  running  and  is  today 
furnishing  light  for  the  streets  of  Shreve  at  a mere  nominal  sum. 

THE  POSTOFFICE. 

As  -il ready  noted,  the  postoffice  was  at  first  in  the  country  and  known  as 
Clinton,  but  with  the  building  of  the  village  it  was  transferred  to  Shreve.  The 
postmasters  serving  have  been  as  follows : Thomas  Shreve,  D.  K.  Jones, 
Albert  Richardson,  William  Knox,  Peter  Housel,  W.  W.  Wise,  S.  M.  Robin- 
son, Peter  Housel,  R.  S.  Critchfield. 

The  rural  free  delivery  system  was  put  in  operation  from  Shreve  in 
1902  and  now  four  routes  run  out  from  the  place. 

CHURCHES  AND  LODGES. 

Shreve  is  well  supplied  with  churches  and  lodges.  There  are  lodges  of 
the  Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Maccabees  and  Modem  Woodmen  of 
America,  all  thriving  at  this  date.  See  Lodge  chapter  in  this  work. 

The  churches,  which  are  spoken  of  at  length  in  the  Church  chapter,  are 
the  Methodist  Episcopal,  Christian  and  Presbyterian. 

The  professions  are  represented  in  Shreve  as  follows : Attorney,  L.  G. 
Cornell;  physicians,  I.  H.  Hague  (retired),  R.  C Paul,  H.  B.  Bertolett  and 
E.  M.  Funk.  The  dentist  of  the  place  is  Dr.  H.  C.  Graham. 

The  banking  is  well  cared  for  by  two  substantial  banks,  the  Farmers’ 
Bank  and  the  Citizens’  Banking  Company. 

INDUSTRIAL  CONCERNS. 

While  Shreve  has  never  laid  claim  to  being  a factorv  village,  yet  one  finds 
a lively  interest  in  the  following  producing  plants : The  roller  flouring  mills 

of  D.  E.  Foltz  & Son;  two  gram  elevators;  one  creamery;  one  newspaper,  the 
News;  one  boot  and  shoe  store;  two  drug  stores;  one  jeweler;  five  groceries; 


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one  general  store;  one  exclusive  dry  goods  store;  one  exclusive  clothing  store: 
one  commercial  hotel,  the  Carr;  two  millineries;  one  photograph  gallery:  one 
monument  work  shop:  one  livery;  one  auto  livery;  one  harness  shop;  two 
blacksmiths ; two  furniture  stores ; three  hardwares ; two  meat  markets ; one 
barber  shop 

VILLAGE  OF  WEST  SALEM. 

West  Salem  was  platted  by  Peter  and  John  Rickel.  June  14,  1834.  It 
was  incorporated  in  1868.  It  is  situated  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner  of 
Wayne  county,  in  Congress  township.  It  now  has  a population  of  seven  hun- 
dred within  the  limits  proper  and  about  seventy-five  just  without  the  corpora- 
tion limits.  It  is  lighted  by  a system  of  gasoline  lamps  that  are  almost  if  not 
equal  to  electricity  in  illuminating  power.  This  plant  was  put  in  in  1909. 
The  place  is  served  bv  a semi-volunteer  fire  department,  of  which  the  twenty- 
six  members,  all  business  men,  receive  the  nominal  sum  of  five  dollars  per  year. 
The  water  is  secured  from  fourteen  large  street  cisterns;  the  apparatus  for 
fighting  fire  consists  of  hook  and  ladder  trucks,  one  thousand  feet  of  hose 
and  chemical  fire  extinguishers. 

About  1900  a fine  large  brick  “city  hall,”  two  stories  high,  was  erected 
by  bonding  the  city.  The  debt  is  now'  about  all  paid.  This  building  cost 
about  fourteen  thousand  dollars  and  the  upper  story  is  used  for  opera  hall 
purposes,  under  a local  manager. 

MAYORS  AND  TOWN  OFFICERS. 

Since  the  village  was  incorporated,  the  mayors  have  been  as  follows : D. 
H.  Ambrose,  1868:  David  Mitchell,  1869;  E.  McFadden,  1870;  John  Shank, 
1871 ; John  Shank,  1873:  John  W.  Read,  1874,  John  W.  Read,  1875;  James 
Jeffrey,  1876.  Then  came  E.  W.  McFadden  and  D.  C.  Eckerman;  John 
Wiley,  1898-90;  Eli  Rupert,  1890-93:  J.  H.  Wiley,  1903,  and  still  serving. 

The  town  officers  in  1909  were:  Mayor.  J.  H.  Wiley:  clerk,  John  Pat- 
terson; treasurer,  F.  L.  Berry;  marshal,  John  Rhodes;  coitncilmen,  O.  I. 
Wiley,  E.  B.  Pfostetler,  William  Taylor,  L.  V.  Patterson  and  William  Salem. 

POSTAL  HISTORY. 

There  were  established  two  rural  free  delivery  routes  out  from  West 
Salem  in  1902  and  three  more  added  in  1904.  The  length  of  each  route  is 
twenty-five  miles. 

From  the  time  the  office  was  established,  in  Civil  war  days,  John  Hennv 
was  postmaster  for  many  years.  Following  him  came  the  following  gentle- 


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men:  1882-86,  James  Stephenson;  1886-90,  Joseph  Kipinger;  1890-94,  James 
Stephenson;  1894-98,  Captain  Mitchell;  1898  to  present  date  (1909)  Tom  J. 
Smith. 

The  professional  men  of  the  village  at  this  time  are : Drs.  J.  W.  Fer- 
guson, E.  C.  Radebaugh  and  G.  C.  Smith,  medical  doctors ; Dr.  R.  C.  Wallace, 
dentist;  S.  T.  Topper,  veterinary  surgeon;  attorneys,  J.  V.  Keller  and  Grant 
Goshorn ; real  estate  dealer,  I.  N.  Mann. 

VARIOUS  INDUSTRIES. 

The  Greeley  Milling  Company  does  an  extensive  flouring  business,  being 
located  just  outside  the  town  corporation  limits.  This  mill  was  originally  an 
old-fashioned  buhr-stone  mill,  but  was  later  changed  to  a roller  mill  and  in 
1903  was  equipped  with  the  latest  flouring-mill  process  of  roller  milling,  since 
which  time  it  has  been  doing  an  excellent  business. 

The  retail  trade  of  West  Salem  is  represented  as  follows : One  dry  goods 
and  furniture  store,  one  dry  goods  and  millinery,  one  general  store,  three  shoe 
stores,  two  exclusive  grocery  stores,  one  clothing  store,  two  hardware  stores, 
two  drug  stores,  one  meat  shop,  two  harness  shops,  two  restaurants,  one  hotel, 
two  liveries,  two  exclusive  millineries,  one  grain  elevator,  one  jeweler,  one 
lumber  dealer,  one  coal  dealer,  one  tile  factory,  one  pool  room,  one  bakery  and 
two  barber  shops,  one  newspaper,  the  Reporter. 

CHURCHES  AND  LODGES. 

The  churches  are  the  Presbyterian,  worshiping  in  a neat  brick,  modern- 
built  edifice,  with  a membership  of  about  fifty. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  still  worship  in  the  frame  building  erected  in 
1871,  but  which  was  remodeled  in  1907. 

The  other  church  is  the  Evangelical,  an  account  of  which  will  appear  in 
the  Church  chapter  in  this  volume. 

The  lodges  of  a secret  order  are  as  follows : The  Masonic,  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Maccabees. 

OTHER  INTERESTS. 

The  schools  of  West  Salem  have  long  been  the  pride  of  the  place.  In 
1878  a large  brick  building  was  constructed  at  a cost  of  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars,  which  with  some  repairs  is  still  doing  good  service.  When  built  it 
was  known  as  the  best  school  house  in  Wayne  county,  save  the  ones  at  Wooster. 

The  town  is  supplied  with  two  good  banks  and  is  on  the  Cleveland  & 
Southwestern  electric  railway  line,  as  well  as  on  the  Erie  steam  railroad  line. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL 


HON.  LYMAN  R.  CRITCHFIELD. 

Hon.  Lyman  R.  Critchfield,  ex-attorney-general  of  Ohio,  who  forms  the 
subject  of  this  notice,  was  born  May  22,  1831,  at  Danville,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  son  of  Reuben  Trautman  Critchfield,  a native  of  Virginia,  and  Nancy 
Caroline  Hardesty,  a native  of  Maryland;  his  great-grandfather,  Nathaniel 
Critchfield,  who  was  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his  maternal  grandfather, 
Henry  Hardesty,  were  farmers.  His  father  moved  from  Danville  to  Millers- 
burg  in  1834,  where  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  several  years. 

Mr.  Critchfield  was  educated  in  the  Millersburg  public  schools  and  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  LTniversity  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated,  receiving  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  and  Master  of  Arts. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  George  E. 
Pugh,  Columbus,  Ohio,  who  was  at  that  time  attorney-general  of  the  state. 
In  1853  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court  and  immediately 
thereafter  began  practicing  at  Millersburg.  He  practiced  six  years  in  Cleve- 
land and  for  the  last  eighteen  years  has  been  practicing  in  Wooster,  Ohio. 
His  brother,  Leander  Jerome  Critchfield,  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  this  state 
and  was  for  a time  reporter  to  the  supreme  court.  Besides  practicing  in  the 
supreme  courts  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Critchfield  practices  in  the  federal,  district  and 
circuit  courts  and  supreme  court  of  the  United  States  at  Washington.  He 
was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  in  1859,  and  re- 
elected in  1861,  resigning  in  1862  when  he  was  elected  attorney-general,  serv- 
ing one  term  from  1863  to  1865  and  was  nominated  for  a second  term  in 
1864,  but  was  defeated  with  the  party  ticket.  In  1865  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate,  served  one  term  and  resigned.  Among  other  public  offices  he  has 
held  are,  school  director  of  Millersburg  and  also  president  of  the  council  of 
the  city  of  Wooster. 

Politically,  Mr.  Critchfield  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  gives  most  thought 
to  the  strict  construction  and  practice  of  the  federal  and  state  constitutions, 
and  especially  to  the  rights  of  the  people  reserved  in  these  instruments.  In 
1868  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  by  the  Democrats  in  the  district  com- 


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posed  of  Holmes,  Wavne.  Ashland.  Lorain  and  Medina  counties.  In  1887 
he  was  nominated  for  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio  by  the  Democratic 
party  in  convention  at  Cleveland;  in  1888  he  was  again  nominated  for  the 
same  position  at  the  convention  held  at  Dayton. 

O11  October  2,  1854,  Mr.  Critchfield  was  married  to  Adelaide  Margaret 
Shaffer ; their  children  are  : Edith  ; Grace  ; Henry,  the  doctor ; Mary  ; Blanche ; 
Lyman,  Jr.,  the  lawyer;  and  Nellie.  He  of  whom  this  is  written  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Wooster,  Ohio,  where  his  law  office  is  also  located. 

In  Ben  Douglas’  “Wayne  County  Lawyers,”  a volume  published  recently, 
the  author  pays  this  tribute  to  Mr.  Critchfield: 

“As  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  and  foremost  thinkers 
in  that  organization,  he  has  fought  congressional  battles,  handicapped  from 
the  outset  with  disaster-boding  majorities,  which,  however,  never  abated  his 
ardor  or  enthusiasm  in  the  conflict.  * * * Whether  in  county,  judicial, 

congressional,  state  or  national  campaigns,  he  is  ever  ready  with  his  service 
for  his  party  organization.  Wherever  he  goes  he  is  greeted  with  enthusiastic 
audiences  as  an  attractive,  aggressive,  fluent,  logical  and  masterful  champion 
of  the  principles  of  his  party. 

“To  the  active  practice  of  the  law,  when  he  entered  upon  its  complex 
duties  and  responsibilities,  he  brought  the  qualifications  and  forces  of  a drilled, 
disciplined  and  brilliant  intellect.  He  did  not  enter  the  list  unarmed,  or  ill 
equipped,  to  be  battered,  bruised  and  mangled  in  an  unequal  contest  with  the 
grim  old  veterans  of  the  then  Wooster  and  northern  Ohio  bar.  His  force  and 
effectiveness  is  strongly  emphasized  in  his  arguments  to  the  jury,  as  he  seems 
not  so  much  to  look  at  them,  as  to  look  through  them,  less  for  the  purpose  of 
seeing  how  they  feel,  than  to  rivet  their  attention, — as  it  were  to  grasp  their 
minds  by  the  compass  of  his  own.  The  calm  and  masterly  manner  in  which 
he  dis]X)ses  of  the  preliminary  considerations,  is  the  reminder  of  the  experi- 
enced general,  quietly  arranging  his  forces  and  preparing  to  press  down  in 
overwhelming  force  upon  a single  point.  His  manner  becomes  arodsed;  his 
action  animated.  In  the  careful  construction  of  sentences,  nice  choice  of 
words,  musical  balancing  of  phrases  and  marshalling  of  arguments,  he  has 
no  superior,  if  indeed  an  equal,  in  Ohio.” 

Mr.  Douglas  further  says,  in  illustrating  his  subject:  “These  qualities 
greatly  aid  the  speaker  in  winning  his  way  at  the  outset  in  the  hearts  of  those 
whom  he  is  addressing,  and  in  preparing  them  to  receive  his  ideas  and  argu- 
ments. When  arguments  are  flounced  in  scholarly  language  such  as  Mr. 
Critchfield  seldom  fails  to  employ  and  illustrated  by  beautiful  figures  of 


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speech,  the  impression  produced  is  apt  to  be  as  deep  and  enduring  as  that 
made  by  a more  phosphorescent,  florid,  fervid  and  tempestuous  style  of  ora- 
tory. Stepping  aside  to  the  consideration  of  him  outside  of  his  profession, 
he  has  an  imagination  of  distinctly  diversified  and  comprehensive  acquisitions; 
as  was  said  of  Whipple,  the  prince  of  our  American  essayists,  ‘he  is  an  ency- 
clopedia individualized  and  is  familiar  with  history,  science,  art,  agri- 
culture, geology,  theology,  poetry,  and  what  is  desirable  to  know/ 

“To  whatever  subject  his  attention  may  be  called,  though  it  be  one  which 
you  would  suppose  to  be  utterly  strange  to  his  thoughts,  he  is  enabled  upon 
the  slightest  meditation  to  impart  an  interest,  a glow  of  life,  a surprising  il- 
lumination; in  this  respect  Mr.  Critchfield’s  intellect  is  similar  to  that  of 
Guizot,  of  whom  it  was  said : ‘No  one  could  surprise  him,  but  from  whom 

you  never  failed  to  receive  instruction/ 

“With  his  legal  learning,  his  accurate  conceptions  of  the  law,  his  power 
and  supremacy  as  an  advocate,  his  adroitness  in  argument,  his  incisive  logic, 
his  tact  and  foresight  in  the  examination  of  witnesses  and  the  analysis  of 
testimony,  his  historical  equipment  and  classical  style,  his  measured  sentences 
properly  emphasized  to  give  the  intended  force  to  his  language,  he  rapidly 
rose  to  be  one  of  the  formidable,  forensic  gladiators  of  the  Ohio  bar.  To 
the  court  he  is  ever  courteous,  respectful  and  dignified;  in  contentions  with 
opposing  counsel,  cautious  without  being  timid,  resolute,  but  not  rash,  firm, 
but  not  obstinate;  to  the  jury  he  administers  a common  sense  philosophy  of 
the  law,  the  simple  deductions  of  reason,  a harmonious  and  symmetrical  array 
of  facts,  and  this  in  a brilliant,  rapid,  piercing  way  ; not  like  the  eye  of  Cy- 
clops, letting  in  a flood  of  rushing  and  furious  splendor,  but  a Drummond 
light,  illuminating  without  impairing  what  it  shines  upon.  He  has  philosophy, 
the  faculty  and  facility  of  presentation,  volume  and  elasticity  of  expression, 
picturesqueness  of  imagination,  and  almost  poetical  brilliancy,  which  invests 
his  qualities  with  width  and  breadth  and  fascination  peculiarly  his  own.  He 
collects  his  illustrations  from  the  fields  of  nature  and  art,  and  levies  contribu- 
tions on  literature  and  science.  Everything  in  his  manner  and  matter  be- 
trays the  sinew  and  strength  of  the  orator,  the  tone  of  his  voice,  the  curve  and 
sweep  of  his  arm,  the  splenetic  glance  of  his  eye,  the  burning  scorn,  the 
blazing  indignation;  the  cogency  and  force  of  his  arguments,  the  inevitable 
force  of  his  retortion  and  the  nervous  vigor  of  style  of  a Canning. 

“His  prepared  orations,  addresses  and  readings  are  completed  with 
severest  care.  As  a sculptor  chisels  down  and  finishes  his  statue,  chipping 
and  clipping  away  the  stone  to  find  within  his  beautiful  ideal,  so  it  is  he  elab- 
orates his  thoughts  until  they  assume  the  shapes  he  would  give  them.  His 


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literary  tastes  are  pure  and  their  products  rank  with  the  most  finished  emana- 
tions of  Whipple.  Everett,  Sumner,  Wirt  or  Curtiss.  They  might  be  en- 
titled to  the  appellation  of  prose  poems,  for  he  has  the  poet’s  divine  insight. 
He  has  a ready  appreciation  of  the  proprieties  of  language,  thought  and  man- 
ner, as  established  by  the  usages  of  society,  and  a refined  sympathy  with  the 
sentiments  of  the  purest  intellects.  In  him  we  see  the  human  mind  in  many 
of  its  exalted  aspects;  there  is  so  much  of  man  forced  into  it  that  it  appears 
in  fine  proportions.  He  is  the  kindest  and  tenderest  of  men;  loved  his  wife, 
and  in  his  memoriam  of  her  is  the  passion  of  Petrarch  and  the  consuming  love 
of  Abelard.  He  is  attached  to  his  family  and  friends,  and  loves  his  country 
with  an  affection  that  is  felt  in  his  heart,  and  which  dilates  his  individuality 
to  the  size  of  a national  individuality. 

“Upon  all  appropriate  occasions  he  champions  not  only  the  noble,  but 
the  noblest  of  principles  within  his  knowledge.  Mr.  Critchfield  not  only 
possesses  the  endowment  of  superior  mental  qualities,  but  of  the  heart  equally 
and  assuredly  so.  In  this  connection,  the  sentence  of  St.  Beuve,  in  one  of 
his  memorable  essays  on  Pascal,  may  with  appropriateness  be  quoted : ‘He 

is  good,  and  great  in  heart  and  mind,  which  strong  minds  not  always  are; 
and  all  he  did  in  the  sphere  of  the  mind  and  the  sphere  of  the  heart,  bears 
the  stamp  of  invention  and  originality,  which  attests  the  force,  depth  and 
an  ardent  mind,  so  to  speak,  ravenous  in  pursuit  of  investigation  and  truth.’ 

“He  is  an  admirer  of  the  elegancies  of  art.  This  passion  is  innate  with 
him,  and  it  is  a child  of  his  religious  instinct;  because  the  highest  and  best 
works  in  architecture,  sculpture  and  painting,  poetry  and  music  have  been 
derived  out  of  an  imagination  of  nature  at  whose  shrine  he  is  a worshipper.” 


MRS.  ADELAIDE  M.  CRITCHFIELD. 

The  beautiful  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  wife  of  Hon.  L.  R.  Critchfield. 
departed  this  life  October  6,  1895.  As  of  all  beautiful  women,  the  elegance 
of  her  personality  is  indescribable, — a composite  glow  of  vital  forces.  All 
her  sacred  vitality,  so  beautifully  manifested,  so  lovely  to  contemplate,  flashed 
its  last  electric  grace,  beamed  its  last  auroral  flushes,  and  one  more  of  the 
reproachless,  innocent  martyrs  of  earth,  an  adornment  of  her  race,  returned 
to  the  God  who  gave  her,  in  a last  and  crowning  act  of  sacrifice.  Around 
such  a life,  so  terminated,  there  were  exceptional  manifestations  of  public 
regard ; eulogies,  both  public  and  private,  were  spoken  of  her,  as  a lady  of  rare 


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attainments  and  attraction  in  society;  as  a leader  in  benevolences,  and  in 
religious  influences,  and  as  an  advanced  advocate  of  the  high  prerogatives 
of  women.  The  Wooster  Daily  Republican , the  Wayne  County  Democrat , 
the  Wayne  County  Herald , the  Century  Club,  the  Women’s  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  : her  personal  friends  among  the  professors  of  Wooster  Univer- 
sity and  the  State  Agricultural  Station;  teachers  in  the  public  schools, 
physicians  and  citizens  of  Wooster,  and  many  ladies  of  Wooster,  and  her 
friends  in  other  places,  gave  her  many  commendatory  eulogies. 

The  funeral  services  took  place  at  two  o’clock  of  Tuesday,  October  8th, 
at  the  family  residence  on  North  Market  street,  Wooster.  The  courts 
adjourned  in  honor  of  her  memory,  and  the  judges  and  members  of  the 
bar  and  the  officers  of  the  county  and  of  the  city  attended  the  funeral  in  a 
body.  The  tribute  of  flowers,  by  the  Century  Club,  was  large  and  beautiful, 
in  memory  of  her  who  was  so  pleasant  a friend,  and  whose  sad  and  untimely 
death  brought  profound  sorrow  to  the  hearts  of  numerous  friends  in  the 
city  of  Wooster  and  elsewhere.  She  died  as  a martyr.  Possessed  of  remark- 
able courage,  seeing  the  home  on  fire,  and  attempting  to  extinguish  it,  she 
received  her  fatal  injuries. 

Mrs.  Critchfield  was  a daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  Shaffer,  and  his  wife, 
Margaret  McClure,  daughter  of  Matthew  McClure,  Sr.  She  was  bom  in 
Wooster,  May  12,  1834,  making  her  age,  at  her  death,  sixty-one  years,  four 
months  and  twenty-four  days.  On  October  2,  1854,  she  married  Hon.  L.  R. 
Critchfield,  by  which  union  were  the  following  sons  and  daughters:  Edith, 

Grace,  Mary,  Blanche,  Henry,  Nellie  and  Lyman  R.,  Jr. 

The  character  of  the  deceased  was,  in  many  respects,  a public  one. 
She  was  born  and  reared  in  the  city  of  Wooster  and  was  intimately  associated 
with  the  old  families  whose  descendants  constituted  the  society  of  the  city. 
Her  vivacity,  her  beauty  and  genial  disposition,  and  the  high  standing  of 
her  family,  made  for  her  a ready  welcome.  Her  grandfather,  Jacob  Shaffer, 
was  a soldier  of  the  war  of  1812;  her  uncle,  Hiram  Shaffer,  was  an  elocpient 
Methodist  preacher;  her  father.  Dr.  Moses  Shaffer,  practiced  medicine  in 
Wooster  for  fifty  years;  he  was  a remarkable  man  for  energy  and  courage, 
and  this  oldest  daughter,  Adelaide,  became  his  companion  in  his  professional 
visits,  and  her  acquainatnce  became  general  in  every  section  of  the  county  : 
her  brother,  Dr.  Hiram  M.  Shaffer,  was  celebrated  for  his  genius  and  skill 
as  a physician  and  surgeon;  her  brothers,  Hiram,  James  and  Horace,  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war;  her  mother,  Margaret  McClure,  was  one  of  a 
large  and  noble  family  of  the  early  settlers;  her  grandparents,  the  McClures, 
were  a saintly  couple  of  high  and  spotless  character.  The  deceased  had  all 


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the  splendid  virtues  and  splendid  courage  of  her  family  so  widely  known, 
and  she  enjoyed  in  an  eminent  degree  the  popularity  of  the  family  descent  and 
standing.  She  knew  many  of  the  distinguished  men  in  public  life,  and  was 
familiar  with  public  thought  and  public  matters.  She  was  a practical  woman 
of  great  attractions  in  manners  and  geniality:  well  educated  and  thoughtful, 
she  had  a fine  faculty  of  sociability  in  a public  way;  she  was  winning  with 
her  smiles  and  genuine  womanly  greetings;  she  loved  and  attended  public 
meetings,  religious,  literary,  musical,  dramatic  and  political.  With  a num- 
ber of  the  leading  ladies  of  Wooster,  she  attended  a school  of  parliamentary 
teaching  and  became  a parliamentarian.  She  was  not  a woman  of  no  politics, 
but  had  views  on  the  rights  of  women,  and  of  the  people;  she  had  inherited 
anti-slaverj''  principles;  she  was  wholly  on  the  side  of  temperance  and  temper- 
ance organizations ; she  had  more  than  ordinary  public  spirit.  In  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wooster,  in  the  State  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  in  the  Balti- 
more & Ohio  railroad,  in  the  acquisition  of  manufactures,  in  the  beautify- 
ing of  the  city,  she  manifested  the  greatest  pleasure. 

In  her  life  with  her  neighbors,  she  was  winning  in  her  address,  and  in 
her  last  repose  there  lingered  upon  her  countenance  the  expression  of  the 
lovely  nature  that  was  at  peace  with  all  the  world. 

In  person  she  was  esteemed  as  the  most  beautiful  of  women.  Being 
five  feet  seven  inches  in  height,  and  her  development  large  and  symmetrical, 
of  beautiful  face,  dark,  hazel  eyes  and  dark  hair:  swift  and  agile  in  motion, 
tasteful  in  dress,  she  reminded  one  of  the  Miltonian  Eve, 

“Grace  was  in  all  her  steps. 

Heaven  in  her  eyes. 

In  every  gesture,  dignity 
And  love.” 

She  was  the  offspring  of  magnificent  parentage.  The  fine  muscular 
perfection  of  her  father,  the  healthy  grace  and  elegant  form  of  her  mother, 
and  the  cultivated  moral  sensibilities  of  both,  invested  this  first  child  of  their 
love  with  the  warmth  and  brilliancy  of  a beauty,  and  a purity  of  heart,  that 
gave  her  a rivalry  of  charms  over  her  generation:  she  was  radiant  without 
exertion,  and  the  electric  bloom  of  her  exuberant  health  was  in  beaming  and 
beautiful  repose.  There  was  royalty  in  the  pulsations  of  her  blood,  and  in 
the  radiations  of  her  graces,  in  the  nobility  of  her  delicaev  and  perfections  of 
form,  and  in  the  persistent  magnanimity  of  her  nature.  She  was  loftier  and 


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more  queenly  endowed  than  common  life,  .classed  with  the  now  hundreds 
of  American  women  who  are  subverting  the  depreciated  lines  of  the  aristoc- 
racy, and  that  transcend  the  Greek  female  of  the  magnificent  reign  of  Pericles, 
or  the  dignity  and  beauty  of  the  Roman  matron  whose  splendor  was  deemed 
necessary  to  be  suppressed  by  a decree  of  the  Roman  Senate. 

How  beautiful  she  was! 

Look  at  her  picture  and  see  that  admirable  expression,  that  symmetry  of 
head  and  neck  and  shoulders.  She  speaks  her  words  of  love  with  carmine 
lips;  the  bust  significant  of  a form  of  beauty,  graceful,  open  faced,  beaming 
and  reflective.  They  bespeak  for  her  the  admiration  spontaneously  given  to 
superior  personality ; the  splendid  evidences  of  the  American  woman. 

Mrs.  Critchfield’s  home  was  one  of  plenty  and  fashion.  Her  father 
was  gentlemanly,  refined,  eminent  as  a physician,  easy  in  his  finances,  and 
noted  for  his  fine  carriages  and  blooded  horses;  her  mother  was  distinguished 
for  her  beauty,  and  both  were  in  the  social  current  of  Wooster,  then  the 
most  fashionable  of  towns,  and  noted  for  its  expensively  equipped  and  fash- 
ionable ladies  and  gentlemen.  Of  all  was  Adelaide  the  most  admired,  and 
the  most  loved  for  her  gracious  and  gentle  disposition  and  manners. 

For  all  the  members  of  her  family  circle  she  was  endowed  with  personal 
regard.  Love  of  her  native  place  of  Wooster  and  the  nearby  country  life 
of  her  friends  was  characteristic,  and  she  often  expatiated  on  the  beauties  of 
nature,  and  revisited  the  scenes  of  her  childhood,  and  often  related  her 
pedestrian  and  equestrian  exploits  that  developed  her  wealth  of  muscle  and 
limb.  She  was  a lover  of  ancient  trees  and  country  landscapes.  Her  public 
spirit,  the  consciousness  of  her  own  graces;  her  spirit  of  family  love,  and 
love  of  all  sublime  things  of  nature,  mingled  in  poetic  enthusiasm  in  her 
domestic  labors  and  pleasures. 

In  the  conditions  of  life  she  was  a creative  artist.  To  have  singing  birds 
and  flowers  and  gold  fish,  to  hear  the  twitter  of  a canary,  and  feel  the  flutter 
of  the  flowers  as  she  lifted  their  heads  with  dewy  fingers;  to  see  her  gold 
fish  rush,  with  burnished  scales,  to  meet  her  approach,  were  her  daily 
enjoyment. 

The  family  life  was  constantly  adorned  with  the  versatility  of  her 
domestic  genius,  and  sanctified  bv  her  elegant  goodness  and  kindness  that 
in  a long  life  was  never  known  to  degenerate  into  anger.  Taste  in  dress 
and  beauty  of  conduct  reigned  supreme  in  her  household.  LTpon  the  harp  of 
domestic  life,  she  played  soft  melodies  by  her  magnetic  presence.  With  her 
children  she  was  like  the  deer  with  her  young  in  the  covert.  The  noises  of 


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fhe  night  met  her  springing  with  athletic  solicitude  to  their  rescue.  Her 
social  graces  were  an  inspiration.  She  was  hospitable  and  gracious,  disarm- 
ing all  doubt  of  welcome,  and  winning  the  love  of  every  creature.  Her 
benevolence  not  only  was  extended  to  prominent  visitors,  which  was  very 
frequent,  but  to  every  ragged  and  hungry  wanderer  that  reached  her  door. 
There  wras  genius  in  her  management  of  home;  in  the  art  of  preparing  food 
she  was  a master;  in  the  science  of  housekeeping  she  was  a magician;  ever 
hanging  beautiful  wreaths  upon  dingy  places. 

She  was  divine  in  her  home.  Her  patience,  her  industry,  her  faithful- 
ness, her  wrise  teaching  and  influence,  were  the  incarnated  spirit  of  domestic 
life.  The  inspiration  of  heaven  was  upon  her  to  make  a happy  home,  a place 
that  her  family  would  love,  and  her  love  gave  her  the  sublimest  energy. 
Her  children  and  family  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed.  Her  daughters  loved 
her,  and  reposed  their  heads  upon  her  bosom,  encircled  her  with  their  amis, 
wooed  her  by  endearing  terms,  and  kissed  away  the  lines  of  care;  and  her 
sons,  with  no  less  enthusiasm  of  love,  attended  her  and  worshipped  her  as  a 
goddess. 

Some  special  virtues  of  her  life  assumed  peculiar  prominence.  A more 
than  ordinary  education  illumined  the  life  and  family  of  this  exceptional 
wroman ; she  w as  a counselor,  comforter  and  inspirer.  Her  earlier  years 
were  taught  in  the  Wooster  schools  of  Mrs.  Pope  and  Miss  Kate  Rex  (Mrs. 
McSvveeney).  She  attended  the  female  college  at  Granville,  Ohio,  and  the 
female  college  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  Accompanying  the  Wooster  schools  were 
institutions  that  taught  and  developed  the  graces  of  motion  and  manners 
which  she.  with  other  young  ladies  of  Wooster,  attended.  During  all  her 
life  her  step  was  light  and  her  motions  graceful  and  polished.  In  her  domestic 
life  this  grace  and  polish  adorned  her.  Her  soft  footstep  going  and  coming 
in  daily  duties,  the  rustle  of  her  dress,  the  gentle  voice  of  household  govern- 
ment, her  noiseless  coming  through  the  rooms,  her  swift  touch,  and  grace- 
ful poise,  and  agile  motion,  and  elastic  manners,  were  the  perfection  of 
versatility,  and  in  the  days  of  trailing  skirts,  when  in  full  dress,  gave  her 
a queenly  stateliness  equaled  by  few ; and  this  fine  taste  and  educated  grace- 
fulness distinguished  her  family ; and  her  personal  labors  in  clothing  her 
children  had  the  touch  of  rare  and  finished  skillfulness. 

There  was  a dramatic  beauty  in  her  love  of  children;  she  crooned 
sweet  cadences  over  their  cradles,  and  showered  soft  whistling  bird-toned 
endearment,  and  the  echoes  of  angelic  sighs,  and  sweet-lipped  wreaths  of 
smiles,  upon  their  tender  lives;  the  benevolence  of  her  life  wTas  a fixed  habit 
and  always  marked  the  family  epochs  with  generous  presents. 


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Her  peculiar  habit  of  associating  with  the  aged  adorned  her  with  a mild 
and  gentle  temperament;  the  old  mothers  of  Millersburg  and  Wooster  loved 
her.  Her  tender  vigils  at  the  bed  of  the  sick;  her  beautiful  composure  and 
skill;  the  enthralling  advances  of  her  greeting;  the  electricity  of  her  touch, 
seem  now  a lovely  presence. 

She  was  an  heroic  woman,  without  fear  and  without  reproach;  she  had 
the  inflexible  persistence  of  hereditary  blood ; she  breasted  the  wintry  roads, 
and  rode  down  the  storm,  and  lifted  her  family  on,  with  the  irresistibility 
of  her  royal  nature;  her  brown  eyes  opened  with  inflexible  pleasantness  at 
precautionary  suggestions;  she  lived  in  the  profundity  of  nerve  repose;  she 
was  not  marred  by  disease,  and  rejoiced  through  all  her  years  in  the  healthy 
functions  of  constitutional  perfection ; she  met  each  day  with  noble  and  fear- 
less purpose,  and  in  the  threatening  moments  made  her  way  directly  to  the 
point  of  danger;  she  had  no  drop  of  coward's  blood,  and  to  the  demands 
for  courage  was  a Joan  of  Arc ; and  to  the  demands  of  suffering,  a Florence 
Nightingale. 

She  was  a Christian.  The  family  books  marked  by  her  in  her  moments 
of  leisure  were  not  the  classical  curiosities  of  mythology,  but  the  story  of 
a real  Redeemer,  and  in  this  great  trust  she  taught  her  household.  She  was 
a habitual  reader  of  the  Divine  Word.  From  early  life  she  attended  the 
services  of  the  church ; she  was  a lover  of  music  and  sang  with  great  sweet- 
ness, and  as  her  children  grew,  they  were  trained  by  her  in  the  same  religious 
impressions.  Her  religion  was  more  than  sectarian  life  ; her  education  fitted 
her  for  larger  associations;  of  the  beauties  of  her  life,  none  were  more 
lovely  than  the  generosity  of  her  religious  sentiments;  she  freely  mingled 
with  Christians  of  all  denominations;  she  exemplified  the  character  of  her 
Savior  in  all  the  duties  of  life.  In  the  album  of  her  daughter  Addie  she 
wrote  the  story  of  her  life: 

“May  12,  1884. 

“Dear  Addie : 

“A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches,  and  loving 
favor  rather  than  silver  and  gold. 

“Your  affectionate 

“Mother." 

Thus  on  her  fiftieth  birthday  she  found  no  philosophy  so  great  as 
this  jewel  of  the  Divine  Word. 


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The  daily  life  of  this  mother  and  her  children,  in  their  maturing  years, 
was  a benediction.  As  soon  the  angry  flash  of  ill-nature  would  be  met  in 
the  soft  petals  of  the  rose,  or  in  the  blossom  wafted  upon  a zephyr,  as  from 
the  dimples  that  nestled  in  the  mother’s  smiles,  or  from  the  eyes  that  wooed 
with  her  beckonings  of  melting  azure.  It  was  the  management  of  angelic 
genius!  In  her  daily  motive  there  was  progress.  One  by  one  she  turned 
her  children’s  footsteps  along  the  grooves  of  knowledge;  she  led  them  by 
the-  hand,  encouraged  and  instructed  them  in  useful  ways,  and  watched  their 
slow  ascent  along  the  slopes  of  thought : she  taught  them  the  divine  mystery 
of  the  stars.  Her  love,  like  the  electric  flash  over  many  zones,  illumined  her 
children’s  homes;  as  the  eagle  uplifts  its  young  ones  upon  level  plumes,  and 
assays  to  wing  them  in  her  own  ethereal  heights,  this  noble  mother,  in  her 
holy  vigilance,  guarded  the  tearful  departure  of  her  sons  and  daughters. 

Along  these  fleeting  years  she  lived  a happy  life:  her  home  was  charm- 
ingly decorated  in  artistic  taste;  cool  and  clean  as  a temple,  renovated  with 
hygienic  care;  picturesque,  musical  with  laughter  and  song;  sanctified  by  the 
recognition  of  omnipresence. 

The  family  nurture  was  an  important  part  of  her  philosophy,  in  the 
practical  performance  of  which  her  whole  life  was  distinguished,  and  the 
phenomenal  family  health  attested  the  wisdom  of  her  early  training  as  a 
physician’s  daughter.  And  all  these  beautiful  habits  of  life  were  but  the 
concomitants  of  elegant  physical  and  mental  power.  Her  hand  was  steady; 
her  writing  small,  exact  and  uniform,  the  characteristics  of  the  refinement 
and  polish  of  controlling  nerve,  and  the  beauty  of  her  correspondence  is  but 
another  phase  of  that  same  exceptional  skill  manifested  in  family  nurture, 
in  the  preservation  of  leaves  and  blossoms  in  her  books,  and  in  her  delight  in 
the  beauty  of  her  family;  just  as  her  heroic  impulses  caused  death.  And 
in  all  her  noble  qualities  she  seems  now  to  stand  like  a statue — something  like 
Phidias  made  of  Minerva,  plated  with  gold,  seventy  feet  high,  before  which 
the  Athenians  bowed  as  they  approached  the  colonnades  of  the  Parthenon. 

This  noble  woman  lived  like  a heroine  and  died  like  a martyr.  Twenty- 
four  grandchildren  and  one  great-grandchild  and  the  future  innumerable 
descendants,  will  revere  her  memory. 

When  we  last  saw  this  noble  woman,  her  beautiful  soul  had  left  the 
sunshine  of  its  ascension  upon  every  lineament,  and  the  benevolence  of  her 
life  sat  upon  her  lips. 

Note — In  this  attempted  eulogy  of  one  noble  woman,  the  hundreds  of 
noble  women  of  Wavne  countv  are  intended  to  see  their  own. 


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FRANK  TAGGART. 

In  touching  upon  the  life  history  of  Frank  Taggart,  one  of  the  best- 
known  members  of  the  bar  in  northern  Ohio,  the  biographer  aims  to  avoid 
fulsome  encomium  and  extravagant  praise,  yet  he  desires  to  hold  up  for 
consideration  those  facts  which  have  shown  the  distinction  of  a true,  useful 
and  honorable  life — a life  characterized  by  perseverance,  energy,  broad  charity 
and  well-defined  purpose.  To  do  this  will  be  but  to  reiterate  the  dictum  pro- 
nounced upon  him  by  the  people  who  have  knowrn  him  so  long  and  well. 
And  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  man  in  Wayne  county  occupies  a more  enviable 
position  in  her  civic  and  professional  life,  not  alone  on  account  of  the  suc- 
cess he  has  achieved,  but  also  on  account  of  the  honorable,  straightforward 
business  policy  he  has  ever  followed,  both  in  public  and  private  life. 

Judge  Frank  Taggart  was  bom  in  Smithville,  Wayne  county.  June  6, 
1852,  and  is  the  son  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Taggart,  now7  deceased.  The  elder  Tag- 
gart married  Margaret  McCaughey.  He  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
1840,  from  Belmont  county,  this  state,  locating  near  the  village  of  Smithville, 
and  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  w7as 
very  successful.  He  was  a man  of  strong,  logical  mind,  a scholar  and  espe- 
cially well  grounded  in  historical  and  scientific  subjects,  a profound  and 
methodical  thinker  and  a mathematician  of  much  more  than  ordinary  attain- 
ments. During  the  past  decade  he  abandoned  the  active  duties  of  his  profes- 
sion, which  he  long  honored  during  a very  energetic  and  useful  life,  having, 
while  advancing  his  own  interests  and  that  of  his  family,  at  the  same  time 
contributed  in  no  paltry  degree  to  the  general  advancement  of  his  community, 
being  liberal,  generous,  public-spirited  and  scrupulously  honest. 

When  his  son,  Frank  Taggart,  wras  five  years  of  age  he  moved  to  a farm 
he  had  purchased  about  one  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Wooster,  and 
there  young  Taggart  remained  until  1868,  assisting  writh  the  work  of  devel- 
oping the  home  place,  learning  many  valuable  lessons  that  only  he  who  “com- 
munes with  nature”  and  breathes  the  pure  air  of  the  “sylvan  wdld”  can  imbibe, 
at  the  same  time  laying  up  a potential  energy  that  has  stood  him  well  in 
hand  during  his  trying  career  as  a lawyer.  His  father  was  an  advocate  of 
thorough  mental  training  and  sought  to  encourage  his  son  in  whatever  way 
possible,  consequently  the  lad  was  first  placed  in  the  district  schools,  later 
the  high  school  at  Wooster,  where  he  completed  his  preparatory  work  for 
entrance  in  the  University  of  Wooster,  wrhich  was  soon  to  open  its  doors  to 
the  educational  public,  the  date  of  its  opening  being  September  8,  1870,  and  on 
that  date  Mr.  Taggart  had  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  first  prospective 


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students,  registering  as  a freshman,  remaining  one  of  the  original  class  of 
five  that  passed  the  prescribed  course  in  the  curriculum,  receiving  his  degree 
in  1874.  He  made  an  excellent  record  in  this  institution  and  gave  promise 
of  a useful  and  successful  career.  His  brother.  Rush  Taggart,  a prominent 
lawyer  of  New  York  City,  and  a member  of  the  firm  of  John  B.  Dillon,  is 
general  counsel  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company,  and  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1871.  the  close  of  the  first  university  year,  and  made  the  first 
graduating  speech  of  the  class. 

After  finishing  his  schooling,  Frank  Taggart  began  the  study  of  the  law, 
entering  the  office  of  Judge  Joseph  H.  Downing,  now  deceased,  and  after  a 
period  of  study  there  entered  the  law  department  of  the  university  at  Ann 
Arbor.  Michigan,  in  1875,  remaining  for  two  years,  and  on  July  4,  1876, 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  district  court  of  Wayne  county.  Judge 
Reed,  of  Millersburg,  sitting  on  the  bench  of  common  pleas.  He  at  once 
opened  an  office  in  Wooster  without  an  associate  in  practice,  which  has 
rapidly  grown  from  that  day  to  this  until  he  now  holds  front  rank  at  the 
Wayne  county  bar.  He  is  a loyal  Republican,  but  never  stoops  to  the  tricks  of 
the  demagogue.  In  the  year  1896  he  was  appointed  to  the  responsible  position 
of  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court  by  Gov.  Asa  S.  Bushnell,  and  in  the  year 
1905  was  elected  circuit  judge  of  the  fifth  circuit  of  Ohio  and  in  1910  elected 
chief  justice  of  the  circuit  courts  of  Ohio. 

In  the  year  1888  Judge  Taggart  was  married  to  Lizzie  Wallace,  daugh- 
ter of  David  A.  Wallace,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.  Their  family  consists  of  seven 
children,  Margaret,  William,  Wallace,  Martha  F.,  Frank,  Clementen,  John  F. 
and  David. 


JOHN  A.  MYERS. 

The  able  and  popular  assistant  cashier  of  the  Wayne  County  National 
Bank  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  is  most  consistently  accorded  recognition  in  a work 
of  the  province  assigned  to  the  one  at  hand,  since  it  has  to  do  with  tWe 
representative  citizens  of  Wayne  county,  of  wrhich  number  he  is  unquestion- 
ably a worthy  member  and  has  played  well  his  part  in  fostering  the  diver- 
sified interests  of  the  same,  and  while  yet  a young  man  has  show  n what  fidelity 
to  duty,  coupled  with  right  principles,  can  accomplish.  He  is  a native  of  this 
county,  having  been  born  near  New'  Pittsburg,  Chester  township,  on  August 
14,  1871,  the  son  of  David  Myers,  of  Wooster,  a sketch  of  whom  appears 


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elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  is  a worthy  son  of  a worthy  sire, — in  fact,  takes 
a delight  in  keeping  untarnished  the  brilliant  escutcheon  of  the  Myers  name, 
which  has  long  been  highly  honored  in  this  locality.  He  received  a good 
practical  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  township,  later  attending 
the  high  school  at  Wooster.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to 
W ooster  with  his  parents,  and  attended  Wooster  University  for  a period 
of  two  years,  during  which  time  he  made  a very  commendable  record  for 
both  scholarship  and  deportment.  Desiring  to  fit  himself  for  a business 
career,  he  took  a course  in  Eastman’s  Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  graduating  from  the  same  with  a very  creditable  record. 

After  he  had  finished  his  education,  young  Myers  acted  as  deputy  clerk 
of  the  courts  at  Wooster  for  six  years,  doing  very  creditable  work, — in  fact, 
he  had  mastered  the  details  of  the  office  so  well  that  he  attracted  the  notice 
of  the  officials  of  the  Ashland  & Wooster  Railroad  Company,  who  invited 
him  to  serve  as  their  chief  clerk  with  headquarters  at  Ashland,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  a period  of  four  years,  giving  his  usual  success.  He  re- 
turned to  Wooster  in  1903  and  became  assistant  cashier  of  the  Wayne  County 
National  Bank,  which  position  he  still  holds,  discharging  the  duties  of  the 
same  in  a manner  that  shows  him  to  be  a man  of  rare  business  qualities,  alert, 
painstaking  and  eminently  capable. 

Mr.  Myers  was  married  on  May  28,  1902,  to  Lydia  C.  George,  a lady 
of  culture  and  refinement,  the  daughter  of  D.  C.  and  Harriet  F.  George,  of 
Latrobe.  Pennsylvania,  where  Mrs.  Myers  was  born  and  reared  and  where 
her  family  were  long  prominent.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  namely : Laura  Minerva,  born  Septem- 
ber 13,  1903,  and  Claudia  Virginia,  born  May  5,  1907. 

Mr.  Myers  is  now  a member  of  the  city  school  board,  being  the  youngest 
member  ever  honored  thus.  He  takes  an  abiding  interest  in  local  educational 
affairs,  and  the  cause  of  education  here  has  been  augmented  since  he  became 
a member  of  the  same.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Mvers  belongs  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  is  a loyal 
Democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
being  liberal  supporters  of  the  same. 

The  Myers  residence  on  Beall  avenue  is  modern,  beautifully  located  and 
nicely  furnished,  and  is  often  the  gathering  place  for  many  of  the  best  people 
of  Wooster  where  hospitality  and  friendship  ever  prevail.  Mr.  Myers  is  a 
man  of  pleasing  address,  frank,  generous,  courteous  and  straightforward. 


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JUDGE  ROBERT  L.  ADAIR. 

A name  too  well  known  to  the  readers  of  this  history  to  need  any  formal 
introduction  here  is  that  of  Judge  Robert  L.  Adair,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  a conspicuous  figure  in  the  local  courts  and  has  won  distinctive 
prestige  in  a community  widely  noted  for  the  high  order  of  its  legal  talent. 
He  was  born  in  Wooster  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  February  2,  1869, 
the  son  of  Anderson  and  Emeline  (Yocum)  Adair.  The  Judge’s  grandfather 
settled  in  this  county  in  1825  among  the  pioneers.  His  father,  who  took  con- 
siderable interest  in  political  matters,  served  as  county  commissioner  from 
1867  to  1872.  Emeline  Yocum  was  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Woos- 
ter for  a number  of  years,  a daughter  of  Rev.  Elmer  Yocum,  a pioneer  Meth- 
odist minister  who  located  in  Congress  township  in  1826,  and  who.  for  a 
period  of  three  score  and  ten  years,  actively  engaged  in  the  spreading  of  the 
gospel  in  Ohio  and  Wisconsin,  dying  in  the  latter  state  in  1898  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-two  years.  Rev.  Elmer  Yocum,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Congress  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
1807.  He  preached  in  Ohio  until  1840  when  he  moved  to  Wisconsin  and 
there  preached  fifty-seven  years.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  general  confer- 
ence on  four  different  occasions. 

Robert  L.  Adair  spent  his  boyhood  days  attending  the  common  schools 
and  assisting  with  the  work  about  the  home  place.  Being  ambitious  to  make 
a name  in  the  legal  profession,  he  entered  the  University  of  Wooster,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  a very  creditable  record  in  1891.  He  studied 
law  with  his  brother,  John  S.  Adair,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June, 
1893,  and  soon  thereafter  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Orrville, 
where  he  remained  until  1895,  having  gained  a promising  start  in  his  career 
as  a lawyer  which  augured  still  greater  things  for  the  future.  An  oppor- 
tunity presenting  itself  at  Wooster,  he  returned  to  this  city  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  brother,  with  whom  he  had  studied,  and  he  has  since  re- 
mained in  the  practice  here,  having  built  up  quite  a satisfactory  clientele. 
Since  July  1,  1908,  he  has  been  in  partnership  with  W.  F.  Kean. 

September  10,  1908,  the  Judge  was  married  to  Mary  S.  Campbell,  of 
Indianapolis,  daughter  of  E.  A.  Campbell,  a prominent  family  of  the  cap- 
ital city. 

A man  with  such  popularity  among  his  fellow  citizens  and  with  such 
pronounced  ability  could  not  long  fail  to  attract  the  attention  of  political 
leaders,  and  he  was  selected  as  the  candidate  for  probate  judge  bv  the  Demo- 
crats in  1899,  and  in  the  following  autumn  he  was  triumphantly  elected  to 
that  office,  faithfully  and  ably  discharging  the  duties  of  the  same  for  a period 


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of  six  years,  his  record  having  been  most  satisfactory  to  all  concerned,  irre- 
spective of  party  affiliations.  Prior  to  his  election  as  probate  judge  he  served 
one  term  in  1897  as  city  solicitor  of  Wooster,  declining  renomination. 

Judge  Adair,  by  his  persistent  application,  his  genuine  worth  and  the 
force  of  his  native  powers,  has  elevated  himself  to  a prominent  position  at 
the  Ohio  bar,  possessing  a broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  jurispru- 
dence. He  is  a strong,  energetic,  practical  business  lawyer.  His  zeal  and 
fixedness  of  purpose  and  policy  in  the  defense  of  his  client  evokes  the  careful 
and  considerate  attention  of  a jury,  and  when  on  the  bench  his  decisions  were 
fair,  learned  and  impartial.  His  is  a genial,  cordial  nature,  with  proper  poise 
and  dignity.  In  his  private  ways  we  see  the  ebb  and  flow  of  his  social  nature, 
interesting  alike  in  both.  Faithful  as  he  has  been,  and  is,  to  official  and  pro- 
fessional trusts,  an  advocate  and  champion  of  popular  education,  and  in 
sympathy  with  the  spirit  of  our  free  institutions/he  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Wayne  county  and  the  great  commonwealth  of  Ohio. 

John  S.  Adair,  brother  of  Judge  Adair,  went  to  New  Mexico  in  1897  and 
located  at  Clovis,  where  he  is  now  practicing  law.  He  married  Caroline 
Goldsmith,  of  Painsville,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  five  children  have  been  born : 
Mary  Anderson,  Ruth  Smiley,  Blanche  M.,  John  Patrick  and  Eddie. 

Prof.  Edward  E.  Adair,  brother  of  the  Judge,  is  superintendent  of 
schools  at  Doylestown,  this  county.  He  married  Nina  Franks  in  December, 
1891,  and  three  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Lyman,  Frances  and 

Jeanette. 

Jennie  Adair,  sister  of  the  subject,  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Wooster  in  1899.  She  took  a post-graduate  course  here  in  1901,  since 
which  time  she  has  been  teaching  in  various  high  schools  and  is  now  principal 
of  schools  at  Clovis,  New  Mexico. 

Mrs.  Robert  L.  Adair’s  father  is  a retired  Methodist  minister,  living  at 
Indianapolis.  For  many  years  he  was  presiding  elder  in  the  Indiana  confer- 
ence. Mrs.  Adair  is  a graduate  of  Moore’s  Hill  College,  and  she  took  a post- 
graduate course  at  Depainv  University,  after  which  she  taught  in  various  high 
schools  until  her  marriage.  Both  she  and  Judge  Adair  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  regular  attendants  and  liberal  supporters  of 
the  same. 


SMITH  ORR,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  representa- 
tive medical  practitioners  of  Grant  county,  Oregon,  is  the  only  living  repre- 
sentative of  the  Orr  family  for  whom  the  town  of  Orrville  was  named,  and 


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is  the  only  surviving  child  of  the  late  Hon.  William  M.  Orr.  Doctor  Orr 
was  born  in  the  eastern  part  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on  the  23d  of  November, 
1849.  He  is  the  oldest  of  four  children  born  to  his  parents,  the  others  being: 
John,  who  was  born  July  20,  1851,  and  is  now  deceased;  William  S.,  who 
was  born  February  4,  1856,  and  is  deceased;  and  Mrs.  S.  M.  Brenneman, 
born  January  8,  1858,  and  died  January  5,  1909,  leaving  a husband  and 
two  daughters. 

Dr.  Smith  Orr  was  reared  in  Wooster  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old, 
when  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Orrville.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Wooster  and  Orrville,  supplementing  this  by  attendance 
at  the  Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio.  Having  then  determined 
to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  the  subject  entered  Rush 
Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  where  he  graduated  in  1876,  receiving  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  locating  first  at  Hardin,  Lasalle  county,  Illinois,  but  subsequently 
removing  to  Canyon  City,  Oregon.  He  was  a successful  practitioner,  com- 
manding a large  and  remunerative  patronage,  and  stood  high  among  the  men 
of  his  calling.  In  1892,  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father,  Doctor  On- 
returned  to  Orrville  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  looking  after  his 
extended  landed  interests.  The  Doctor  was,  while  engaged  in  the  practice, 
considered  an  unusually  good  diagnostician  and  kept  in  close  touch  with  every 
advance  made  in  the  healing  art.  He  took  a post-graduate  course  at  the  New 
York  Polyclinic  and  commanded  the  confidence  of  those  whom  he  treated. 

Doctor  Orr  has  never  married,  and  is  living  quietly  and  unostentatiously 
at  Orrville.  He  possesses  a good  library  and  is  a close  reader  and  keen  ob- 
server of  men  and  events,  keeping  himself  well  informed  on  the  current  events 
of  the  day. 

The  subject's  paternal  grandfather.  Smith  Orr,  for  whom  he  was  named, 
owned  one  of  the  first  houses  in  Orrville.  This  house  is  still  standing,  having 
sheltered  three  generations  of  the  family.  Judge  Smith  Orr  died  on  April 
1,  1865. 


JUDGE  MARTIN  L.  SMYSER. 

An  enumeration  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Wavne  county  of  the 
past  generation  who  won  recognition  and  success  for  themselves  and  at  the 
same  time  conferred  honor  upon  the  community,  would  be  decidedly  incom- 
plete were  there  failure  to  make  mention  of  the  well  remembered  and  highly 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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revered  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  biographical  compendium,  the 
late  Judge  Martin  L.  Smyser,  whose  name  was  long  a household  word  in 
northern  Ohio,  where  he  held  worthy  prestige  in  legal  and  political  circles. 
He  was  always  distinctively  a man  of  affairs,  wielding  a wide  influence  among 
those  with  whom  his  lot  was  cast,  ever  having  the  affairs  of  his  county  at 
heart  and  doing  what  he  could  to  aid  in  its  development,  for  he  believed 
that  his  native  county  of  Wayne  was  one  of  the  most  attractive,  progressive 
and  prosperous  of  any  in  the  Union  and  did  not  care  to  live  outside  her 
borders,  and  it  has  always  been  due  to  such  men  as  Judge  Smyser  that  she 
could  justly  claim  a high  order  of  citizenship  and  a spirit  of  enterprise  which 
conserved  consecutive  development  and  marked  advancement  in  its  material 
upbuilding.  The  county  has  been,  and  is,  signally  favored  in  the  class 
of  men  who  have  controlled  its  affairs  in  official  capacity,  and  this  is  one 
of  the  connections  in  which  Judge  Smyser  demands  recognition,  serving  the 
locality  faithfully  and  well  in  positions  of  distinct  trust  and  responsibility. 
He  achieved  a brilliant  record  at  the  bar  at  an  age  when  most  men  are 
merely  starting  on  their  life  work,  for  from  the  beginning  he  was  intensely 
methodical  and  unswervingly  scientific  in  search  and  seizure  of  the  true 
light  and  of  the  essential  morality  and  inspiration  of  the  legal  foundations, 
and  in  sources  of  legal  conception  and  thought,  conscientious  and  intensely 
pure,  having  an  exalted  firmness  with  which  he  recognized  the  morality  of 
the  fixed  principles  of  judicial  systems,  holding  devoutly  to  the  highly  embel- 
lished record  of  equity,  the  invariable  theorems  of  law,  the  sure,  certain, 
invincible  methods  of  practice;  therefore,  abundant  success  could  not  help 
crowning  his  efforts  and  placing  him  on  the  topmost  rung  of  the  legal  and 
judicial  ladder  and  winning  for  him  the  well  merited  laudation  of  his 
fellowmen. 

Judge  Martin  L.  Smyser  was  a scion  of  an  ancestry  of  which  anyone 
might  well  be  proud  and  many  of  their  sterling  traits  outcropped  in  him, 
giving  him  fortitude,  directness,  keenness  of  perception  and  probity  of  char- 
acter. He  was  born  in  Chester  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  April  3,  1851, 
the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emanuel  Smyser,  the  father  a native  of  York 
county.  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  pioneer 
schools,  but  who  followed  the  wake  of  the  tide  of  emigration  that  set  in 
heavily  for  the  West  in  1832.  He  located  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  able  to  foresee  a vast  development  and  great  possibilities  to  the  strong 
of  hekrt  and  arm  and  here  he  cleared  a small  plot  of  ground,  erected  a 
primitive  dwelling  3nd  formed  the  nucleus  of  a comfortable  and  happy 
home,  enjoying  the  fruition  that  always  rewards  the  honest  tiller  of  the  soil 


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in  a virgin  country.  The  Smysers  have  thus  figured  quite  prominently  in 
both  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  since  the 
epoch  which  historians  are  pleased  to  designate  as  early  times.  One  of  the 
well  remembered  relatives  of  the  Judge  was  Jacob  Smyser,  a native  of  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  on  June  27,  1810,  there  grew 
up  and  married  Sarah  Diehl,  and  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  with  the 
Judge’s  father  in  1832,  and  here  reared  a family  of  seven  children,  and 
lived  here  on  a farm  for  a half  century  or  more,  taking  an  active  interest  in 
whatever  tended  to  develop  the  county.  His  father,  also  named  Jacob 
Smyser,  and  also  a native  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  died  in  1840.  He 
was  a farmer  and  of  German  ancestry,  as  the  name  implies.  The  elder 
Smysers  were  Lutherans  and  known  as  men  of  sterling  principles,  honest, 
unswerving  in  their  rectitude  of  purpose  and  action,  consequently  the  probity 
of  character  of  Judge  Martin  L.  Smyser  may  be  accounted  for. 

Judge  Smyser  grew  to  maturity  on  his  father’s  farm,  where  he  assisted 
in  the  work  of  developing  the  same  and  thereby  imbibed  a deep  love  of 
nature,  laying  the  foundation  for  a rugged  manhood  and  learning  many 
lessons  of  subsequent  value  in  shaping  his  destinies.  Life  on  the  farm  acted 
on  him  as  on  many  of  our  great  men  who  have  come  up  from  the  maul  and 
the  axe,  the  plow  and  the  reaper, — cultivating  a reflective  and  perceptive 
faculty,  the  ability  to  see  clearly  and  to  weigh  accurately  all  problems  and 
things  affecting  daily  life. 

Judge  Smyser  received  his  primary  education  in  the  common  schools; 
always  a student  and  ambitious  to  succeed,  he  applied  himself  very  assid- 
uously to  his  studies  and  made  rapid  progress.  Early  deciding  to  enter  the 
legal  profession,  he  began  bending  every  effort  in  that  direction.  At  an  early 
age  he  entered  Wittenburg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  made  a bril- 
liant record  for  scholarship  and  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1870.  Soon  afterward  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  earnest  in  the  office  of 
Hon.  L.  R.  Critchfield,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  practitioners  of  the  local 
bar,  and  under  his  able  guidance  Judge  Smyser  made  rapid  strides.  He 
passed  the  required  legal  examination  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  in  April,  1872, 
and  at  once  opened  an  office  in  Wooster  and  was  successful  from  the  first, 
soon  climbing  to  a front  rank  among  his  colleagues  at  the  Wayne  county 
bar.  Such  a favorable  impression  did  he  make  upon  his  fellow  citizens  that 
in  the  fall  of  1872,  when  only  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  was  nominated 
by  the  Republican  party  for  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county,  and  he 
made  a most  active,  aggressive,  vigorous  and  almost  astonishing  record  as 
a campaigner  for  one  of  such  tender  years  and  achieved  a triumphant  elec- 


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tion,  and  he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  in  a manner  that  soon  con- 
vinced the  most  skeptical  of  his  unquestioned  ability.  In  1873  he  entered 
into  professional  relationship  with  Hon.  A.  S.  McClure,  which  combination 
was  one  of  unusual  strength  and  which  was  long  continued. 

Judge  Smyser  was  chosen  as  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  Republican 
national  convention  in  Chicago  in  1884,  and  in  1888  he  was  sent  as  a regular 
delegate,  and  during  that  year  he  was  elected  to  the  fifty-first  Congress  from 
the  twentieth  district  by  a majority  of  two  thousand,  a criterion  of  his 
general  high  standing  in  this  district,  and  he  won  the  undivided  approval  of 
all  his  constituents  while  a member  of  that  distinguished  body,  where  he  was 
active  in  the  affairs  pertaining  to  his  district  and  where  his  counsel  was  often 
sought  and  heeded  by  his  colleagues.  On  January  15,  1898,  he  was  appointed 
to  the.  bench  of  the  circuit  court  by  Gov.  Asa  S.  Bushnell  to  fill  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  Judge  Julius  C.  Pomerene,  and  he  soon  proved 
his  preparedness  and  fitness  in  every  respect  for  this  high  position,  having 
by  nature  and  training  a judicial  mind  that  was  clear  in  analysis  and  fair 
in  all  decisions,  and  he,  in  this  connection,  widely  extended  his  circle  of 
personal,  legal  and  political  friends,  and  perhaps  no  lawyer  in  the  judicial 
district  over  which  he  presided  ever  enjoyed  a more  profound  popularity 
than  he,  which  came  as  a result  of  his  ability  and  his  noble  personality. 

This  splendid  type  of  high  citizenship,  able  lawyer,  capable  jurist, 
popular  exponent  of  the  people  whose  rights  he  sought  to  champion  at  all 
times,  whether  in  private,  public  or  legislative  capacities,  was  called  to  a 
higher  plane  of  action  by  the  fate  that  awaits  all  mankind,  his  death  being 
counted  a distinct  and  irreparable  loss  to  the  section  of  the  state  in  which 
he  lived. 

In  1881  Judge  Smyser  was  united  in  marriage  to  Alice  A.  France,  a 
native  of  Wayne  county,  of  which  her  father  had  formerly  been  sheriff. 
She  is  a graduate  of  the  Delaware  Female  College. 

Judge  Smyser  was  honored  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  for  his 
life  of  honor,  usefulness,  unselfishness,  genuine  worth,  integrity  and  public 
spirit;  for  his  high  purpose  and  unconquerable  will,  vigorous  mental  powers, 
diligent  study  and  devotion  to  duty — these  being  some  of  the  means  by 
which  he  made  himself  eminently  useful.  The  good  he  has  accomplished 
for  his  county  and  state  cannot  be  adequately  expressed,  and  for  generations 
to  come  the*  commendable  things  he  did  will  continue  to  influence  and  direct 
human  thought  and  action  in  this  section  of  the  great  Buckeye  common- 
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ADAIR  FAMILY. 

The  family  name  which  heads  this  article  has  long  been  identified  with 
the  history  and  progress  of  Wayne  county  and  is  one  which  has  been  dis- 
tinguished and  renowned  far  beyond  common.  Of  Irish  ancestry  for  many 
generations,  the  first  of  the  family  under  immediate  consideration  was  Patrick 
Adair,  born  in  1797  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  where  in  his  early  manhood 
he  became  identified  with  the  home  rule  insurrection  headed  by  the  lamented 
Emmet,  and  he  found  it  necessary  to  leave  the  land  of  his  fathers;  accordingly 
he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  western  Pennsylvania,  where  he  soon  after- 
ward married  Mary  Stuart.  Of  the  five  children  born  to  them,  only  one 
lived  to  maturity,  she  being  Mrs.  Mary  Wilson,  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  now 
deceased.  His  wife  died  in  about  1815  and  several  years  later  he  married 
Ann  Anderson,  and  to  them  were  born  five  children,  Jane  E.,  Eliza,  James  M., 
Thomas  A.  and  Anderson. 

In  1825  Mr.  Adair  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  not  far  distant  from  Wooster.  Here  his  second  wife  died,  at  the  age 
of  thirty -nine  years,  and  Mr.  Adair  again  married,  his  wife  being  Ann  Mc- 
Cracken, who  died  in  1843,  leaving  no  children.  Mr.  Adair  in  early  life  had 
not  been  the  recipient  of  educational  advantages,  but  possessed  a keen  and 
retentive  memory  and  was  considered  a man  of  a high  order  of  intelligence. 
He  was  industrious  and  provident  and  possessed  those  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  which  make  men  honored  and  beloved  rather  than  conduce  to  prosper- 
ity in  worldly  affairs.  He  was  a stanch  Democrat  of  the  Thomas  Jefferson 
type,  whose  principles  he  strongly  advocated.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
in  the  capacity  of  surgeon’s  mate,  or  assistant.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
life-long  Presbyterian.  He  died  in  1866,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years. 

Anderson  Adair,  son  of  Patrick  and  Ann  (Anderson)  Adair,  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  soon  thereafter  the  family  re- 
moved to  Ohio.  As  a boy  he  attended  the  district  schools  and  as  a young  man 
he  performed  the  ordinary  duties  of  a farmer’s  life  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  twenty-five,  when  for  one  year  he  attended  the  academy  at  Wooster,  and 
for  several  years  following  he  was  engaged  in  the  work  of  teaching.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  years  he  married  Henrietta  McClure  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  living.  Prof.  Edward  E.,  of  Doylestown, 
Ohio,  and  John  S.,  concerning  whom  more  follows.  Mrs.  Adair  died  in 
1861,  and  some  time  later  Mr.  Adair  married  Emeline,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Elmer  \ocum.  a minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  She  was  a 


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lady  of  accomplishments  and  intellectual  attainment,  a graduate  of  Baldwin 
University  and  later  a teacher  of  much  ability.  To  this  union  there  came  two 
children,  Judge  Robert  L.  and  Jennie  L. 

Mr.  Adair  was  widely  and  most  favorably  known  throughout  Wayne 
county  and  was  honored  by  political  preferment  upon  many  occasions,  faith- 
fully performing  the  duties  and  holding  sacred  the  trust  reposed  in  him.  For 
some  years  he  was  one  of  the  county  commissioners  of  Wayne  county,  and 
in  this  capacity  he  had  much  to  do  with  the  management  and  conduct  of  im- 
portant business  in  connection  with  improvements,  etc.,  undertaken  in  behalf 
of  the  populace.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  matters  of  education  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  board  of  education  of  Wooster  township,  and 
was  for  nearly  or  quite  thirty  years  a member  of  it.  For  nearly  seventy 
years  he  lived  on  the  farm  his  father  settled,  where  he  created  many  improve- 
ments and  where  by  hard  labor  and  intelligent  effort  he  acquired  a compe- 
tency. He  was  ever  active  in  all  movements  that  had  for  their  end  the 
advancement  and  good  of  the  community,  state  and  nation.  In  politics  he 
was  like  his  father,  a Democrat.  He  died  in  July,  1905. 

John  S.  Adair,  son  of  Anderson  and  Henrietta  (McClure)  Adair,  was 
born  May  26,  1859.  Until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  attended  school  and 
lived  the  life  of  a youth  upon  the  farm.  At  this  age  he  became  a student 
of  Wooster  University,  where  for  six  years  he  pursued  the  college  course. 
During  this  period  he  continued  with  his  father,  devoting  such  time  as  could 
be  spared  from  his  studies  to  assisting  with  the  farm  work.  In  1881  he 
entered  the  law  firm  of  Wiley  & McClaran,  alternating  his  legal  researches 
with  teaching  a series  of  schools  in  Clinton,  Wayne,  Plain  and  Wooster  town- 
ships. In  the  spring  of  1886  he  went  to  Coronado,  Kansas,  engaging  in  land 
business  and  practice  of  law.  In  1888  he  returned  to  Wooster,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  Ohio  courts,  opening  an  office  in  Wooster,  where  he  for  a 
number  of  years  conducted  an  extended  and  lucrative  practice.  In  1889  he 
was  elected  city  solicitor  of  Wooster. 


WILLIAM  JAMES  SEELYE. 

It  is  generally  considered  by  those  in  the  habit  of  superficial  thinking 
that  the  history  of  so-called  great  men  only  is  worthy  of  preservation  and  that 
little  merit  exists  among  the  masses  to  call  forth  the  praises  of  the  historian 
or  the  cheers  and  the  appreciation  of  mankind.  A greater  mistake  was  never 


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made.  No  man  is  great  in  all  things.  Many  by  a lucky  stroke  achieve  last- 
ing fame  who  before  that  had  no  reputation  beyond  their  own  neighborhoods. 
It  is  not  a history  of  the  lucky  stroke  which  benefits  humanity  most,  but  the 
long  study  and  effort  which  made  the  lucky  stroke  possible.  It  is  the  prelim- 
inary work,  the  method,  that  serves  as  a guide  for  the  success  of  others. 
Among  those  in  Wayne  county  who  have  achieved  success  along  steady  lines 
of  action  is  William  James  Seelye,  one  of  Wooster’s  popular  and  progressive 
citizens,  who,  like  many  of  the  leading  people  here,  is  a product  of  the  great 
Empire  state,  he  having  been  born  in  Schenectady,  New  York,  April  10,  1857. 
He  is  the  scion  of  an  excellent  ancestry,  highly  honored  and  distinguished 
in  various  walks  of  life.  His  mother,  Elizabeth  Tilman  James,  was  a native 
of  Albany,  cousin  of  the  famous  Prof.  William  James,  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity, and  his  father,  Julius  Hawley  Seelye,  was  for  many  years  pastor  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church  of  Schenectady.  He  was  a man  of  unusual  intelli- 
gence, being  profoundly  educated,  and  he  was  a leader  in  his  community.  In 
1858  he  was  appointed  professor  of  mental  and  moral  science  in  Amherst 
College,  at  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  which  position  he  held  with  much  credit 
to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  until  1876,  when, 
owing  to  his  eminent  record  there,  he  was  made  president  of  the  institution 
and  became  one  of  the  most  popular  and  influential  educators  in  the  state. 

William  J.  Seelye,  of  this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  at  home  and  grew 
to  maturity  in  the  midst  of  the  most  wholesome  environment,  one  that  made 
for  culture,  education  and  refinement.  After  a preparatory  education,  he  en- 
tered Amherst  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1879.  After  a year 
of  post-graduate  work  at  home  and  a year  of  study  in  Johns  Hopkins  Uni- 
versity, he  spent  two  years  abroad,  seven  months  in  Edinburgh  University  and 
a semester  each  in  Halle  and  Leipzig.  Thus  well  equipped  for  his  life  work, 
having  decided  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  worthy  father,  he  began  his 
career  as  teacher,  having  returned  home  in  1883,  in  which  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed professor  of  Greek  and  German  in  Iowa  College  at  Grinnell,  Iowa. 
The  year  1885  to  1886  he  taught,  as  classical  undermaster,  in  Lawrenceville 
Academy,  New  Jersey.  I11  all  these  institutions  he  readily  proved  his  fitness 
for  the  position  held. 

Professor  Seelye  was  married  in  September,  1886,  to  Alice  Clarke,  a 
ladv  of  culture  and  talent,  the  daughter  of  a well-established  and  prominent 
family  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  He  spent  the  year  1886  to  1887  with  her  as  a 
member  of  the  American  Archaeological  Institute  at  Athens.  Greece.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  Professor  Seelye  taught  in  connection  with  Amherst  Col- 


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lege  and  in  1889  he  became  professor  of  Greek  in  Parsons  College,  Fairfield, 
Iowa,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Since  1891  he  has  been  professor  of 
Greek  in  the  University  of  Wooster. 

The  pleasant  home  of  Professor  and  Mrs.  Seelve  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  three  interesting  children,  named  as  follows:  Laurens,  born  in  1889; 
Katharine,  born  in  1891,  and  Julius,  born  in  1899. 

As  a teacher.  Professor  Seelye  has  met  with  merited  success  and  in  his 
capacity  of  instructor  of  Greek  especially  his  record  presents  a series  of  suc- 
cesses such  as  few  attain.  He  pursues  his  chosen  calling  with  all  the  interest 
of  an  enthusiast,  is  thoroughly  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  work  and 
has  a proper  conception  of  the  dignity  of  the  profession  to  which  his  life  and 
energies  are  so  unselfishly  devoted.  A finished  scholar,  a polished  gentleman 
and  possessing  the  traits  of  character  necessary  to  insure  success,  the  services 
thus  far  rendered  and  the  laurels  gained  bespeak  for  him  a wider  and  more 
distinguished  career  of  usefulness  in  years  to  come.  Unlike  so  many  of  his 
calling  who  become  narrow  and  pedantic,  he  is  easily  a man  of  the  times, 
broad  and  liberal  in  his  views  and  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions  on  all  the 
leading  public  questions  and  issues  upon  which  men  and  parties  divide.  He 
also  keeps  in  trend  with  modern  thought  along  its  various  lines  and  is  a man 
of  scholarly  and  refined  taste,  while  his  familiarity  with  the  more  practical 
affairs  of  the  day  makes  him  feel  at  ease  with  all  classes  and  conditions  of 
people  whom  he  meets. 


WILLIAM  NICHOLAS  RIES. 

Agriculture  has  been  the  true  source  of  man’s  dominion  on  earth  ever 
since  the  primal  existence  of  labor,  and  it  has  been  the  pivotal  industry  that 
has  controlled,  for  the  most  part,  all  the  fields  of  action  to  which  his  intel- 
ligence and  energy  have  been  devoted.  Among  this  sturdy  element  in  Chip- 
pewa township,  Wayne  county,  whose  labors  have  profited  alike  themselves 
and  the  community  in  which  they  live  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears 
at  the  head  of  this  biographical  review,  and  in  view  of  the  consistent  career 
lived  by  Mr.  Ries  since  coming  to  this  section  of  the  country,  it  is  particularly 
fitting  that  the  following  short  record  of  his  life  and  labors  be  incorporated 
in  a book  of  this  nature.  Like  many  of  the  most  thrifty  citizens  of  this 
county,  lie  came  to  us  from  the  German  empire,  which  has  furnished  so  many 
of  the  progressive  citizens  of  this  country. 


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William  Nicholas  Ries  was  born  in  Sauphereicher,  Germany,  March 
22,  1846,  the  third  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  (Becker)  Ries.  William  N. 
was  brought  to  America  by  his  parents  when  only  eighteen  months  old.  The 
family  settled  in  Chippewa  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1847.  The 
father  was  a coal  miner  and  he  was  known  as  a hard  working,  honest  man. 

William  N.  Ries,  of  this  review,  was  educated  in  the  country  schools, 
and  he  engaged  in  coal  mining  for  some  time,  later  purchasing  a small  farm, 
having  saved  his  earnings.  He  was  married  on  March  29,  1866,  to  Barbara 
Frase,  daughter  of  Squire  Peter  and  Mary  Frase,  a highly  respected  family. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  Mrs.  Ada  Shank,  of  Doylestown,  this  county; 
Minnie,  who  lives  at  Johnson’s  Corners;  and  Irvin,  a well  known  and  success- 
ful farmer. 

Mr.  Ries  was  land  appraiser  twenty  years  ago,  and  he  has  held  all  the 
offices  in  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  is  a very  faithful  member. 

As  a farmer  he  has  made  a very  comfortable  living  and  has  a comforta- 
ble home ; he  keeps  his  place  in  excellent  condition  and  is  spending  his  de- 
clining years  in  comfort  and  peace,  and  is  well  worthy  of  the  friendship 
which  all  his  neighbors  freely  accord.  He  is  a good  man  in  all  the  walks 
of  life,  and  has  so  conducted  himself  as  to  be  worthy  of  the  esteem  that  has 
been  accorded  him  by  those  with  whom  he  has  come  into  contact.  His  chil- 
dren, having  been  reared  in  a careful  manner,  are  also  highly  respected  by 
all  classes. 


WILLIAM  EDWIN  WEYGANDT. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  caption  of  this  sketch  is  not  a man 
who  courts  publicity,  yet  it  must  be  a pleasure  to  him.  as  is  natural,  to  know 
how  well  he  stands  with  his  fellow  citizens  throughout  northern  Ohio,  especial- 
ly his  native  county  of  Wayne.  The  public  is  seldom  mistaken  in  its  estima- 
tion of  a man,  and  had  Mr.  Weygandt  not  been  most  worthy  he  could  not  have 
gained  the  high  position  he  now  holds  in  public  and  social  life.  Having  long 
maintained  the  same  without  abatement  of  his  popularity,  his  standing  in  the 
county  is  perhaps  now  in  excess  of  what  it  has  ever  been.  He  has  by  his  own 
persistent  and  praiseworthy  efforts  won  for  himself  a name  whose  luster  the 
future  years  shall  only  augment.  The  term  “self-made”  may  not  convey  much 
to  some,  but  when  applied  to  such  a man  as  Mr.  Weygandt  it  has  a peculiar 
force,  for  he  belongs  to  that  interesting  class  of  men,  of  unquestioned  merit 
and  honor,  whose  life  histories  show  that  they  have  been  compelled,  very 


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largely,  to  map  out  their  own  career  and  furnish  their  own  motive  force  in 
scaling  the  heights  of  success,  thereby  meriting  the  applause  of  their  fellows. 

W.  E.  Weygandt  is  a native  of  Baughman  township,  where  he  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  on  June  i,  1864,  and  he  is  the  son  of  J.  K.  and  Mary  Wey- 
gandt. The  boyhood  days  of  Mr.  Weygandt,  like  those  of  so  many  of  our  suc- 
cessful men  of  affairs,  especially  the  learned  professions,  were  spent  upon  the 
farm,  where  he  worked  during  the  summer  months,  alternating  farming  with 
schooling  in  the  district  schools.  He  was  an  ambitious  lad  and  applied  him- 
self most  assiduously  to  his  text  books.  His  principal  dependence,  as  we  have 
before  intimated,  was  very  largely  upon  himself ; however,  this  is  not  a regret- 
table fact,  for  it  strengthened  his  fortitude,  courage  and  self-dependence,  and 
without  such  attributes  no  life  is  a success.  Desiring  a higher  education  than 
the*  common  schools  could  furnish,  he  entered  the  Normal  University  at  Ada, 
Ohio,  where  he  made  a splendid  record  and  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  on  July  23,  1895.  He  had  decided  to  become  a teacher  and  accord- 
ingly entered  that  profession,  which  he  followed  with  credit  for  a period  of 
ten  years,  during  which  time  he  gained  an  excellent  local  reputation  as  an 
educator,  his  services  having  been  in  great  demand,  for  he  had  thoroughly 
equipped  himself  and  seemed  to  possess  all  the  natural  qualifications  for  the 
successful  teacher.  But  believing  that  the  law  was  his  proper  field  of  action, 
he  took  up  its  study  with  A.  D.  Metz,  of  Wooster,  who  was  at  one  time  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Wayne  county  and  a lawyer  of  great  ability  and  fame.  This 
was  in  April,  1894,  and  having  made  rapid  progress  in  the  same,  Mr.  Wey- 
gandt was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  Ohio  bar  the  following  October.  He 
was  remarkably  successful  from  the  first  and  soon  had  a large  clientele,  figur- , 
ing  conspicuously  in  many  important  cases  in  the  local  courts  from  time  to 
time.  His  ability  and  public  spirit  attracted  the  attention  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  he  was  selected  as  the  candidate  of  this  party  for 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county  in  1898.  He  was  elected  and  filled  the 
office  with  rare  credit  and  acceptance,  proving  the  wise  selection  of  his  con- 
stituents. On  April  29,  1908,  Mr.  Weygandt  Was  nominated  for  the  office  of 
judge  of  the  common  pleas  court  of  Wayne  county  and  in  the  ensuing  election 
he  was  the  choice  of  the  voters,  defeating  his  opponent,  W.  F.  Kean,  bv  a 
majority  of  two  thousand  and  seven  hundred.  He  assumed  the  duties  of  his 
office  on  January  1,  1909,  and  in  this  responsible  position  he  has  again  proved 
in  no  uncertain  manner  his  eminent  fitness  for  a position  demanding  ability  of 
high  order  and  an  intimate  and  discriminating  acquaintance  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  jurisprudence.  His  decisions  have  uniformly  been  characterized  by 

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a high  sense  of  justice,  guided  by  a wide  knowledge  of  law  and  precedent,  and 
his  administration  of  his  official  duties  has  been  eminently  satisfactory  to  both 
litigants  and  attorneys. 

In  September,  1886,  Judge  Weygandt  was  married  to  Cora  Mock,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Mock,  a well  known  and  highly  respected  farmer,  now  retired  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  To  this  union  have  been  born  three  children, 
Carl,  now  a student  in  Wooster  University,  Ross  and  Ola. 

As  a lawyer  Mr.  Weygandt  ranks  deservedly  high  at  the  Wayne  county 
bar.  His  habits  of  study,  research,  ability  to  analyze  and  comprehend  the  law, 
to  deduce  and  apply  it,  make  him  an  informed,  reliable  and  certain  lawyer,  and 
necessarily  successful.  In  his  practice  before  the  court  he  was  characterized 
by  fairness  in  stating  the  position  of  an  adversary,  and  strong  enough  and 
broad  enough  to  desire  no  undue  advantage.  His  utterances  are  expressive 
of  a calm  dignity,  a tolerant  spirit,  but  a fixed  purpose.  In  his  discussion  of 
the  law  he  is  terse,  clear,  precise  and  incisive,  and  to  the  jury  he  is  clear,  de- 
liberate, impressive.  In  his  active  practice  of  the  law  his  character  for  per- 
' sonal  and  professional  integrity  was  fully  recognized  and  appreciated.  He 
escaped  the  suspicion  of  ever  having  knowingly  failed  to  fulfill  all  proper  obli- 
gations of  his  profession.  Combined  with  the  excellent  personal  and  official 
qualities  of  the  successful  attorney  and  jurist,  he  is  infused  with  the  genius 
of  enterprise  and  is  a man  of  enlarged  public  spirit.  He  always  stands  ready 
to  identify  himself  with  his  fellowr  citizens  in  any  good  work  and  extends  a 
co-operative  hand  to  advance  any  measure  that  will  better  the  condition  of 
things,  that  will  give  better  government,  elevate  mankind,  insure  higher  stand- 
ards of  morality  and  the  highest  ideals  of  a refined,  ennobling,  intellectual 
culture. 


JAMES  LEE  ZARING. 

Of  high  professional  and  academic  attainments  and  ranking  among  the 
foremost  educators  of  northern  Ohio,  James  Lee  Zaring,  now  the  efficient  and 
popular  county  auditor  of  Wayne  county,  has  achieved  marked  distinction  in 
the  noble  work  to  which  his  talents  and  energies  have  so  long  been  devoted, 
and,  judging  by  the  past,  it  is  safe  to  predict  for  him  a future  of  still  greater 
usefulness  and  honor.  Xot  only  as  a teacher  and  manager  of  schools  has  he 
made  his  presence  felt,  but  as  a citizen  in  the  daily  walks  of  life,  his  influence 
has  tended  to  the  advancement  of  the  community  and  the  welfare  of  his 


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fellow  men,  while  the  several  responsible  public  positions  to  which  he  has  been 
called  from  time  to  time  bear  testimony  of  his  ability  to  fill  worthily  high  and 
important  trusts.  His  name  with  eminent  fitness  occupies  a conspicuous  place 
in  the  profession  which  he  adorns  and  his  career,  presenting  a series  of  suc- 
cesses such  as  few  attain,  has  gained  for  him  much  more  than  local  reputation 
as  a successful  organizer  and  manager  of  educational  interests. 

Mr.  Zaring  was  born  at  Jefferson,  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
December  4,  1859,  the  son  of  Eli  and  Mary  (Stevie)  Zaring,  both  natives  of 
Plain  township,  this  county,  the  father  having  been  born  on  January  16,  1836, 
and  the  latter  in  1832,  each  representing  old  pioneer  families  of  sterling  worth 
who  came  here  in  the  days  of  the  forest  primeval  when  the  country  was  over- 
run by  wild  beasts  and  the  council  fires  of  the  red  men  had  scarcely  died  away. 
They  were  a sturdy  people  who  delighted  to  meet  and  overcome  great  obsta- 
cles,— in  short,  they  were  true  types  of  empire  builders,  making  it  possible  for 
succeeding  generations  to  live  in  ease  and  affluence,  to  ride  in  modern  motor 
cars  over  trails  which  they  blazed  and  over  which  their  ox  carts  passed.  An 
insight  into  the  characteristics  of  the  subject  would  indicate  that  he  had  in- 
herited some  of  the  worthy  traits  of  his  rugged  progenitors. 

Eli  Zaring  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  which  he  helped  clear,  and  al- 
though his  chances  to  receive  an  education  in  the  old  ax-hewn  one-roomed 
school  houses  of  that  remote  period  were  indeed  limited,  he  made  the  most 
of  every  advantage  and  became  in  after  years  a well  informed  man,  who  was 
influential  in  county  affairs  and  who  very  creditably  filled  the  office  of  clerk  of 
the  local  courts  for  a period  of  six  years.  He  was  for  many  years  solicitor 
for  the  Wayne  County  Democrat  and  he  held  every  office  in  Plain  township, 
a Republican  stronghold ; this  proved  his  high  .standing  in  his  native  com- 
munity, for  he  was  always  a loyal  Democrat.  The  court  appointed  him  ap- 
praiser of  land  in  Chester  township  in  1880.  He  was  a great  friend  of  Capt. 
Lemuel  Jeffries, — in  fact,  he  was  a man  admired  by  all  who  knew  him,  for  he 
was  honest,  public-spirited  and  straightforward  in  all  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow  men. 

James  L.  Zaring  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Plain  township, 
which  he  attended  during  the  winter  months,  working  in  his  father’s  shoe 
shop  the  rest  of  the  year.  He  also  attended  the  Smithville  Normal  School, 
where  he  made  an  excellent  record  in  both  scholarship  and  deportment.  Being 
ambitious  to  enter  the  career  of  an  educator,  he  prepared  himself  very  care- 
fully to  that  end  and  during  his  long  service  as  such  he  has  given  the  utmost 


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satisfaction  and  his  services  have  been  in  great  demand ; he  holds  a life  certifi- 
cate and  he  was  county  examiner  for  a period  of  nine  years. 

Professor  Zaring  was  married,  on  June  3,  1882,  to  Celestia  Reamer, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sophia  Reamer,  a highly  honored  family  of  Smithville. 
Mrs.  Zaring  is  a woman  of  culture  and  refinement  and  she  has  been  of  great 
assistance  to  her  husband  in  his  manifold  duties  since  their  marriage,  always 
encouraging  him  and  counseling  him  in  whatever  work  he  was  engaged.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children,  two  of  which  died  in 
infancy;  the  two  living  children  are  Ethel,  now  twenty-six  years  of  age.  and 
John,  who  is  twenty-four  years  old. 

Politically,  Professor  Zaring  is  a Democrat  and  he  has  held  many  of 
the  minor  village  offices  and  is  now  auditor  of  Wayne  county,  filling  the  office 
in  a manner  that  is  winning  universal  approval.  He  stands  high  in  Masonry, 
being  a member  of  the  Knights  Templar,  Wooster  Commanderv,  Xo.  48; 
Cedar  Lodge,  No.  430,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Orrville,  and  Wooster 
Chapter,  No.  27,  Royal  Arch  Masons. 

Although  a school  man  in  the  broadest  and  best  sense  of  the  term.  Pro- 
fessor Zaring  has  never  become  narrow  or  pedantic,  as  have  so  many  whose 
lives  have  been  spent  in  intimate  association  with  the  immature  minds  within 
the  four  walls  of  a school  room.  He  is  a well  rounded,  symmetrically  de- 
veloped man,  fully  alive  to  the  demands  of  the  times,  thoroughly  informed 
on  the  leading  questions  before  the  public  and  takes  broad  views  of  men  and 
things.  Bv  keeping  in  touch  with  the  times  and  the  trend  of  current  thought 
he  has  ever  been  enabled  to  discharge  the  duties  of  citizenship  in  the  intelligent 
manner  becoming  the  level-headed  American  of  today,  and  his  acquaintance 
with  the  history  of  the  country  and  its  institutions  makes  him  also  a politician, 
but  not  necessarily  a partisan.  He  believes  in  progress  in  other  than  the  pro- 
fession to  which  he  belongs  and  to  attain  the  end  manifests  an  abiding  interest 
in  whatever  makes  for  the  material  advancement  of  the  community,  encourag- 
ing all  worthy  enterprises  and  lending  his  influence  to  means  whereby  his  fel- 
low men  may  be  benefited  and  made  better.  He  is  in  hearty  accord  with 
laudable  and  healthful  pastimes  and  sports,  such  as  base  ball,  basket  ball, 
hurdle  and  foot  racing  and  all  kinds  of  athletes  that  tend  to  develop  and 
strengthen  the  physical  powers.  These  he  has  always  encouraged  among  his 
pupils,  believing  that  development  of  the  body  as  well  as  the  mind  and  heart  to 
he  essential  to  the  make-up  of  the  scholarly  and  well-rounded  man.  Wayne 
county  owes  a great  debt  of  gratitude  to  Professor  Zaring  for  the  great  good 
he  has  done  in  educational,  political,  social  and  material  affairs. 


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M.  M.  VAN  NEST. 


To  write  the  personal  record  of  men  who  have  raised  themselves  to  a 
position  of  honor  and  responsibility  in  a community  is  no  ordinary  pleasure. 
Self-made  men,  men  who  have  achieved  success  by  reason  of  their  personal 
qualities  and  who  have  put  the  impress  of  their  individuality  upon  the  business 
and  growth  of  their  place  of  residence  and  affect  for  good  such  institutions  as 
are  embraced  within  the  sphere  of  their  usefulness,  unwittingly,  perhaps, 
build  monuments  more  enduring  than  marble  obelisk  or  granite  shaft.  Of 
such  we  have  the  unquestioned  right  to  say  belongs  the  gentleman  whose  name 
appears  above.  As  a business  man,  as  member  of  the  city  legislative  body, 
and  as  its  chief  executive  official,  as  well  as  in  the  more  humble  walks  of  life, 
he  has  borne  well  his  part  and  his  public  spirited  and  unselfish  devotion  to 
the  highest  and  best  interests  of  the  community  have  w*on  for  him  the  high 
regard  of  all,  regardless  of  political  lines. 

M.  M.  Van  Nest  was  born  at  Row^sburg,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
10th  of  December,  1864.  He  is  descended  from  Holland  antecedents,  the 
family  name  having  originally  been  Van  Ness.  The  subject’s  paternal  grand- 
father was  John  Van  Nest,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  came  to  Ohio 
in  1839,  settling  in  Ashland  county.  He  was  a harness-maker  by  trade  and 
followed  this  occupation  all  his  active  life.  He  died  in  1903,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  The  subject's  parents  were  J.  P.  and  Mary  E. 
(Gardner)  Van  Nest.  J.  P.  Van  Nest  was  born  at  Rowsburg,  Ohio,  and 
upon  taking  up  a business  career  entered  upon  that  of  insurance  in  which  he 
was  successful.  In  the  spring  of  1873  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Wooster, 
and  here  continued  in  the  insurance  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  April  3.  1905.  Mr.  Van  Nest  was  a public-spirited  man  and  took  a keen 
interest  in  public  affairs,  serving  for  two  terms  as  a member  of  the  Wooster 
city  council.  Early  in  the  great  Rebellion,  Mr.  Van  Nest  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  defense  of  his  country’s  flag,  joining  the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth 
Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  three  years,  taking  part  in 
some  of  the  most  sanguinary  struggles  of  that  great  conflict.  Among  these 
battles  were  the  following:  Chickasaw’  Bayou,  December  28-29,  1862;  Arkan- 
sas Post,  January  11.  1863:  Thompson’s  Hill  (Port  Gibson).  May  1,  1863; 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  May  18  to  July  4,  1863;  Big  Black  River.  May  17,  1863; 
Jackson.  Miss..  July  9-16,  1863;  transport  “City  Belle,”  near  Snaggy  Point, 
Louisiana.  May  3,  1864.  Mr.  Van  Nest  enlisted  as  a private,  but,  by  faithful 
and  meritorious  service,  he  retired  from  the  service  with  the  rank  of  second 
lieutenant.  At  the  battle  of  Vicksburg  he  was  severely  wounded  by  a frag- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ment  of  shell.  Prior  to  entering  the  military  service  Mr.  Van  Nest  had  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  harness-maker,  but  on  his  return  home  he  gave  that  up  and 
took  up  the  insurance  business.  He  married  Mary  E.  Gardner,  who  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  as  were  also  her  parents.  She  is 
still  living  in  Wooster,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  By  her  union  with 
Mr.  Van  Nest  she  became  the  mother  of  the  following  children : John,  of 
Wooster;  M.  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Carrie,  the  wife  of  William  L. 
Derr,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Gertrude,  deceased;  Maud  M.,  the  widow  of  John 
Griffith  and  living  in  Wooster;  Ellen,  deceased:  Charles  W.,  of  Wooster; 
Mabel  is  unmarried  and  remains  at  home. 

M.  M.  Van  Nest  was  nine  years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Wooster 
and  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city  he  secured  a good  education.  After  the 
completion  of  his  education,  he  took  up  the  trade  of  harness-maker,  following 
this  in  the  footsteps  of  the  two  generations  preceding  him.  He  was  thus  em- 
ployed for  nineteen  years  and  was  considered  a good  workman.  Subsequently 
he  entered  the  insurance  business  with  his  brother,  under  the  firm  style  of 
J.  P.  Van  Nest  Sons,  and  they  have  built  up  a large  business  in  fire  insurance, 
theirs  being  considered  one  of  the  most  important  agencies  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Van  Nest  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and  in  1899  he  was  elected  a mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  from  the  fourth  ward,  and  was  re-elected  in  1901.  serv- 
ing as  president  of  that  body  during  1901  and  1902.  In  the  spring  of  1903 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  and  so  eminently  satisfactory  was  his  ad- 
ministration of  the  office  that  he  has  been  twice  re-elected,  in  1905  and  1907. 
Mr.  Van  Nest  applied  to  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  his  official  posi- 
tion the  same  careful  business  principles  which  he  would  apply  to  his  own 
business  affairs,  and  in  his  attitude  towards  public  improvements  he  has  been 
progressive,  though  at  the  same  time  exercising  a wise  conservatism  which 
has  been  a guarantee  against  extravagance  or  a useless  expenditure  of  the 
city’s  money.  During  his  administration  great  strides  have  been  made  by  the 
city  in  the  way  of  street  paving,  cement  sidewalks,  sewerage,  and  increase  in 
the  city’s  water  supply.  Not  only  have  the  material  necessities  of  the  city 
been  regarded,  but  considerable  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  esthetic,  and  in 
many  ways  the  city  has  been  beautified,  being  now  considered  one  of  the  most 
pleasing  cities  of  its  class  in  the  state. 

In  1905  Mayor  Van  Nest  was  appointed  bv  the  judge  of  the  common 
pleas  court,  and  re-appointed  in  1908,  a member  of  the  soldiers’  relief  com- 
mittee of  Wavne  county,  the  appointment  bearing  special  distinction  from  the 
fact  that  he  is  the  only  man  not  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war  who  ever  served  on 
this  committee.  The  mayor  is  also  second  vice-president  of  the  Wooster 
Board  of  Trade. 


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In  1887,  *he  subject  was  united  in  marriage  to  Amanda  E.  Ray,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Wooster,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children,  Fred, 
deceased,  and  Florence  H.  The  family  reside  in  a pleasant  and  comfortable 
home  on  Columbus  avenue,  and  here  the  spirit  of  hospitality  ever  abides. 
Fraternally  Mayor  Van  Nest  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he 
has  risen  to  the  Uniform  Rank,  and  to  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and 
the  Yeomen.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  English  Lutheran  church,  of 
which  thev  are  liberal  supporters.  The  family  occupy  a position  of  promi- 
nence in  the  social  life  of  the  community  and  all  who  know  them  hold  them  in 
the  highest  regard. 


HENRY  H.  STRAUSS. 

Henry  H.  Strauss,  president  of  the  Orrville  National  Bank,  has  been  a 
potent  factor  in  the  commercial  and  social  life  of  Orrville  and  Wayne  county 
for  over  forty  years.  He  is  one  of  those  solid  men  of  brain  and  substance  so 
essential  to  the  material  growth  and  prosperity  of  a community  and  whose 
influence  is  willingly  extended  in  behalf  of  every  deserving  enterprise  that  has 
for  its  object  the  advancement  or  moral  welfare  of  the  community. 

The  Strauss  name  is  found  to  be  one  of  the  early  pioneer  family  names  in 
America.  The  family  is  of  German  origin  and  the  progenitor  of  the  family 
in  the  New  World  is  thought  to  be  Nicholas  Strauss,  a native  of  the  Father- 
land,  who  came  to  America  in  1732.  Henry  Strauss,  paternal  grandfather 
of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  several  generations  of 
the  family  lived  and  reared  their  families. 

Peter  Strauss,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  born  in 
Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  removing  when  a young  man  to  Saegers- 
town,  Crawford  county,  that  state.  He  was  a farmer  and  pursued  that  call- 
ing with  fair  success.  In  1850  he  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  set- 
tled on  a farm  in  Plain  township,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  seventy-three  years  of  age.  He  married  Julia 
Renner,  who  was  also  born  in  Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania.  She  pre- 
ceded her  husband  in  death  a few  years,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 
Of  the  six  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  three  are  now  living,  namely: 
Abigail,  the  wife  of  John  Martin,  of  Reedsburg,  Ohio:  Marietta,  the  wife  of 
William  Gill,  of  Plain  township,  this  county,  and  Henry  PI.,  subject  of  this 
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Henry  H.  Strauss  was  born  on  the  parental  farmstead  at  Saegerstown, 
Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  August  15,  1839,  and  removed  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents  in  1850.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
and  he  attended  the  public  schools  during  his  boyhood,  supplementing  this  by 
attendance  at  the  Wooster  high  school  and  the  Fredericksburg  Academy. 
Eight  years  were  spent  in  teaching  school  during  the  winter  months  and  at- 
tending school  during  the  summer  seasons.  In  1867  Mr.  Strauss  came  to 
Orrville  where  he  has  since  been  a recognized  influence.  In  that  year  he  en- 
gaged in  the  dry  goods  business  with  the  late  Henry  Shrieber,  the  partner- 
ship, however,  only  continuing  six  months.  In  1868  he  and  the  late  C.  R. 
Beckley  bought  a dry  goods  stock  located  in  the  present  stand  of  W.  L.  Des- 
Yoignes.  Here  Mr.  Strauss  was  in  business  for  twenty  years,  buying  Mr. 
Beckley's  interest  after  twelve  years  of  partnership.  Here  was  first  estab- 
lished Mr.  Strauss’s  splendid  reputation  for  honorable  and  upright  business 
methods,  which  his  long  and  successful  career  has  since  maintained  inviolate. 

In  1881  the  Orrville  Banking  Company,  a private  bank,  was  organized, 
and  Mr.  Strauss,  being  one  of  the  organizers,  became  the  cashier,  accepting 
the  position  with  reluctance.  Being  at  this  time  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business,  he  divided  his  time  between  the  bank  and  the  store  until  1888,  when 
he  sold  the  store  and  since  that  year  he  has  devoted  his  time  exclusively  and 
continuously  to  the  bank. 

On  July  3;  1902,  the  bank  was  reorganized  as  the  Orrville  National 
Bank  and  its  capital  stock  increased  to  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  bank  is 
one  of  the  solid  financial  institutions  of  northern  Ohio.  At  its  reorganization 
as  a national  bank,  Mr.  Strauss  was  elected  president,  which  title  designates 
his  present  official  position  with  the  bank. 

Mr.  Strauss's  other  business  interests  include  a directorship  in  the  Orr- 
ville Bedding  Company  and  numerous  other  investments.  He  Its  also  ex- 
tensive land  interests,  having  a fine  farm  in  Greene  township,  one  in  Baugh- 
man township  and  part  owner  of  one  in  Chippewa  township. 

Mr.  Strauss  was  married  September  20,  1870,  to  Alary  Leinninger,  who 
was  born  in  Dalton,  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  She  is  a daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Anna  Leinninger,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany.  Four  chil- 
dren constitute  their  family,  namely  : Bessie  E.,  who  holds  a responsible  posi- 
tion in  the  bank;  Frank  L.,  cashier  of  the  bank;  Harry  H.  graduated  from 
Wooster  University  in  1904,  was  later  a student  at  Chicago  University.  Chi- 
cago, and  was  professor  and  instructor  in  Latin  and  Greek  at  Miami  Univer- 
sity, Oxford.  Ohio;  he  has  been  a member  of  the  faculties  at  Tullane  College 
New  Orleans,  the  State  University  of  Iowa  and  the  State  University  of  North 


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Dakota,  and  next  year  will  return  to  Tullane  College  as  an  instructor;  Dr. 
Robert  Todd  is  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  is  now  a 
successful  dentist  at  Alliance,  Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strauss  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Strauss  is  an  elder  and  has  served  on  the  official  board.  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Strauss  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  Honor.  Politically,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  having 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  served  for  twenty  years  on  the 
Orrville  city  school  board  and  manifests  a keen  interest  in  educational  mat- 
ters. 

Mr.  Strauss  as  a business  man  is  a representative  type  of  that  fine  old 
school  where  the  highest  integrity,  implacable  justice  and  rugged  honesty  are 
the  prerequisites  to  success.  Personally,  he  is  of  kindly  demeanor,  a whole- 
some optimism  pervading  his  nature,  and  his  engaging  frankness  disclosing 
a heart  mellowed  with  human  sympathies. 


CAPT.  JAMES  B.  TAYLOR. 

A man  who  stands  admittedly  among  the  leaders  of  the  legal  profession 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  Buckeye  state,  where  he  has  long  been  practicing  in 
all  the  courts,  often  handling  many  of  the  most  important  cases  on  the  various 
dockets,  is  Capt.  James  B.  Taylor,  of  Wooster,  Wayne  county.  Being  cour- 
teous, well  informed  and  enterprising,  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  a community  widely  noted  for  the  high  order  of  its  citizen- 
ship, and  in  his  life  record  is  much  that  should  be  an  incentive  to  the  youth 
standing  at  the  parting  of  the  ways,  whose  destinies  are  matters  for  future 
years  to  determine,  to  have  higher  ambitions  and  accomplish  more  for  their 
fellow  men,  for  his  life  has  always  been  led  along  a plane  of  high  endeavor, 
always  consistent  with  the  truth  in  its  higher  forms  and  ever  in  keeping  with 
honorable  principles,  while  at  the  same  time  he  has  l>een  eminently  successful 
in  his  chosen  profession.  He  is  the  scion  of  pioneer  ancestors  of  the  most 
sterling  qualities  who  did  much  in  their  day  for  the  communities  in  which  they 
lived,  and  the  Captain  is  a worthy  descendant  of  his  forbears,  thus  for  many 
reasons,  not  the  least  of  which  is  the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  patriotic  sons 
of  the  North,  who,  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  left  his  comfortable 
hearthstone  and  his  business  affairs  to  do.  what  he  could  toward  saving  the 
national  union  from  disruption  and  dishonor,  he  is  accorded  conspicuous  men- 


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tion  in  this  work,  along  with  other  worthy  citizens  of  Wayne  county,  whose 
lives  have  been  directed  along  proper  channels. 

James  B.  Taylor  was  born  August  24,  1840,  at  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  and 
his  useful  life  has  been  spent  within  the  borders  of  his  native  county  of 
Wayne,  for  the  most  part,  for  he  believed  that  greater  opportunities  existed 
for  him  right  here  at  home  rather  than  in  some  remote  locality,  and,  judging 
from  the  eminent  success  he  has  achieved  and  the  good  he  has  done  the  peo- 
ple of  this  community,  he  was  wise  in  coming  to  such  a conclusion.  He  is 
the  son  of  James  and  Elisabeth  (Curtis)  Taylor,  both  natives  of  Virginia, 
each  representing  a fine  old  Southern  family,  the  mother  being  of  original 
Quaker  stock. 

James  B.  Taylor  was  the  youngest  member  of  a family  of  nine  children, 
and  his  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  quiet,  sequestered  village  of  his  birth,  in 
much  the  same  manner  as  other  youths  of  his  station  in  life  and  environments. 
He  started  to  the  common  schools  early  and  made  rapid  progress,  for  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  was  a teacher  in  the  public  schools.  It  being  necessary  for 
him  to  map  out  his  career  and  “work  out  his  own  salvation”  practically  un- 
aided, he  taught  during  the  winter  months  and  attended  school  through  the 
summer  and  made  general  preparation  for  a higher  life  work.  For  a time  the 
intervals  between  his  teaching  periods  were  profitably  employed  as  a student 
at  the  Fredericksburg  Academy;  later  he  entered  the  junior  class  at  West- 
minster College,  Pennsylvania,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
June,  1861,  having  made  a splendid  record  there.  In  the  ensuing  autumn  he 
did  a very  commendable  work  by  organizing  and  opening  Smithville  Academy, 
in  the  superintendency  and  control  of  which  he  remained  for  one  year,  when, 
notwithstanding  the  flattering  outlook  for  the  institution,  Mr.  Taylor  decided 
to  cast  his  lot  with  the  Federal  troops,  the  rebellion  then  being  in  full  blast. 
He  surrendered  the  control  of  the  academy  to  Prof.  John  B.  Eberly,  who  for 
many  years  conducted  it  with  remarkable  success,  the  foundation  having  been 
securely  and  broadly  laid  by  Mr.  Taylor.  He  entered  the  service  as  second 
lieutenant.  August  15,  1862.  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and.  having  proved  to  be  a most  capable  and  gallant 
soldier,  he  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  February  18.  1863.  later,  on 
March  23d.  following,  to  captain  of  Company  H.  and  by  reason  of  the  con- 
solidation of  this  regiment  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  he  was  mustered  out  November  27.  1864.  The  first  regiment 
he  was  in  bore  a meritorious  and  conspicuous  part  in  the  campaign  of  the 
Mississippi  river  and  its  tributaries,  and  C aptain  Taylor  shared  in  its  vicissi- 
tudes and  conflicts.  In  the  swamps  of  C hickasaw  Bavou.  at  Arkansas  Post, 


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at  Thompson’s  Hill,  under  Grant  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  at  Big  Black 
river,  at  Jackson,  under  Banks  on  the  Red  river,  he  bravely  led  his  command, 
and  with  an  army  of  invincible  soldiers  he  united  with  them  in  the  triumphant 
victories  of  long  and  arduous  campaigns. 

Returning  to  civil  life,  Captain  Taylor  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
in  the  spring  of  1865,  in  Fredericksburg,  with  Doctor  Martin,  and  toward  the 
close  of  that  year  went  to  the  University  of  Michigan  as  a student  of  medicine, 
but  soon  thereafter  abandoned  the  same,  believing  that  the  law  held  greater 
opportunities  for  one  of  his  tastes.  He  made  rapid  strides  in  this  department 
and  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1867  in  the  law  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan.  He  returned  to  Wayne  county  and  opened  an  office  at 
Orrville,  where  he  soon  had  a satisfactory  practice  which  has  continued  to 
grow  until  he  has  long  since  been  rated  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Wayne  county  bar.  Believing  that  the  city  of  Wooster  held  greater 
advantages  for  himself  and  family,  he  moved  here  in  April  1882,  formed  a 
law  partnership  with  ex-Probate  Judge  Isaac  Johnson  in  1888,  which  con- 
tinued witil  the  tragic  death  of  the  latter. 

Captain  Taylor  has  prospered  by  reason  of  his  close  application  to  busi- 
ness, and  he  had  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  in  the  city,  located  amid 
beautiful  surroundings  on  North  Market  street,  modern,  of  attractive  archi- 
tecture, located  in  the  midst  of  fine  lawns,  through  which  wind  inviting  walks, 
overarched  by  splendid  trees  and  shrubbery.  On  Christmas  eve  of  1906,  a 
year  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  transferred  his  beautiful  home  to  a city 
hospital,  and  it  yet  continues  as  a hospital,  and  ought  to  be  a monument  to  his 
generosity  and  the  thoughtfulness  of  his  wife,  who  in  health  had  planned  for 
just  such  a use  of  the  property. 

Captain  Taylor’s  wife  was  Emilie  Emmett,  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Eliza  Emmett,  and  whose  grandfather  laid  out  the  town  of  Emmettsburg, 
Pennsylvania.  Prior  to  their  marriage  Mrs.  Taylor  was  the  principal  of  the 
schools  at  Fredericksburg,  Ohio.  To  them  were  born  six  children,  three  of 
whom  survive,  Harry  E.  Taylor,  manager  of  a manufacturing  establishment 
at  Orrville.  Rob  C.  Taylor,  a law  partner,  and  Josephine,  now  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Fred  J.  Slagle,  who  are  spending  a year  in  Scotland.  Captain  Taylor  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Wooster,  a Mason,  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

The  Captain  is  a practitioner  of  an  earnest,  cultivated,  enlightened  and 
inquiring  mind.  His  leisure  hours  are  employed  among  his  books  and  legal 
authorities.  He  permits  no  shrinkage  in  his  hours  of  study  and  work,  for 
he  believes  in  labor,  that  there  is  true  dignity  in  it,  and  he  is  well  versed  in  all 


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the  intricate  recesses  of  the  law,  and  in  the  court  room  he  is  at  once  genteel, 
alert,  keen,  discriminating,  analytical,  logical  and  often  eloquent,  never  failing 
to  deeply  impress  his  jury.  He  is  a vigorous  as  well  as  an  independent  thinker 
and  he  always  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  He  is  essentially  cosmo- 
politan in  his  ideas,  a man  of  the  people  in  all  the  term  implies  and  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word  a representative  type  of  that  strong  American  manhood, 
which  commands  and  retains  respect  by  reason  of  inherent  merit,  sound  sense 
and  correct  conduct.  He  has  so  impressed  his  individuality  upon  his  com- 
munity as  to  win  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  who  regard 
his  career  as  eminently  honorable  and  useful  in  all  its  phases,  for  it  has  been 
a strenuous  one  and  of  a character  to  benefit  others,  and,  measured  by  the 
accepted  standards  of  excellence,  his  life  has  been  fraught  with  great  good  to 
those  with  whom  he  has  come  into  contact. 


THOMAS  KIRBY  DAVIS,  D.  D. 

This  venerable  and  highly  esteemed  exponent  of  the  life  of  the  lowly 
Nazarene  has  led  a life  that  is  worthy  of  commendation  and  emulation  by 
the  youth  standing  at  the  parting  of  the  ways,  for  it  has  been  one  of  un- 
selfish service  and  of  unswerving  rectitude,  self-sacrifice  and  devotion  to 
the  higher  duty.  Thomas  Kirby  Davis  was  born  in  Chambersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  11,  1826.  He  prepared  for  college  at  the  Chambersburg 
Academy,  entered  Yale  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1845; 
studied  theology  at  Princeton  Seminary,  and  was  ordained  as  a Presbyterian 
minister  by  the  presbytery  of  Carlisle  in  1850.  His  pastoral  charges  in 
his  early  ministry  included  Bedford,  Schellsburg,  Middletown,  Pennsylvania; 
Mansfield,  and  Hayes ville,  Ohio.  At  the  latter  place  he  was  also  professor 
of  languages  in  the  Vermilion  Institute.  He  was  stated  supply  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  San  Francisco,  California,  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  and  also  of  the  First  church  at  Stockton, 
that  state:  also  of  many  other  churches  during  the  years  he  has  been  resid- 
ing in  Wooster.  He  was  a member  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  Vermilion  Institute.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
University  of  Wooster,  held  in  December,  1866,  Doctor  Davis  was  appointed 
one  of  a committee  of  three  whose  duty  it  was  to  go  over  the  state  of 
Ohio  and  ascertain  if  the  Presbyterian  churches  of  the  state  were  ready  to 
endow  a Presbyterian  college.  Doctor  Davis  accordingly  resigned  his  charge 


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at  Mansfield  and  began  to  work  for  the  University  of  Wooster  on  the  first 
of  January,  1867.  After  laboring  very  successfully  for  nearly  a year,  he 
resigned  to  accept  a call  to  Hayesville  and  Vermilion  Institute. 

In  the  year  1871  Mr.  Davis  was  called  to  Wooster  as  financial  secre- 
tary and  he  has  lived  here,  working  for  the  university  ever  since.  He  was 
a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  this  institution  from  1876  to  1899  and 
secretary  of  the  board  from  1876  to  1908.  He  was  made  librarian  of  the 
university  in  1877  and  has  held  that  position  to  the  present  time  (1910). 
He  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1880  by  Pennsyl- 
vania College,  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  by  Parsons  College,  at  Fair- 
field,  Iowa. 

Doctor  Davis  was  married  on  August  14.  1851,  to  Marv  H.  Proctor, 
of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  She  was  born  in  that  city,  the  daughter  of  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Officer,  of  an  old  and  well-known  family  of  Carlisle.  After  a long  and 
beautiful  life  of  Christian  service,  Mrs.  Davis  was  called  to  her  rest  on 
March  28,  1908.  To  this  union  the  following  children  were  born:  William 
Stewart,  connected  with  the  Standard  Publishing  Company,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio:  Miriam  M.,  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  who  holds  an  important  posi- 
tion in  the  reference  department  of  the  public  library  there;  Janet  M.  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  James  Wallace,  who  for  twenty  years  was  president  of  Mac- 
alester  College  at  St.  Paul ; he  was  then  on  leave  of  absence  three  years 
as  professor  of  New  Testament  Greek  in  Doctor  White's  Bible  School, 
New  York  City.  He  then  returned  to  Macalester  College  and  has  charge  of 
the  Bible  department.  John  Proctor  is  a Presbyterian  minister,  at  present 
pastor  of  a church  at  Austin,  Minnesota;  Elizabeth  R.  is  at  home  with  her 
father ; Alice  S.  has  a responsible  position  in  the  Ohio  state  library  at  Colum- 
bus. These  children  have  all  been  well  educated  and  the  wholesome  home 
environment  in  which  they  were  reared  is  clearly  reflected  in  their  daily  lives. 

Doctor  Davis  has  given  his  heart  and  the  greater  part  of  his  life  and 
service  to  the  founding  and  building  up  of  an  institution  of  learning  that 
would  be  so  broad  and  comprehensive  in  its  scope  as  to  include  the  teachings 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the  most  vitally  important  and  necessary  part 
of  its  curriculum  and  influence.  He  has  accomplished  much  toward  amelio- 
rating the  condition  of  his  fellow  men,  often  laboring  with  disregard  for 
his  own  welfare  if  thereby  he  might  attain  the  object  he  sought — to  make 
some  one  better  and  happier.  Such  a life  is  an  incentive  to  the  youth  whose 
fortunes  and  records  are  matters  for  the  future  to  determine,  for  his  life 
has  been  singularly  free  from  all  that  is  deteriorating  or  paltry,  his  influence 


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at  all  times  uplifting,  and  thousands  of  people  have  been  made  better  for 
having  known  him ; however,  he  has  never  sought  public  praise  or  the  plaudits 
of  men,  preferring  to  reap  the  rewards  of  a clear  conscience  and  the  approval 
of  the  Heavenly  Father. 


CHARLES  R.  SELL. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Canaan  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  who  have 
built  up  a comfortable  home  and  surrounded  themselves  with  a valuable 
landed  estate  and  personal  property,  few  have  achieved  a higher  degree  of  suc- 
cess in  the  same  length  of  time  and  under  such  circumstances  as  Charles  R. 
Sell,  for  he  has  been  diligent  and  prospered  in  the  face  of  all  obstacles  and  at 
the  same  time  has  retained  the  excellent  reputation  of  his  forbears.  He  was 
born  in  Canaan  township,  this  county,  on  the  old  Sell  homestead,  March  9, 
1863,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Ellen  (Reed)  Sell,  the  latter  the  daughter  of 
George  Reed,  who  came  to  Stark  county  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  pioneer 
days  and  devoted  his  life  to  fanning.  A detailed  review  of  Mr.  Sell’s  father 
and  paternal  ancestors  will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work  under  the 
caption  of  W.  Frank  Sell. 

Charles  R.  Sell  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  com- 
munity, alternating  schooling  with  farm  work, — in  fact,  he  lived  on  the  home 
place  until  he  married,  when  he  moved  to  a farm  of  sixty-one  acres  which  his 
father  gave  him.  His  wedding  occurred  in  August,  1885,  an(l  his  life  com- 
panion was  Emma  Fetzer,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Fetzer,  pioneers  of 
Wayne  county.  Jacob,  the  father  of  Peter  Fetzer,  was  the  oldest  member  of 
the  Fetzer  family  that  came  to  Wayne  county.  He  took  up  timbered  land 
here  which  he  cleared  and  on  which  he  made  a good  home,  becoming  prosper- 
ous for  those  days. 

After  getting  a good  start  on  his  first  place,  Mr.  Sell  moved  to  a farm  of 
eighty-two  acres,  the  Fetzer  homestead,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has 
added  to  his  original  purchase,  his  farm  now  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-three  acres.  It  is  well  improved  and  the  soil  has  been  so  skillfully  man- 
aged that  it  has  retained  its  original  fertility.  Fie  has  a beautifully  located 
and  commodious  home  and  substantial  outbuildings.  He  has  always  followed 
general  farming  in  a manner  that  shows  him  to  be  a man  of  good  judgment 
and  persistent  methods.  Much  of  his  regular  income  is  derived  from  success- 
ful stock  raising.  He  always  has  various  kinds  of  good  livestock,  being  an 
especially  good  judge  of  cattle. 


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To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  R.  Sell  the  following  children  have  been  born : 
Mrs.  Otto  Tschantz;  Grace  Louella;  Sadie,  deceased;  Ida,  Dessa  and  Helen. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sell  and  their  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Politically,  Mr.  Sell  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  while  he  does 
not  take  any  special  interest  in  local  political  affairs,  his  support  may  always 
be  depended  upon  in  all  worthy  movements  for  the  benefit  of  Wayne  county, 
whether  political,  educational,  material  or  civic. 


DAVID  BLOUGH. 

One  of  the  substantial  and  worthy  agriculturists  of  the  vicinity  of  Sterl- 
ing, Wayne  county,  is  David  Blough,  where  he  has  long  maintained  his  home, 
his  fine  farm  representing  much  hard  labor,  but  he  has  ever  been  known  to  be 
a man  of  energy  and  determination  in  business  affairs.  Indolence  and  idle- 
ness are  entirely  foreign  to  his  nature  and  his  continued  activity  in  the 
management  and  development  of  his  property  has  made  him  one  of  the 
valuable  citizens  of  this  locality. 

Mr.  Blough  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  7,  1826, 
the  son  of  David  and  Mary  Blough,  who  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
1836.  David  Blough,  Sr.,  bought  the  farm  on  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  now  resides.  The  place  was  formerly  owned  by  a Mr.  Steiner.  This 
farm  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  the  members  of  this  family 
have  tilled  in  such  a manner  as  to  get  the  best  results  possible  and  have  kept 
the  soil  in  a very  fertile  condition.  When  the  father  purchased  this  place 
only  a small  part  of  it  had  been  cleared  and  on  it  stood  a few  log  buildings, 
but  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons  he  cleared  and  improved  the  place  and 
established  a good  home.  His  family  consisted  of  five  children,  David, 
Joseph,  Henry,  Moses  and  Jacob.  Of  this  number,  David  and  Joseph  are 
the  only  ones  living.  Joseph,  Moses  and  Jacob  were  drafted  into  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war,  but  they  hired  substitutes.  The  grandfather  of 
the  subject  was  also  named  David  Blough.  He  was  born  in  Coblitz,  Germany, 
from  which  country  he  came  to  America  in  an  early  day.  He  was  the  father 
of  twenty-one  sons;  whether  there  were  any  daughters  in  his  family  is  not 
known.  The  grandparents  of  the  subject  on  both  sides  of  the  house  lived 
and  died  in  Pennsylvania. 

David  Blough,  of  this  review,  was  married  on  April  11,  1854,  to  Lydia 
Curts.  He  made  his  home  on  his  present  farm  since  he  was  ten  years  of  age. 


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He  carried  on  general  farming  in  a very  successful  manner  during  his  active 
life  and  for  several  years  he  has  lived  retired  on  the  old  farm,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  former  years  of  well  directed  labor.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Amish  Mennonite  church,  and  is  a Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been  town- 
ship supervisor. 

The  following  children  have  been  born  to  the  subject  and  wife:  Sarah, 
wife  of  the  late  Jacob  Burkey ; John,  who  died  in  1875  : Cassie,  now  Mrs.  John 
Burkey;  Samuel,  Noah,  Eli  and  Neri  D. 

Neri  D.  Blough  was  educated  in  the  home  schools  and  grew  to  maturity 
on  the  home  farm  on  which  he  has  lived  all  his  life.  He  has  had  charge  of  the 
active  farming  for  a number  of  years  and  he  has  proven  to  be  a very  aide  and 
industrious  agriculturist.  He  was  married  in  1895  to  Katherine  Krupp,  and 
this  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children : Della,  Henry, 
Nola,  Edna,  John,  Carrie,  Wilma,  Eva,  Fem. 

Neri  D.  Blough,  like  his  honored  father,  is  highly  respected  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. He  is  a member  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  church,  and  politically  he 
is  a Democrat. 


WESLEY  HENRY  ZAUGG. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  caption  to  this  article,  who  was 
for  several  years  the  efficient  and  accommodating  assistant  cashier  of  the 
Citizens  National  Bank  of  Wooster,  and  who  recently  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  treasurer  of  Wayne  county,  to  which  office  he  was  elected,  is  emi- 
nently entitled  to  representation  in  a work  of  this  character.  At  all  times 
a true  and  loyal  citizen,  faithful  to  the  best  interests  of  his  community,  he 
has  always  commanded  unequivocal  confidence  and  esteem,  standing  high 
in  the  regard  of  his  business  associates  and  in  the  respect  of  the  general 
public.  His  influence  has  ever  been  wielded  in  the  promotion  of  the  higher 
interests  of  the  community,  and  all  worthy  agencies  have  enlisted  his  earnest 
support. 

A native  son  of  the  Buckeye  state.  Wesley  H.  Zaugg  was  born  in  Sugar- 
creek  township.  Wayne  county,  on  June  26.  1867.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel 
and  Cecile  (Calame)  Zaugg.  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  the  little  republic 
of  Switzerland,  though  they  were  married  in  Wayne  county.  Samuel  Zaugg 
came  to  the  United  States  when  twenty-one  years  old,  and,  coming  .at  once 
to  Wayne  county,  he  located  on  a farm  in  Saltcreek  township  which  he  pur- 
chased and  on  which  he  lived  for  thirty-five  years,  removing  to  Mt.  Eaton 
about  a year  ago,  on  the  death  of  his  wife.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 


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following  children:  Clara  married  a Mr.  Simpson  and  lives  in  Chicago, 

Illinois ; Fred  S.  lives  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  is  a successful  minister  at  Omaha, 
built  the  First  Reformed  church  in  that  city  and  is  now  engaged  in  the 
erection  of  the  Second  church  of  the  same  denomination;  John  A.,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business  at  Apple  Creek,  Ohio; 
Ida,  who  made  her  home  with  her  brother  Fred  at  Omaha,  married  W. 
Vecht  and  lives  on  a farm  near  Canal  Fulton,  Stark  county,  Ohio;  Florence 
is  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Michel,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Elmer  H.  is  a teacher  in 
Japan,  being  at  present  located  at  Sendai ; Pearl  is  a stenographer  at  Wooster 
University;  Zena  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  C.  X.  Clark,  coroner  of  Wayne  county, 
and  residing  at  Mount  Eaton  ; Wesley,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  subject's  paternal  grandparents  were  Jacob  and  Anna  ( Stettler) 
Zaugg,  who  came  from  their  native  Switzerland  to  America  in  1853  and 
located  in  Saltcreek  township,  this  county,  where  they  purchased  a small 
farm.  Here  they  lived  until  their  respective  deaths,  the  husband  dying  in 
about  1879  and  his  widow  about  ten  years  later.  They  were  persons  of 
many  estimable  qualities  and  were  highly  regarded  in  their  community. 

Wesley  H.  Zaugg  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  secured  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  township  and  in  the  Normal  School  at 
Ada,  this  state.  He  early  became  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm  and 
directed  his  attention  in  that  direction  until  coming  to  Wooster.  During 
the  meanwhile  he  was  also  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  school,  taking 
charge  of  his  first  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  During  the  following 
thirteen  years  he  continued  to  teach  in  Sugarcreek,  Saltcreek  and  Paint  town- 
ships. In  1896  Mr.  Zaugg  went  to  Europe  in  the  interest  of  several  persons 
who  were  heirs  to  estates  there,  and  during  the  following  year  Mr.  Zaugg 
was  busily  engaged  in  settling  these  affairs,  some  of  the  settlements  being 
very  hotly  contested.  Mr.  Zaugg’s  connection  with  the  affairs  in  question 
was  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  interested  parties  here.  In  1900  Mr.  Zaugg 
was  appointed  deputy  probate  judge  of  Wayne  county,. serving  in  this  capacity 
over  a year.  In  1901  he  became  teller  in  the  Wavne  County  National  Bank, 
remaining  there  five  years.  In  December,  1906,  he  accepted  a position  as 
assistant  cashier  in  the  Citizens  Bank,  and  continued  to  occupy  this  position 
until  taking  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  which  he  is  now  filling.  He  is 
otherwise  interested  in  financial  institutions,  being  president  of  the  Farmers 
and  Merchants’  Bank  of  Smith ville,  Ohio,  and  a member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Farmers’  Banking  Company,  at  Sterling,  Ohio.  He  is  a 
director  of  the  Wooster  Machine  Company  and  secretary-treasurer  of  the 


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Valley  River  Coal  Company,  of  Grafton,  West  Virginia.  In  1897  Mr.  Zaugg 
commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Judge  H.  B.  Swartz,  of  Wooster,  and 
would  undoubtedly  have  made  a good  lawyer,  as  he  has  natural  talents 
which  would  have  qualified  him  especially  for  this  profession,  but  circum- 
stances altered  his  plans  and  he  was  led  into  the  banking  business  instead. 
He  has  exhibited  business  qualities  of  the  highest  order  and  has  an  enviable 
standing  among  those  who  are  familiar  with  his  work  in  the  various  posi- 
tions in  which  he  has  been  placed.  The  taxpayers  of  Wayne  county  made  no 
mistake  in  selecting  him  as  the  custodian  of  the  public  moneys  and  he  will 
undoubtedly  give  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  the  same  careful  and 
faithful  attention  which  has  characterized  him  in  other  relations. 

On  March  27,  1900,  Mr.  Zaugg  took  unto  himself  a helpmeet  in  the 
person  of  Lena  Tschantz,  daughter  of  Christian  Tschantz,  a wholesale  cheese 
dealer  at  Alliance,  Ohio.  She  was  born  near  Mount  Eaton,  Wayne  county, 
and  her  family  was  living  at  Kidron,  this  county,  when  Mr.  Zaugg  was 
teaching  school  there.  Here  began  the  acquaintance,  which  ripened  into  a 
warmer  affection  and  culminated  in  marriage.  The  union  has  been  blessed 
with  two  children,  Miriam  Grace,  born  July  30,  1902,  and  Mary  Cecile,  born 
April  18,  1904.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zaugg  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church 
at  Wooster,  of  which  Mr.  Zaugg  has  served  as  deacon  for  eight  years  and 
superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  for  six  years.  He  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  He  possesses  a genial  disposition 
and  has  won  a host  of  warm  personal  friends,  who  admire  him  because  of 
his  sterling  worth.  He  is  an  accomplished  and  fluent  speaker  in  four  lan- 
guages, Swiss,  German,  French  and  English. 


WILLIAM  HOWARD  ROSS. 

The  Ross  family  have  been  well  known  and  influential  in  public  and  pri- 
vate life  in  both  Wayne  and  Holmes  counties  since  the  early  days,  one  of 
the  most  progressive  of  the  younger  generation  being  William  Howard  Ross, 
who  was  born  in  Ripley  township,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  September  18,  1879. 
His  paternal  ancestors  came  to  the  United  States  from  Ireland  and  located 
in  Pennsylvania,  from  which  state  his  grandfather.  John  Ross,  emigrated  to 
Wayne  county.  Ohio,  and  here  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Tracy.  William  F. 
Ross,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  1843.  We  received  an  excellent 


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education  and  entered  upon  a teachers  career,  which  he  continued  through- 
out his  subsequent  life,  becoming  known  as  one  of  the  leading  educators  of 
the  county,  his  teaching  being  confined  exclusively  to  Holmes  and  Wayne 
counties.  His  death  occurred  on  June  1,  1893.  The  maternal  ancestors  of 
William  H.  Ross  emigrated  to  America  from  England  and  settled  in  Lou- 
doun county,  Virginia,  from  which  place  the  subject’s  grandfather,  James 
Swart,  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  settling  in  Franklin  township,  and 
there  he  was  married  to  Rosanna  Hafhill,  and  it  was  there  that  the  mother 
of  William  H.  Ross  was  born  in  1837,  her  maiden  name  being  Catherine  M. 
Swart.  James  Swart  was  a farmer,  a justice  of  the  peace,  and  one  of  the 
associate  judges  of  the  district  court.  He  was  a prominent  man  in  his 
community.  The  Swart  family  later  moved  to  a farm  in  Ripley  township, 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  James  Swart  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace 
during  many  terms.  Catherine  M.  Swart  was  engaged  in  teaching  dis- 
trict schools  in  Wayne  county  until  her  marriage,  in  1866,  to  William  F. 
Ross.  After  their  marriage  they  resided  in  Franklin  township,  this  county, 
for  several  years  and  later  moved  to  Ripley  township,  Holmes  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  F.  Ross  four  children  were  born,  namely: 
Julia  Blanche,  a school  teacher;  a son  died  in  infancy;  Henry  E.,  now  a well- 
to-do  farmer  in  Clinton  township,  Wayne  county,  this  state;  William  How- 
ard, subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father  of  these  children  was  called  to  close 
his  earthly  account  in  1893,  leaving  Catherine  M.,  his  widow,  who  still  re- 
sides on  the  old  home  place  in  Ripley  township,  Holmes  county,  and  the 
two  sons,  Henry  E.  and  W.  Howard,  the  youngest,  who  was  then  but  thir- 
teen years  of  age. 

Although  but  a mere  boy,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  engaged  in  growing 
berries  for  market  when  he  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  attending  the 
district  schools  at  Bigelow  during  the  winter  months,  and  when  nineteen  years 
of  age  he  commenced  teaching,  having  applied  himself  very  assiduously  to 
his  text-books  and  receiving  a good  education.  His  first  school  was  that  in 
his  home  district  and  he  continued  to  teach  for  four  years.  Desiring  a higher 
training  than  he  had  received  in  the  common  schools,  he  entered  the  Ada 
Normal,  Ohio,  and  later  studied  at  the  Valparaiso  Normal  College,  Valpa- 
raiso, Indiana.  Deciding  that  the  law  held  greater  attractions  for  him  than 
the  school  room,  he  took  a course  in  the  Valparaiso  Normal  School,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1901,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws. 
He  made  a splendid  record  in  that  institution  and  was  honored  by  his  class 
by  being  elected  its  president.  Being  then  without  money  and  realizing  the 
financial  difficulties  that  confront  a young  lawyer,  he  again  taught  school 


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for  two  years,  then  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Shreve,  Ohio,  with 
\Y.  L.  Porter,  the  firm  being  known  as  Porter  & Ross,  in  which  business  he 
remained  for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  attended  the  bar  examination 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Ross  was  married  in  August.  1902,  to  Mabel  Grace  Garrett,  one 
of  the  six  daughters  of  Alfred  A.  Garrett,  of  Shreve,  Ohio.  She,  like  her 
husband,  was  a school  teacher,  having  received  a liberal  education  at  Ada, 
Ohio,  and  at  the  University  of  Wooster.  One  winsome  daughter.  Myrtle 
Evelyn,  has  graced  this  union. 

When  Mr.  Ross  gave  up  the  grocery  business  he  opened  a real  estate 
and  law  office  in  Shreve,  Ohio,  and,  by  hard  work  and  close  attention  to 
business,  has  succeeded  in  building  up  quite  a lucrative  patronage,  soon  be- 
coming an  active  member  of  the  Wayne  county  bar.  The  death  of  Hon. 
Martin  L.  Smyser  and  the  election  of  Judge  William  E.  Weygandt,  both  oc- 
curring in  1908,  took  from  the  firm  of  Smyser,  Weygandt  & Weiser  two  of 
its  members,  and  on  January  1,  1909.  Mr.  Ross  became  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Weiser  & Ross,  which  firm  succeeded  the  firm  of  Smyser, 
Weygandt  & Weiser,  and  they  are  now  enjoying  an  extensive  law  practice 
in  Wayne  and  adjoining  counties,  having  one  of  the  largest  and  best  law 
libraries  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Ross  is  an  active  Democrat,  always  found  in  the  front  ranks  working 
for  the  success  of  his  party.  He  and  Mrs.  Ross  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  take  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  their  neigh- 
bors and  the  general  public.  When  asked  to  what  he  attributed  his  success 
in  life,  Mr.  Ross  replied:  “Whatever  measure  of  success  I may  have  at- 

tained, I owe  to  the  youthful  impressions  I received  from  a kind  and  godly 
father,  to  a sainted  mother  and  faithful  wife.” 


CHARLES  A.  WEISER. 

Individual  enterprise,  which  is  so  justly  the  boast  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, is  strikingly  exhibited  in  the  career  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  forms 
the  caption  of  this  sketch.  While  transmitting  to  posterity  the  record  of 
such  a life,  it  is  with  the  hope  of  instilling  into  the  minds  of  those  who  come 
after,  the  important  lesson  that  honor  and  station  are  sure  rewards  of  in- 
dividual exertion.  That  the  career  of  such  a person,  besides  being  treasured 


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in  the  hearts  of  relatives  and  friends,  should  have  its  public  record  also,  is 
peculiarly  proper,  because  a knowledge  of  men  whose  substantial  fame  rests 
upon  their  attainments  and  character  must  exert  a wholesome  influence  upon 
the  rising  generation.  The  life  of  Mr.  Weiser  has  indeed  been  a busy  and 
successful  one  and  the  record  he  has  made  at  the  local  bar  is  worthy  of 
the  attention  of  the  youth  who  would  learn  the  intrinsic  essence  of  individu- 
ality and  its  influence  in  molding  public  opinion  and  giving  character  and 
stability  to  the  community. 

Charles  A.  Weiser  was  born  in  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  23, 
1861.  His  father  was  of  German  ancestry.  He  worked  many  years  as  a 
miner;  he  married  Angelina  Knauss,  her  family  having  been  among  the 
early  emigrants  to  America  from  Germany.  All  along  the  line  of  the  an- 
cestry of  Mr.  Weiser  on  both  sides  of  the  house  we  find  men  and  women 
of  sterling  character,  plain,  industrious  and  honest  people.  Several  of  his 
maternal  ancestors  took  an  active  part  in  the  American  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  first  of  the  Weiser  family  in  America  were  John  and  Paul,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  some  time  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Each  A\*as 
the  father  of  twelve  children  and  they  were  pioneer  supporters  of  the  Mo- 
ravian church. 

Charles  E.  Weiser  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state;  however, 
he  attended  the  Ada  Normal  Institute  after  locating  in  this  state.  Coming 
to  Ohio  in  1879,  he  located  in  Greene  township,  Wayne  county,  later  moving 
to  Baughman  township,  where  he  continued  to  reside  on  a farm  which  he 
successfully  cultivated  until  1899,  when  he  moved  to  Wooster.  In  his  boy- 
hood days  he  found  employment  in  and  around  the  mines,  where  his  father 
was  engaged  driving  coal  wagons  and  indulging  in  the  diverse  and  various 
experiences  of  the  monotonous  and  precarious  mining  life.  After  he  came 
to  Ohio,  Tie  worked  upon  a farm,  his  efforts,  energies  and  industry  being  re- 
warded bv  a satisfactory  measure  of  success.  He  at  once  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  his  township  and  soon  came  to  be  recognized  as  one 
of  Baughman's  most  representative  citizens.  He  was  especially  interested  in 
the  progress  of  Baughman  township,  advocating  all  enterprises  that  would 
advance  the  prosperity  of  his  fellow  citizens,  always  taking  a very  pronounced 
interest  in  political  campaigns  and,  being  a loyal  Democrat  and  in  good 
standing  with  that  political  organization,  he  was  singled  out  by  party  leaders 
for  important  public  trusts,  having  been  chosen  as  candidate  for  the  Ohio 
Legislature  and  was  elected  in  1889  to  the  sixty-ninth  General  Assembly  of 
the  state,  and  so  faithfully  did  he  perform  the  duties  falling  to  him  by  virtue 
of  this  exalted  office  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1893,  making  a most  satisfac- 


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tory  record  a second  term.  He  was  well  qualified  for  the  position  of  legis- 
lator for  he  was  well  informed  on  the  leading  political  and  economic  ques- 
tions of  the  day.  He  served  also  in  Baughman  township  as  a member  of  the 
board  of  education  for  many  years,  during  which  time  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion in  that  part  of  the  county  was  greatly  augmented. 

Turning  his  attention  to  the  law,  Mr.  Weiser  began  reading  law  in  the 
office  of  \Y.  E.  Weygandt,  then  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county,  and, 
making  rapid  progress  in  the  same,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June, 
1898.  Not  long  afterwards  he  removed  to  Wooster  and  opened  an  office, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, having  been  very  successful  from  the  first.  He  formed  a partnership 
with  Mr.  Weygandt  and  the  combination  proved  to  be  a very  strong  one.  In 
December,  1905,  he  formed  a partnership  with  Judge  M.  K.  Smyser,  the  firm 
name  being  Smyser,  Weygandt  & Weiser,  which  continued  until  the  death  of 
Judge  Smyser. 

In  the  year  1882  Mr.  Weiser  married  Malinda  Shafer,  daughter  of 
John  and  Margareth  (Sickman)  Shafer,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Baugh- 
man township,  Wayne  county,  who  followed  farming.  To  the  subject  and 
his  wife  six  children  were  born : John,  Forest,  Clyde,  Bessie,  Glen  and  Perry. 
John,  the  oldest  son,  is  teaching  at  Concord,  Ohio.  Forest  is  salesman  in 
a large  establishment  in  Cleveland.  Clyde  is  a salesman  in  the  shoe  depart- 
ment of  the  Pocock  Shoe  Company,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  other  children 
are  at  home.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Weiser  is  a'member  of  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Religiously,  he  belongs  to  the 
English  Reformed  church  of  Wooster,  to  which  all  the  family  belong  and 
of  which  they  are  liberal  supporters.  Politically,  he  is  a Democrat  and  he  has 
been  president  of  the  city  council  for  seven  years. 

While  a member  of  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Weiser  very  faithfully  and 
ably  championed  the  rights  of  his  constituents,  having  made  his  influence 
felt  in  the  deliberations  of  that  body,  and  he  never  failed  to  be  respectfully 
listened  to  in  all  his  counseling,  his  arguments  carrying  undisputed  weight. 
In  the  practice  of  law  in  Wooster  he  has  attained  to  a laudable  position  in 
his  profession,  and  his  reputation  for  honesty,  integrity,  straightforward- 
ness of  character  and  fidelity  to  his  clients  and  all  confidences  and  trusts 
committed  to  him,  whether  professional  or  otherwise,  is  firmly  established. 
His  pathways  are  along  the  moral  levels  of  the  world,  and  he  preserves  the 
symmetry  of  a noble  life  by  emphasizing  his  attachments  to  the  higher  ideals 
of  the  mind:  by  defending  the  truth,  the  right,  and  by  aiming  to  preserve 


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the  perfect  proportions  of  truth.  As  a counselor  he  is  guarded  in  his  ex- 
pression of  opinions,  deliberate,  wary,  and  cautious  in  arriving  at  conclu- 
sions, seeking  to  attain  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  cause  before  the  ad- 
ministration of  advice,  or  the  commencement  of  action.  In  the  trial  of 
cases  he  is  self-possessed,  not  easily  irritated  or  excited,  and  conducts  his 
proceedings  in  hand  with  fairness  to  all  parties  concerned,  strictly  obeying 
the  canons  of  courtesy  to  the  court  and  opposing  counsel.  Considering  the 
fact  that  he  has  come  .up  to  an  honored  position  in  the  affairs  of  his  county 
and  state  through  his  own  persistent  efforts,  without  aid  from  any  source, 
he  is  justly  deserving  of  the  high  esteem  which  all  classes  freely  accord  him. 


CHARLES  MILTON  GRAY. 

A highly  respected  citizen  of  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  Charles 
M.  Gray,  a native  of  this  city,  where  he  was  born  January  6,  1859.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Wooster.  After  completing  his 
schooling  he  engaged  in  the  coal  and  builders'  supply  business  with  his  father, 
having  continued  the  same  line  to  the  present  time  with  unabated  success, 
owing  to  his  thorough  training  and  excellent  business  ability.  In  1891  he  be- 
came associated  with  A.  Plank  in  a flouring  mill  and  grain  business,  the  firm 
name  being  Plank  & Gray.  Mr.  Gray  is  president  of  the  Citizens'  National 
Bank,  and  president  of  the  Peoples  Savings  and  Loan  Company.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Wooster  Machine  Company.  He  carries  on  an  extensive 
business  in  coal  and  builders'  supplies  under  the  firm  name  of  Gray  & Son. 
He  has  been  very  successful  at  whatever  he  has  turned  his  attention  to,  owing 
to  his  careful  business  methods  and  his  desire  to  please  those  with  whom  he  has 
dealings,  striving  to  be  fair  at  all  times.  He  is  a member  of  the  local  Board  of 
Trade  and  is  filling  the  position  of  treasurer  of  the  same,  being  one  of  the 
most  active  and  influential  members  of  this  important  organization. 

Mr.  Gray  was  married  on  August  9,  1893,  to  Nellie  Gray,  the  cultured 
and  accomplished  daughter  of  Sylvester  Gray,  of  Wooster,  of  the  firm  of 
Gray  & Rhoades  Granite  Works.  One  child  has  graced  this  union,  a son, 
known  as  James  Sylvester  Gray. 

In  his  fraternal  relations.  Mr.  Gray  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
having  attained  the  thirty-second  degree.  He  is  past  eminent  commander  of 
Wooster  Comm^nderv;  he  also  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  taking  a very 
active  interest  in  all  these  orders.  The  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  is  a 


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member,  embodies  his  religious  creed.  Mrs.  Gray  is  also  a member  of  the 
same.  Mr.  Gray  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  congregation.  He  is  a Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  for  some  time  has  taken  a more  or  less  active  interest  in 
local  affairs.  The  Gray  home,  at  No.  158  East  North  street,  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  and  commodious  in  the  city. 


CAPT.  WESLEY  WELLS  SPEAR. 

What  greater  badge  of  honor  could  be  bestowed  upon  a man  than  to 
allude  to  him  as  one  of  the  “boys  in  blue,”  who  readily  sacrificed  the  pleas- 
ures of  home  and  business  opportunities  to  do  what  he  could  in  saving  the 
honor  of  the  old  flag?  One  of  this  brave  number  is  Capt.  Wesley  W.  Spear, 
an  interesting  and  deserving  citizen  of  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  who  was 
born  in  that  city  December  28,  1835,  the  son  of  William  Spear,  who  was 
born  near  Shippingberg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1803,  and  who  came  to  Wayne 
county  about  1827.  He  was  a cabinetmaker  by  trade,  and  he  located  in 
Wooster  where  he  established  a shop  and  led  a very  active  life  here  until  his 
death,  in  1890,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty -seven  years.  He  was  an 
honest,  hardworking  and  highly  respected  man.  He  married  Malinda  Wells, 
a native  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  conducted  a whip  fac- 
tory at  Wellsville,  that  county,  and  the  town  derived  its  name  from  the  family. 
Mrs.  Spear  was  born  in  1808  and  died  the  same  year  as  her  husband,  1890, — 
in  fact  only  four  days  after  her  husband  passed  away.  To  them  seven  chil- 
dren were  born,  four  of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  Wesley  W..  of  this  review, 
being  a twin  brother  of  William  Fletcher,  who  died  about  five  years  ago. 
Caroline  Spear,  and  Olive,  widow  of  Rev.  Janes  Mendenhall,  both  of  whom 
reside  in  Arkansas,  are  the  other  children. 

Captain  Spear  has  always  made  Wooster  his  home,  although  he  has 
traveled  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  On  August  6,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  very  faithfully  served  for  a period  of  three  years.  He  was  mus- 
tered in  at  Camp  Mansfield.  Ohio,  as  a private,  and  he  proved  to  be  a very 
capable  soldier  from  the  first,  having  been  commissioned  a second  lieutenant 
and  a few  days  later  was  made  first  lieutenant.  He  had  a varied  and  inter- 
esting experience  during  the  service,  taking  part  in  many  battles  and  engage- 
ments, among  them  being  the  battle  of  Chickasaw  Ravou.  Arkansas  Post. 
Thompson’s  Hill,  Champion’s  Hill  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  under  General 
Sherman.  He  was  wounded  at  Jackson.  Mississippi.  July  12,  1863,  having 


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/ 


i ! ay  is  a '>u  a i Member  m 

*M  4*  • M at  i<  »' 1 l b.  -S  ;t  i\C}3'  , 

M > *•  _■  or  \ • s ;u  li  \ 0 M1U  rest  i! 
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. ' > v\  I mil  he  c*  ah’  in  savv-  y 

’ah,  ; ]S  ( a pi . WYdeV  \\b  Sf 
" der.  \\  a vne  c*  mnl  y.  w lr  • 

■ ■ 4t  ' *f  ilham  Sf-eav,  v ■ 
n i Soy . ail* I w in  * ramr  to 
■ ,a!  it  by  trade,  and  he  h -■  , t< 

• ! led  a very  aeth  e life  lie:  e until 
f eighty- seven  years.  He  w 
:r«l  man.  He  married  Mod.  la  \\ 
ana.  Iler  father  conduct*  b a w hip 
. me  low  n derived  Us  name  I nan  the  fa*. 
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md>;md  nasstd  ;iw;n.  |o  them  ^ 

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tile 


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d,  ! : a \ ' n i 1 5 been  c*  »nan  m i « m K ( 1 a second  lum 
■ah  nr-o  Ih’Menam.  He  had  a vared  a1- 
r ' am.  tal  my  yan  in  many  ha*  ties  ,u*.  e . 

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fidl  a#  1 tde  sir  - v <d  \ ikkdiiia  male:'  Got 


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CAPT.  W.  W SPEAR 


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been  shot  in  the  right  groin  with  a minie  ball.  This  brought  him  home 
on  a furlough,  but,  recovering,  he  later  rejoined  his  regiment  in  western 
Louisiana,  where  the  brigade  was  divided  and  Mr.  Spear  was  stationed  on 
Colonel  Shelton's  staff,  doing  staff  duty  that  winter  at  Peackamon,  Louisiana. 
Again  in  active  service,  he  was  with  his  company  going  up  Red  river  when 
the  boat  which  was  transporting  them  was  fired  on  and  captured,  their  colonel 
killed  and  about  one-half  of  the  company  killed  or  captured.  This  necessi- 
tated consolidation  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio  Regiment, 
and  Mr.  Spear  was  made  captain  and  given  command  of  Company  H,  of 
that  regiment.  As  captain  of  that  company  he  was  in  the  siege  of  Fort 
Blakeley  at  Mobile,  also  Spanish  Fort  there.  Near  the  close  of  the  war 
Captain  Spear  was  transferred  to  the  Forty-eighth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volun- 
teers. and  after  a very  eventful  career  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Houston,  Texas,  October  17,  1865,  after  which  he  returned  to  Wooster, 
and,  with  his  father,  engaged  in  the  cabinetmaking  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness. After  the  war  his  eyesight  began  to  fail  gradually,  and  in  1885  he 
became  totally  blind,  and  he  has  since  lived  in  quiet  retirement  from  the 
world. 

Captain  Spear  was  married  in  1858  to  Anna  M.  Watt,  who  was  born  in 
north  Ireland  and  came  to  Philadelphia  when  five  years  of  age  with  her 
father,  who  went  into  the  produce  business  there,  later  removing  to  Wooster, 
Ohio,  and  continued  the  same  line  of  business  here  for  several  years.  Of 
the  seven  children  born  to  the  Captain  and  wife,  only  two  survive,  namely: 
Charles  Wesley  Spear,  of  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  and  Jesse  Watt 
Spear,  a conductor  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  at  Crestline,  Ohio. 

Captain  Spear  lives  on  West  Liberty  street  in  the  home  he  purchased 
in  1867.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  being  a charter 
member  of  Given  Post.  Notwithstanding  his  affliction.  Captain  Spear  is  a 
cheerful,  genial  and  interesting  man  to  talk  to,  who  enjoys  life,  conscious 
of  the  fact  that  he  has  performed  his  duty  well  and  greater  rewards  await 
him  than  his  fellow-men  have  ever  bestowed.  A man  of  good  health,  of 
snowy  hair  and  beard,  he  is  a picturesque  character  and  is  greatly  admired 
bv  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN  B.  FRANCE. 

In  1909  the  oldest  person  in  Wayne  county,  having  been  born  in  the 
city  of  Wooster  February  29,  1816,  was  John  B.  France,  who  first  saw  the 
light  of  day  in  a log  cabin  three  hundred  feet  from  where  he  has  lived  most 


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of  the  years  since  1840,  the  date  of  his  marriage.  He  is  the  son  of  Philip 
and  Elizabeth  (Swain)  France,  of  Pennsylvania,  but  natives  of  Germany. 
The  father  came  to  America  in  1807,  and  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  in  1811.  He 
was  drafted  into  the  war  of  1812  service,  served  there,  returned  to  Woos- 
ter and  here  died  in  1816.  The  same  day  of  his  death  his  daughter  died, 
and  they  were  buried  in  the  same  grave. 

The  venerable  old  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  who  is 
now  in  his  ninety-fifth  year,  has  had  a very  thrilling  and  eventful  career 
and  may  well  count  the  years  of  his  pilgrimage  as  successful  in  most  ways. 
He  attended  the  old-fashioned  subscription  schools  and  thereby  gained  a 
good  common  education  and  mastered  the  plasterers,  bricklayer’s  and  stone- 
mason’s trades,  commencing  to  learn  this  combination  of  useful  trades  when 
but  ten  years  of  age.  When  of  age  he  started  in  life  for  himself.  It  may 
be  stated  in  passing  that  as  his  father  died  when  he  was  yet  an  infant, 
that  he  was  reared  by  his  uncle,  John  Swain.  In  1832  he  ran  away  and  joined 
“Bill  Sweet’s*'  circus,  and  for  a season  or  more  played  the  role  of  the 
“Drunken  Sailor’'  for  that  showman.  Later  he  went  to  Detroit  and  other 
points  in  Michigan,  where  he  again  took  up  his  trade  as  bricklayer.  Again 
he  lived  in  Wooster  and  for  near  a score  of  years  followed  contracting  and 
building  in  a most  successful  manner  and  accumulated  considerable  prop- 
erty. He  was  among  the  early  “forty-niners,"  who  wended  their  lonely 
way  overland  to  Hangtown,  California,  where  he  mined  and  built  the  first 
court  house  at  Sacramento,  for  which  he  received  twelve  dollars  per  day 
as  overseer.  He  was  known  in  the  land  of  gold  as  “Frank  Ohio."  He  re- 
turned to  Wheeling  and  Pittsburg  and  made  a second  overland  trip  to  Cali- 
fornia. going  with  the  famous  Dennison  train  with  four  hundred  and  twenty 
men  and  one  woman.  He  remained  there  until  the  fall  of  1852  and  came 
home  by  way  of  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  oceans,  being  storm  delayed  near 
the  Sandwich  islands  for  more  than  a month.  After  his  return  to  Wooster, 
he  again  resumed  contracting  and  building.  In  1853  he  was  appointed  town 
marshal  for  Wooster;  was  elected  constable,  served  five  or  six  years,  and 
was  also  deputy  sheriff.  From  1863  to  1868  he  was  sheriff  of  Wayne  county 
and  for  three  years  and  three  months  was  on  the  Allan  Pinkerton  detective 
force  in  the  West,  and  had  many  thrilling  experiences.  The  next  eight 
years  he  followed  farming,  near  Wooster.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  dep- 
uty provost  marshal  three  years.  He  conducted  a jobbing  and  retail  grocery 
business  at  the  same  time  and  was  thus  engaged  six  years,  during  which 
time,  with  war  prices,  he  made  much  money  on  the  rapid  rise  of  merchandise, 
especially  sugar.  Among  his  public  building  contracts  may  be  named  the 
court  house  at  Findlav,  this  state. 


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In  1870  Mr.  France  erected  the  Academy  of  Music  as  his  own  property, 
at  Wooster,  and  for  thirteen  years  he  conducted  the  same.  In  1883  he 
raised  it  another  story  high  and  it  still  stands  as  a monument  to  his  skill 
and  business  foresight.  At  one  time  he  held  seventeen  pieces  of  Wooster 
property,  but  has  in  the  last  few  years  sold  off  much. 

Mr.  France  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  has  been  connected  therewith  since  1844.  Politically,  he  is  a stanch 
Democrat,  and  has  voted  for  every  President  since  1840.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Jacksonian  Club  here  and  also  belonged  to  the  Wayne  County 
Blues  at  an  early  date.  In  the  Franklin  Pierce  campaign  he  was  a member 
of  the  Gunners’  Squad. 

Of  his  domestic  life  it  may  be  said  that  Mr.  France  has  been  twice 
married,  first  in  1840  to  Miama  Flack,  who  died  in  1880,  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  three  of  whom  still  survive,  John  J.,  Alice  Smyser,  and  Mrs. 
David  Rickard,  of  Medina  county,  Ohio.  He  married  for  his  second  wife, 
in  1882,  Sarah  M.  Fraley,  who  died  October  5,  1904.  By  this  marriage  there 
was  no  issue. 

At  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-four  and  more  years.  Mr.  France  is  still 
robust,  hale  and  hearty,  except  his  eyesight  is  somewhat  bedimmed.  He 
would  easily  pass  anywhere  among  strangers  for  a man  of  not  more  than 
seventy-five  years. 


JAMES  A.  SHAMP. 

It  is  by  no  means  an  easy  task  to  describe  the  character  of  a man  who 
has  led  an  eminently  active  and  useful  life  and  stamped  the  impress  of  his 
individuality  upon  the  plane  of  definite  accomplishment.  In  an  age  bristling 
with  activity  it  is  the  man  of  deeds  who  is  at  the  front  in  every  line  of  en- 
terprise and  there  can  be  no  impropriety  in  justly  scanning  the  acts  of  such 
a man  as  they  affect  his  public,  social  and  business  relations.  Among  the 
representative  men  who  have  added  to  the  various  interests  of  Wooster  and 
given  the  city  wide  publicity  as  an  important  business  center  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  is  entitled  to  specific  and  honorable  notice. 
For  many  years  identified  with  the  public  and  political  life  of  Wayne  county 
and  filling  with  marked  ability  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  he  has  gained 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men,  irrespective  of  party  affiliation,  and  stands 
above  reproach  in  all  that  constitutes  upright  manhood  and  intelligent,  enter- 
prising and  progressive  citizenship. 


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James  A.  Shamp  is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born 
March  7,  1859.  in  Wooster  township,  of  which  his  father,  James  M.  Shamp, 
late  of  Wooster,  was  for  many  years  a prominent  and  influential  citizen. 
His  mother,  Mary  C.  Shamp,  who  is  still  living  in  Wooster,  is  a daughter 
of  Christian  Silver,  who  moved  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in  the  pioneer  period 
and  settled  in  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  where  he  developed  a good 
farm  and  in  due  time  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  community. 
James  M.  Shamp.  a well-known  architect,  contractor  and  builder,  as  well  as 
a public  spirited  man,  departed  this  life  in  Wooster  in  the  year  1885. 

The  early  years  of  James  A.  Shamp  were  similar  in  most  respects  to 
those  of  the  majority  of  lads  blessed  with  wise  and  considerate  parents 
and  excellent  home  training.  At  the  proper  age  he  entered  the  public  schools 
where  he  made  commendable  progress  and  where  he  continued  his  studies 
until  graduating  from  the  high  school  at  Wooster,  with  the  class  of  1879. 
Having  selected  law  as  the  profession  best  suited  to  his  taste  and  inclination, 
he  began  the  study  of  the  same  the  year  of  his  graduation,  in  the  office  of 
D.  W.  Kimber,  then  mayor  of  Wooster,  under  whose  able  instruction  he 
continued  for  a period  of  sixteen  months,  but  the  death  of  his  father  inter- 
vening, he  was  not  admitted  to  the  bar,  although  amply  qualified  to  pass 
with  ease  the  examination  required.  Being  the  oldest  son  and  his  mother 
in  delicate  health,  with  several  younger  children  to  be  supported,  he  cheer- 
fully relinquished  his  cherished  ambition  of  professional  distinction  and, 
assuming  the  responsibilities  devolving  upon  him,  addressed  himself  to  the 
duty  of  the  family’s  maintenance.  Possessing  a naturally  strong  and  inquir- 
ing mind,  which  had  been  greatly  strengthened  and  disciplined  by  studious 
habits  while  a student.  Mr.  Shamp  while  still  young  qualified  himself  for 
teaching,  to  which  line  of  work  he  devoted  his  attention  for  a period  of  seven 
years,  during  which  time  he  achieved  an  enviable  reputation  as  a capable 
and  popular  teacher  and  rose  to  a conspicuous  place  among  the  successful 
educators  of  Wayne  county.  In  the  spring  of  1890  he  discontinued  this  work 
to  become  first  assistant  to  Samuel  Metzler,  who  was  appointed  that  year 
postmaster  of  Wooster,  and  during  the  next  four  years  filled  the  position 
in  an  eminently  able  and  meritorious  manner,  proving  capable  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  judicious  in  his  relations  with  the  public  and  in  all 
that  he  did  justifying  the  wisdom  of  his  selection.  At  the  expiration  of  Mr. 
Metzler’s  term,  Mr.  Shamp  continued  four  months  with  that  gentleman’s 
successor  and  later,  in  connection  with  R.  T.  Bechtel,  now  of  the  Wooster 
postoffice,  embarked  in  the  telephone  business,  then  in  its  infancy.  Through 
the  persevering  efforts  of  these  two  energetic  and  wide-awake  men,  the  first 


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Independent  exchange  in  Ohio  was  established,  but  after  conducting  the  enter- 
prise jointly  for  some  time  it  finally  passed  to  the  Millersville,  Wooster  & 
Orrville  Company,  by  which  it  has  since  been  operated. 

In  April,  1898,  when  T.  L.  Flattery,  of  the  Wooster  postoffice,  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  position  he  very  prudently  summoned  Mr.  Shamp 
to  his  service  as  assistant  postmaster,  in  which  capacity  he  has  since  been 
employed  and  in  which  he  has  added  continuously  to  his  already  well-estab- 
lished reputation  as  an  able  and  faithful  public  servant. 

Mr.  Shamp  has  ever  manifested  a lively  interest  in  public  matters  and 
since  attaining  his  majority  has  been  an  influential  factor  in  local  politics, 
being  recognized  as  one  of  the  Republican  leaders  of  Wayne  county  whose 
efficient  services  have  been  fully  appreciated  by  the  party  and  whose  judi- 
cious counsel  and  well-grounded  opinions  carry  weight  and  command  respect. 
In  1905  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  probate  judge,  but  by  reason  pf 
the  formidable  strength  of  the  opposition  failed  of  election,  although  mak- 
ing an  exceptionally  strong  canvass  and  running  ahead  of  the  state  Democratic 
ticket  in  the  county.  From  time  to  time  he  has  been  called  to  various 
positions  of  trust,  having  served  for  several  years  as  president  of  the  board 
of  examiners  of  the  city  of  Wooster,  which  post  he  continues  to  hold,  and 
at  this  time  he  is  secretary  of  the  public  library  board,  besides  assisting 
to  the  extent  of  his  ability  all  enterprises  and  measures  having  for  their  object 
the  material  progress  of  the  community  and  the  social,  intellectual  and  moral 
advancement  of  the  populace. 

Mr.  Shamp  is  a believer  in  the  efficacy  of  secret  fraternal  work  and  as 
an  active  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  holding  his 
membership  with  Wooster  Lodge,  No.  42,  has  made  his  influence  felt  in  dis- 
seminating the  principles  of  the  order  and  demonstrating  its  practical  worth 
in  educating  and  improving  the  condition  of  his  fellow  men.  He  was  a 
leading  spirit  in  the  movement  which  led  to  the  erection  of  the  present  hand- 
some grand  lodge  buildings  in  Springfield,  and  at  different  times  has  been 
chosen  to  represent  the  lodge  to  which  he  belongs  in  the  sessions  of  that 
honorable  body.  At  the  present  time  he  is  secretary  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  Lodge  No.  42,  which  office  he  has  held  for  nine  consecutive  years, 
and  in  addition  thereto  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  been  honored  with  every 
position  within  the  power  of  his  fellow  members  to  bestow. 

On  December  27,  1894,  Mr.  Shamp  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amanda 
Mock,  of  Wayne  county,  the  marriage  being  blessed  with  three  children  who 
answer  to  the  names  of  James  D.,  Mildred  M.  and  Miles  A.,  all  interesting 


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and  intelligent  and  pursuing  their  studies  in  the  public  schools  of  the  city. 
Mrs.  Shamp  was  born  in  Stark  county,  this  state,  and  is  a daughter  of  Wil- 
son and  Emma  Mock,  who  are  among  the  well-known  and  highly  esteemed 
people  of  the  community  in  which  they  reside.  In  his  religious  views  Mr. 
Shamp  holds  to  the  Methodist  creed  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  church 
in  Wooster,  being  a member  of  the  official  board  of  the  organization. 

“In  a very  full  and  reasonable  sense,  Mr.  Shamp  may  be  termed  a self- 
made  man,  all  of  his  accomplishments  originating  in  and  directly  flowing 
from  himself."  “Xo  adventitious  aids  contributed  to  his  unfolding  develop- 
ment”; in  every  relation  of  life  he  has  depended  upon  his  own  exertions  and 
the  honorable  place  to  which  he  has  attained  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  by  his  fellow  men  indicate  the  high  ideals  which  he  has  ever  had  in  view 
and  the  noble  purposes  by  which  he  has  always  been  actuated.  1 He  shirks  no 
duty,  his  work  will  bear  the  closest  inspection  and  scrutiny,  his  promptness  has 
become  proverbial,  his  integrity  a maxim  and  his  judgment,  always  sound 
and  sure,  together  with  his  optimistic  and  generous  nature,  eminently  fit  him 
to  adorn  any  position  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  men. 


CYRUS  D.  SMITH. 

As  a native  son  of  Wayne  county  and  a representative  of  one  of  the  early 
pioneer  families  in  this  section  of  the  Buckeye  state,  Mr.  Smith  is  eminently 
entitled  to  representation  in  a compilation  which  has  to  do  with  those  who 
have  been  the  founders  and  builders  of  this  commonwealth,  while  such  is  his 
personal  honor  and  integrity  of  character  and  such  his  standing  as  one  of  the 
successful  and  progressive  men  of  the  county  that  this  consideration  is  all  the 
more  compatible. 

Cyrus  D.  Smith  was  born  in  Canaan  township,  Wayne  county,  on  the 
20th  day  of  September,  1852.  His  antecedents  were  Scotch,  from  which 
blood  come  many  of  the  sturdy  qualities  which  characterize  him.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather.  James  Smith,  was  born  about  1770  and  followed  the  pur- 
suit of  agriculture  during  his  active  years.  He  came  to  Wayne  county  about 
1820,  his  having  been  the  fifth  family  to  settle  in  Canaan  township.  Here 
he  entered  land  from  the  government,  and  among  a number  of  interesting 
and  valuable  old  relics  in  the  possession  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  there 
is  the  following  tax  receipt,  thought  to  lie  the  oldest  tax  receipt  in  this  countv: 


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“Received  of  James  Smith  $1.80,  taxes  on  160  acres  of  land.  September  14, 
1821.”  James  Smith  died  about  thirty  years  ago,  never  having  removed  from 
the  farm  which  he  entered  from  the  government.  Among  his  children  was 
Adam  Smith,  father  of  the  subject,  who  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
who  was  brought  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  when  he  was  but  an  infant.  Adam 
Smith  too  followed  farming  during  his  life  and  died  at  the  Canaan  township 
homestead  about  forty-two  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  He 
married  Tabitha  Barnes,  who  was  a native  of  Canaan  township,  her  family 
having  removed  to  this  state  in  about  1830,  coming  from  West  Virginia. 
Her  death  occurred  about  eleven  years  ago.  By  her  union  with  Adam  Smith, 
she  became  the  mother  of  the  following  children : Cyrus  D.,  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  sketch;  James,  of  Silver  City,  Idaho;  one  that  died  in  infancy 
unnamed ; Ada,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years ; Mary,  who  died  at  ten 
years  of  age;  Andrew,  who  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Canaan  township; 
and  Ella,  who  makes  her  home  with  her  brother  Andrew. 

Cyrus  D.  Smith  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  parental  farmstead  and 
secured  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  township.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years,  he  went  into  the  sawmill  and  lumber  business  at  Creston, 
in  which  he  was  engaged  about  a year.  Then  going  to  Orrville,  he  went  into 
the  same  line  of  business,  which  he  followed  for  thirteen  years,  meeting  with 
fair  success  the  meanwhile.  On  the  first  day  of  January,  1893,  he  came  to 
Wooster  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  sheriff  of  Wayne 
county,  to  which  position  he  had  been  elected  in  the  autumn  of  the  previous 
year,  as  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Smith  served  two  years 
in  this  position,  giving  the  office  his  faithful  and  painstaking  attention  and  re- 
tiring from  it  with  the  commendation  of  all.  After  relinquishing  his  official 
position,  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  the  coal  and  transfer  business  in  this  city,  in 
which  he  has  since  been  continuously  occupied,  meeting  with  splendid  suc- 
cess. While  living  at  Orrville,  he  had  given  efficient  service  to  his  township 
as  trustee  and  also  served  as  a member  of  the  Orrville  city  council.  In  every 
position  in  which  he  has  been  placed  he  has  faithfully  performed  his  part  and 
has  won  and  retains  the  high  regard  of  all  who  have  known  of  him  and  his 
work. 

In  1874  Mr.  Smith  married  Sarah  E.  Whonsetler,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Canaan  township,  the  daughter  of  Philip  Whonsetler.  To  this 
union  five  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Frank  E.,  deceased:  William 
M.,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business  under  the  firm  style  of  C. 
D.  Smith  Sc  Son;  Charles  C.,  who  is  the  proprietor  of  the  London  Tea  House 
and  Grocerv  at  Wooster;  Maud,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Shook,  of  Alliance, 
this  state;  Edith,  w^ho  is  the  wife  of  Wallace  H.  Smith,  of  this  city. 


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Politically,  Mr.  Smith  is  a stanch  and  uncomprising  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  gives  it  an  active  and  influential  support,  being  con- 
sidered one  of  the  wheelhorses  of  the  party  in  this  county.  Fraternally,  he  is 
a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  which  order  he  joined  in  1885  and  in 
which  he  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  subordinate  lodge.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  are  well  and  favorably  known  and  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of 
many  friends. 


CONRAD  RUMPLE  BECKLEY. 

No  man  in  recent  years  has  left  more  indelibly  the  imprint  of  his 
sterling  personality  upon  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  than  the  late  Conrad  Rumple  Beckley,  whose  life  record  has 
been  closed  by  the  fate  that  awaits  all  mankind.  His  influence  still  per- 
vades the  lives  of  those  whom  he  knew,  for  his  example  both  in  a business 
and  social  way  is  worthy  of  emulating,  as  will  be  seen  by  a careful  perusal 
of  the  following  paragraphs.  He  was  born  about  1830  in  Carroll  county, 
Ohio,  and  he  came  to  Wayne  county  about  1867  and  was  engaged  in  the 
dry  goods  business  in  Orrville  for  many  years.  For  twelve  or  thirteen  years 
he  was  in  partnership  in  the  mercantile  business  with  H.  H.  Strauss  and  they 
succeeded  in  building  up  a large  trade.  He  first  worked  as  a clerk  for  a 
Mr.  Bartholomew.  Then  in  1868  he  and  Mr.  Strauss  bought  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Bartholomew  and  conducted  the  business  where  Mr.  Des  Voignes  is 
now  located.  In  time  they  dissolved  partnership  and  Mr.  Beckley  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  for  a few  years.  In  1884  he  retired  from  business, 
following  the  death  of  his  son.  which  sad  event  affected  him  very  deeply. 
During  the  balance  of  his  life — twenty-one  years — he  lived  in  retirement, 
dying  March  23,  1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

Mr.  Beckley  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  'war.  having  been  a member  of 
Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, in  which  he  served  very  faithfully  for  a period  of  two  years.  He 
recruited  volunteers  for  the  Union  army  before  joining  its  ranks  himself. 
When  he  enlisted  he  was  living  at  Minerva,  Stark  county,  Ohio. 

Conrad  R.  Beckley  was  the  son  of  John  Beckley,  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  married  a Miss  Rumple.  Conrad  R.  Beckley  was  married  at 
Minerva,  Stark  county,  August  11.  1859,  to  Mary  E.  Graham,  daughter  of 


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James  and  Elizabeth  (Seaton)  Graham,  natives  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mrs.  Beckley  was  born  near  Minerva,  Ohio,  where  her  parents  owned 
a large  farm.  Her  father  was  also  a miller,  for  many  years  occupying  the 
responsible  position  of  head  miller  at  Hardesty's  mill  at  Malvern,  Carroll 
county.  Mrs.  Beckley’s  mother  died  while  the  family  lived  on  the  farm  near 
Minerva,  when  the  former  was  only  two  years  old.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Graham  eight  children  were  born,  only  two  of  whom  are  living  in  1909. 
Mr.  Beckley  was  married  twice,  first  to  Caroline  Christener,  by  whom  he  be- 
came the  father  of  two  children,  Mary  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Ross  Hall,  who 
lives  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  Loren  Edwin,  who  is  living  in  San  Bernardino, 
California.  Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Beckley  and  his  second  wife, 
namely:  Emma,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  Ellsworth,  who 

died  when  twenty-one  years  old.  was  a very  bright  and  promising  youth, 
and  his  death  deeply  grieved  his  father,  with  whom  he  was  connected  in 
the  grocery  business;  Ann  F.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  F.  Hawk,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  Nora  B.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  A.  Wolfe,  of  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
Willard  Karl  lives  in  Akron,  Ohio,  where  he  has  charge  of  the  gents'  fur- 
nishing department  of  O’Neill’s  store. 

Mr.  Beckley  was  a Republican  in  politics,  and  in  his  church  relations  he 
was  a Methodist,  having  taken  a great  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  same, 
and  he  very  faithfully  served  on  the  official  board  from  the  time  he  came 
to  Orrville  until  his  death.  He  was  a very  successful  business  man,  courteous 
to  his  customers,  obliging  and  always  strictly  honest  in  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow-men.  Although  quiet  and  unobtrusive,  he  was  a man  of  very  pro- 
nounced opinions  and  courageous  in  his  views.  Being  a very  religious  man. 
he  was  careful  in  rearing  his  children.  He  was  generous  and  a good  pro- 
vider for  his  home,  an  indulgent  father,  a faithful  husband  and  a most  ex- 
cellent neighbor,  as  well  as  a successful  and  prominent  business  man,  his 
loss  to  the  town  greatly  influencing  all  circles.  That  his  life  was  exemplary 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  never  used  tobacco  or  liquors  in  any  form, — in 
fact,  he  was  free  from  the  common  vices  that  beset  the  pathways  of  men,  and 
the  young  man  standing  at  the  parting  of  the  ways  whose  fortunes  are  mat- 
ters for  the  future  to  determine  could  do  no  better  than  take  his  life  as  a 
model  in  both  a business  and  social  way. 

Mrs.  Beckley  is  an  ardent  advocate  of  temperance,  as  are  also  her 
children.  She  has  been  a member  of  the  Methodist  church  since  a little  girl, 
very  active  in  the  work  of  the  same,  and  she  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the 
local  congregation  and,  in  fact,  all  who  know  her.  Her  life  has  been  one 


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of  mingled  joy  and  sorrow,  but  happy  and  satisfactory  in  the  main.  Having 
been  left  without  a mother's  care  when  two  years  old,  she  was  taken  when 
five  years  of  age  by  Dr.  Levi  Haldenman.  of  Minerva,  by  whom  she  was 
reared.  She  is  a woman  of  gracious,  generous,  pleasant  demeanor  and  loved 
by  a host  of  warm  personal  friends.  Her  cozy  home  is  on  East  Market 
street. 


CHARLES  KRICK. 

The  life  of  this  well  known  citizen  shows  what  industry,  good  habits  and 
stanch  citizenship  will  accomplish  in  the  battle  of  acquiring  property  and  mak- 
ing himself  generally  useful  in  his  community.  A worthy  descendant  of  an 
excellent  ancestry,  Charles  Krick  has  established  a reputation  for  honesty 
and  fair  dealing  in  Union  township,  Wayne  county,  where  he  was  born 
March  15,  1873,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Worth)  Krick,  a detailed 
account  of  whose  lives  will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work  under  the 
sketch  of  Jacob  Krick. 

Charles  Krick  was  the  next  to  the  youngest  child  of  a family  of  eight 
children,  four  boys  and  four  girls.  He  was  reared  on  the  old  Krick  farm 
in  East  Union  township  and  here  received  a good  common  school  education, 
working  on  the  farm  during  the  summer  months. 

When  he  reached  maturity  he  began  casting  about  for  a life  work  and 
decided  that  the  free  life  of  the  farmer  was  the  most  independent  and  at- 
tractive; consequently,  being  a hard  worker  and  a good  manager,  he  now  has 
a good  start,  being  the  owner  of  fifty-three  acres  of  excellent  land  known  as 
the  Jacob  Swinehart  farm,  located  in  section  9,  East  Union  township,  where 
he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  enjoys  a comfortable  in- 
come. His  place  is  in  an  excellent  state  of  improvement  in  every  respect. 

Mr.  Krick  was  married  on  March  n,  1903,  to  Daisy  Waiters,  daughter 
of  J.  W.  Warters,  of  Apple  Creek,  this  township.  She  was  born  in  Wooster 
township  and  reared  on  the  home  farm,  receiving  a common  school  education 
in  her  native  vicinity.  She  applied  herself  well  and  became  enabled  to  teach 
school,  which  she  did  very  acceptably  for  some  time.  She  also  attended 
school  at  Apple  Creek  and  later  took  a normal  course.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Krick  three  children  have  been  born,  namely,  Mabel  and  Mildred,  twins,  born 
January  14,  1905;  Ruth,  born  January  4,  1907. 

Mr.  Krick  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Apple  Creek,  this 


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township,  and  politically  he  is  a Democrat,  and  has  taken  some  interest  in 
local  party  affairs,  having  served  as  a member  of  the  county  central  commit- 
tee and  also  as  an  election  judge.  He  is  a young  man  of  thrift  and  he  and 
his  wife  enjoy  the  friendship  and  good  will  of  all  their  neighbors. 


SAMUEL  S.  AMES. 

The  gentleman  to  a brief  review  of  whose  life  and  characteristics  the 
reader’s  attention  is  herewith  directed  is  among  the  foremost  business  men 
of  Wooster  and  has  by  his  enterprise  and  progressive  methods  contributed  in 
a material  way  to  the  industrial  and  commercial  advancement  of  the  city  and 
county.  He  has  in  the  course  of  an  honorable  career  been  most  successful 
in  the  business  to  which  he  has  directed  his  attention,  and  he  is  well  deserving 
of  mention  in  the  history  of  Wayne  county. 

Samuel  S.  Ames  was  born  in  East  Lmion  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  about  six  miles  east  of  Wooster,  on  the  6th  day  of  November,  1842. 
He  is  descended  from  sturdy  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock,  and  his  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Ames,  was  a native  of  the  Keystone  state,  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  The  subject’s  father,  John  Ames,  was  also  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  about  1821,  settling  on  a farm  in 
East  Union  township,  Wayne  county.  There  he  bought  land,  which  he  im- 
proved and  maintained  at  a high  standard  of  excellence,  and  on  this  place  he 
spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  in  1857.  He  married 
Sarah  Stauffer,  also  a native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
whose  death  occurred  in  1884.  To  John  and  Sarah  Ames  were  born  children 
as  follows:  Nathaniel,  deceased:  Susan,  deceased;  Davis,  who  is  living  at 
Girard,  Illinois;  Lydia,  the  wife  of  Stephen  Elly,  of  Lucas  county,  Ohio;  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Eli,  of  Elkhart  county, 
Indiana. 

Samuel  S.  Ames  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age  and  in  the  meantime  secured  what  education  he  could  in  the  country 
schools  of  his  native  township.  He  was  reared  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  but, 
believing  he  could  make  greater  advancement  in  other  lines  of  employment, 
he  went  to  work  at  the  carpenter’s  trade,  with  the  intention  of  mastering  the 
details  of  that  trade.  In  1866  he  came  to  Wooser  and  worked  at  the  trade 
until  1872.  when  he  commenced  contracting  on  his  own  account.  He  has 
been  continuously  engaged  in  this  line  of  business  since,  a period  of  nearly 


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forty  years,  and  during  this  time  he  has  erected  many  of  the  best  business 
houses  and  residences  in  this  city  and  county.  He  is  painstaking  and  accurate 
in  his  work  and  anything  entrusted  to  him  may  be  depended  on  as  being  done 
right.  He  employs  at  times  a large  force  of  men  and  has  successfully  handled 
a number  of  large  contracts. 

In  1870  Mr.  Ames  was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  W.  Watson,  the 
daughter  of  Donald  and  Christiana  (McPherson)  Watson,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1800.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ames  have  been  born 
two  children,  namely,  John  W.  and  Chalmer,  the  last  named  being  deceased. 

Mr.  Ames  has  taken  a commendable  interest  in  local  public  affairs  and 
has  served  efficiently  as  a member  of  the  city  council  of  Wooster,  rendering 
definite  and  satisfactory  service  to  his  constituents.  In  politics  he  is  a Repub- 
lican and  is  active  in  support  of  the  party.  In  matters  fraternal  he  is  also  inter- 
ested, being  a member  of  the  time-honored  order  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  in  which  he  has  taken  the  degrees  up  to  and  including  that  of  Knight 
Templar;  he  has  also  been  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  since  1875. 
In  every  avenue  of  life’s  activities  in  which  he  has  engaged,  Mr.  Ames  has 
performed  well  his  part  and  has  richly  earned  the  high  esteem  which  is  ac- 
corded him  in  the  community  where  he  has  so  long  resided. 


ROBERT  J.  SMITH. 

A most  exemplary  citizen  and  an  honored  hero  of  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion is  Robert  J.  Smith,  who  conducts  a successful  coal  and  transfer  business 
in  the  city  of  Wooster,  Ohio.  During  his  army  career  he  was  ever  found 
faithful  to  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  thus  winning  the  confidence  and 
high  regard  of  his  comrades  and  superior  officers,  while  in  his  business  life 
and  social  relations  he  has  ever  manifested  the  same  justice,  integrity  and 
reliability,  because  of  which  he  has  won  and  retains  the  high  regard  of  all 
who  know  him. 

R.  J.  Smith  is  a native  son  of  the  Keystone  state  and  is  of  Irish  ante- 
cedents. His  birth  occurred  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
16th  of  August,  1847,  ancI  he  is  the  son  of  John  M.  Smith,  also  a native  of 
the  same  county.  In  his  native  county,  the  father  lived  his  entire  life,  fol- 
lowing the  honorable  pursuit  of  a tiller  of  the  soil,  and  there  he  died  in  1901, 
in  his  eightieth  year.  He  married  Xancy  Matthews,  also  a native  of  West- 
moreland county,  and  her  death,  in  her  eightieth  year,  occurred  two  vears 


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before  that  of  her  husband.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Hiram  M.,  who  lives  in  the  state  of  Colorado;  Robert  J.,  subject  of  this 
sketch;  William  M..  who  resides  in  Kansas;  Jennie  (Mrs.  Johnson),  residing 
at  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania;  James  H..  of  Seattle,  Washington;  Edward  J., 
who  resides  at  the  old  family  homestead  at  New  Florence,  Pennsylvania; 
Sarah  Agnes,  also  residing  at  New  Florence:  Thomas  Watson  and  Mary 
Ellen  are  both  deceased.  The  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Robert  Smith, 
came  to  America  from  Ireland  in  1801.  He  had  married  before  emigrating 
and  on  arrival  here  he  and  his  wife  settled  on  land  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  which  he  cultivated  for  many  years,  dying  at  a ripe  old  age. 

Robert  J.  Smith  remained  on  the  home  farm  with  his  mother  until  he 
was  twenty-six  years  old.  Then,  feeling  that  larger  opportunities  for  an 
ambitious  man  lay  farther  to  the  west,  he  came  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  arriving 
here  in  1874.  He  here  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  in  connection  with 
which  he  also  dealt  in  ice,  and  these  two  industries  he  successfully  carried  on 
until  1894.  In  that  year  he  sustained  a heavy  loss  in  the  destruction  of  his 
mill  by  fire,  but  he  at  once  went  to  work  to  recoup  his  finances  and  engaged 
in  the  coal  and  ice  business,  which  he  continued  until  1907,  when  he  sold  the 
ice  business,  since  which  time  he  has  confined  his  attention  to  the  coal  and 
transfer  business.  He  has  been  fairly  successful  in  his  business  affairs  and  is 
today  considered  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  Wooster,  where  he 
has  been  identified  with  business  interests  for  so  many  years.  During  recent 
years  he  has  been  assisted  by  his  son  Robert,  who  is  an  able  and  efficient  busi- 
ness man. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  complete  this  sketch  without  making  specific  men- 
tion of  the  service  which  Mr.  Smith  rendered  to  his  country  in  the  hour  of 
its  extremity.  In  February.  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry  and  thereafter  took  part  in  a number  of  severe  engagements, 
one  of  the  most  sanguinary  of  which  was  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  on 
May  6,  1864.  He  was  with  General  Grant  in  all  his  campaigns  up  to  White 
House  Landing,  and  at  the  battle  of  St.  Mary's  church,  June  26,  1864,  he  re- 
ceived a severe  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  leg.  From  the  effects  of  this  wound 
he  was  confined  in  hospital  until  August  of  the  following  year,  when  he  was 
discharged  and  returned  to  his  home.  Because  of  his  military  service,  Mr. 
Smith  is  now  an  honored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1868,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  H.  Pollock,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania.  To  this  union  were  born  three  children,  namely:  Arnett  Pol- 
lock, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ; Thomas  Watson,  who  died  at  the  age 


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of  seventeen  years,  and  Robert  H..  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  busi- 
ness. He  married  Vina  L.  Mackey  and  they  have  two  children,  Elizabeth  H. 
and  Lucy. 

Mr.  Smith  is  an  ardent  and  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party  and  has  taken  a somewhat  active  part  in  public  affairs.  On  that  ticket 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Wooster,  serving  from  1898  to  1902, 
and  he  was  also  trustee  of  Wooster  township  for  fifteen  years,  being  re-elected 
continuously  for  eleven  years.  In  religion,  he  belongs  with  his  wife  to  the 
United  Presbyterian  church  and  they  are  faithful  attendants  and  generous 
supporters  of  that  society. 


ROBERT  S.  APPLEMAN. 

The  life  history  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  review  is  closely 
identified  with  the  commercial  life  of  Wooster  and  Wayne  county,  of  which 
he  is  a native  son.  His  business  career  was  begun  in  this  county,  and  during 
the  subsequent  years  he  has  been  constantly  allied  with  local  interests.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  untiring  activity  and  has  been  crowned  with  a com- 
mensurate degree  of  success.  He  is  of  the  highest  type  of  business  man,  and 
none  more  than  he  deserves  a fitting  recognition  among  those  whose  enter- 
prise and  ability  have  enabled  them  to  climb  the  ladder  of  success. 

Robert  S.  Appleman  was  born  at  Maysville,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1850,  and  he  is  the  son  of  William  and  Sarah  J.  (Simpson)  Apple- 
man.  The  Appleman  family  is  thought  to  be  of  German  origin,  though  the 
Ohio  family  of  this  name  came  directly  from  Pennsylvania.  The  subject’s 
paternal  grandfather,  Permenas  Appleman.  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
and  his  death  occurred  about  twenty  years  ago,  at  which  time  he  was  seventy- 
eighty  years  old.  During  his  younger  years  he  followed  the  pursuit  of  agri- 
culture. but  later  for  a number  of  years  he  ran  a dry  goods  store  at  Fredericks- 
burg. William  Appleman,  the  subject’s  father,  was  born  in  Wayne  county, 
near  Maysville,  and  during  his  active  years  confined  his  attention  to  farming, 
in  which  he  was  fairly  successful.  He  spent  all  his  life  in  Wayne  and  Holmes 
counties.  He  was  a strong  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief  and  an  ardent  and 
active  Republican  in  politics.  During  his  younger  days  he  taught  school  sev- 
eral terms  and  was  considered  a good  teacher.  He  passed  away  about  four- 
teen years  ago  at  Shreve,  where  he  had  lived  in  retirement  about  eight  years, 
his  age  at  death  being  about  sixty-six  years.  He  married  Sarah  J.  Simpson, 
who  was  born  near  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio.  Her  father,  Robert 


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Simpson,  was  a native  of  the  north  of  Ireland  and  emigrated  to  America  with 
his  parents  when  a young  man,  settling  in  Holmes  county.  Later  he  removed 
to  near  Maysville,  Wayne  county,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  years.  Sarah 
J.  Appleman  died  about  ten  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  By  her 
union  with  William  Appleman,  she  became  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Robert  S.,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review;  John  R.,  who  died  at 
one  year  of  age;  W.  S.  is  a farmer  and  lives  near  Shreve,  Holmes  county;  S. 
A.  is  engaged  in  the  sewing  machine  business  at  Mansfield,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  during  his  boyhood  years  on  the 
home  farm,  securing  a fair  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  home  com- 
munity. At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  the  study  of  music,  for  which 
he  had  early  exhibited  a decided  talent  and  to  which  he  had  given  much  at- 
tention during  the  years  prior.  He  engaged  in  the  teaching  of  music,  both 
instrumental  and  vocal,  and  in  this  work  he  achieved  a pronounced  success, 
following  it  exclusively  for  twelve  years.  He  then  went  into  the  piano  busi- 
ness at  Shreve,  and  later  at  Loudon ville,  and  in  1898  he  came  to  Wooster  and 
opened  a general  music  store,  which  he  still  conducts.  He  handles  pianos, 
organs,  phonographs  and  other  musical  instruments,  and  in  connection  also 
carries  a large  and  carefully  selected  line  of  vocal  and  instrumental  music. 
The  store,  which  is  located  on  South  Market  street,  is  the  headquarters  for 
music-loving  people  and  Mr.  Appleman  has  from  the  start  enjoyed  a liberal 
patronage. 

Mr.  Appleman  has  twice  been  married.  In  1873  he  married  Julia  L. 
Lind,  of  near  Paint  Valley,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  five  children,  namely:  Edwin  C.,  deceased;  William  H.,  of  Seattle, 

Washington;  Louella,  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Van  Horn,  of  near  Loudonville, 
Ohio ; C.  Earl,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the  music  business ; Jean- 
ette, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a half  years.  Mrs.  Appleman  died  in 
1887  at  Loudonville  and  in  1889  Mr.  Appleman  married  Annilda  Fredrick,  a 
daughter  of  J.  P.  Fredrick,  deceased,  a former  resident  of  Loudonville.  To 
this  last  union  have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Martha,  at  home; 
Fred,  deceased;  Ralph  S.  and  Joseph  A.,  both  at  home. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Appleman  belongs  to  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Order  of  American  Yeomen,  and  in  the  Pythian 
order  he  has  passed  the  chairs.  In  politics  he  is  a Prohibitionist.  The  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  He 
has  always  taken  an  earnest  interest  in  religious  matters  and  while  a resident 
of  Loudonville  was  for  sixteen  years  an  elder  in  the  church,  having  also  occu- 


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pied  other  church  offices  there  and  at  Shreve.  In  their  home  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Appleman  practice  a generous  and  kindly  hospitality,  finding  greatest  pleasure 
in  intercourse  with  congenial  friends.  They  are  highly  respected  because  of 
their  sterling  qualities  of  character  and  their  friends  are  in  number  as  their 
acquaintances. 


CHARLES  WESLEY  BOLEN. 

This  gentleman  opened  an  office  in  Wooster  in  1908  and  was  soon 
recognized  as  an  energetic  and  far-sighted  business  man.  He  devotes  his  at- 
tention to  western  investments,  his  long  experience  in  mining  enterprises  hav- 
ing given  him  a knowledge  of  mines  and  mining  attained  by  few. 

Mr.  Bolen  was  born  in  Union  City,  Indiana,  October  21,  1868,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  Wesley  and  Mary  (Straider)  Bolen,  an  old  and  influential 
family  of  that  place.  He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Union  City,  also  spent  a short  time  at  Ada  University.  He  was  only  a 
small  hoy  when  his  mother  died  and  he  became  self-supporting  early  in  life, 
earning  his  first  money  shining  shoes.  He  later  worked  in  a brick-yard,  saw- 
mill and  as  a section  hand  on  the  railroad.  While  attending  school  he  drove 
a delivery  wagon  for  a grocery  store  mornings  and  evenings  and  on  Satur- 
days. Being  ambitious  to  obtain  an  education,  he  let  nothing  stand  in  his 
wav,  and  his  efforts  were  crowned  with  large  success  in  due  course  of  time. 
He  taught  one  term  of  school  and  later  clerked  in  a grocery  store,  and 
while  thus  engaged  began  reading  law  in  the  office  of  ex-Gov.  Isaac  P.  Gray, 
and  later  with  Theodore  Shocknev.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  for  six 
years  devoted  his  attention  to  his  profession,  which  extended  over  four  coun- 
ties in  Indiana  and  Ohio,  during  which  time  he  won  an  enviable  reputation 
as  an  earnest,  able  and  painstaking  lawyer.  His  friend.  Governor  Gray, 
being  appointed  minister  to  Mexico  by  President  Cleveland,  interested  Mr. 
Bolen  in  mining  in  Mexico,  and  for  a period  of  five  years  he  operated  in 
the  copper  mines  of  Mexico  and  Arizona.  He  was  very  successful  in  making 
investments  in  mining  properties  and  for  several  years  maintained  an  office 
in  Columbus.  Ohio,  also  one  in  Denver,  Colorado,  later  adding  the  Wooster 
office,  and  his  name  has  become  familiar  to  the  mining  world  during  the 
past  few  years.  He  is  a principal  stockholder  of  the  Stoughton  Mining  and 
Milling  Company,  also  a stockholder  in  the  North  Star  Mining,  Milling  and 
Transportation  Company,  the  Colusa  Mining  and  Milling  Company,  the  Ohio 


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Quartz  Hill  Mining  Company,  all  in  Colorado;  and  the  Golden  Chief  Mining 
Company,  of  Rhyolite,  Nevada.  All  of  these  are  being  operated,  Mr.  Bolen 
owning  five  hundred  thousand  shares  in  them. 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  Bolen  began  in  1892,  when  he  married  Jessie 
H.  Starbuck,  a lady  of  culture  and  refinement  and  the  representative  of  an 
honored  and  influential  family.  This  union  has  been  graced  by  the  birth  of 
two  children,  Edward  and  Uda. 

Politically,  Mr.  Bolen  is  a Democrat,  and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 

Mr.  Bolen  is  a splendid  specimen  of  well-rounded,  symmetrically  devol- 
oped,  virile  manhood,  with  a commanding  presence  and  a strong  personality, 
being  six  feet  in  height,  having  a keen  eye  and  a dignity  of  bearing,  moving 
among  his  fellows  as  one  born  to  leadership.  He  is  companionable,  genial,  a 
hale  and  hearty  spirit,  whose  presence  inspires  good  humor.  With  duties 
that  would  crush  the  ordinary  man,  he  has  his  labors  so  systematized  that 
he  experiences  little  or  no  inconvenience  in  doing  them.  He  is  a vigorous 
as  well  as  an  independent  thinker,  a wide  reader,  and  he  has  the  courage  of 
his  convictions  upon  all  subjects  which  he  investigates.  His  career  as  an 
attorney  and  in  business  has  been  strikingly  original  and  fearless,  prosecuting 
his  researches  after  his  own  peculiar  fashion,  and,  measured  by  the  accepted 
standard  of  excellence,  his  career,  though  strenuous,  has  been  eminently  hon- 
orable and  useful,  and  his  life  fraught  with  good  to  his  fellows  and  to  the 
world. 


O.  C.  WILLIAMS. 

O.  C.  Williams,  who  is  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Wooster,  ranks 
among  the  more  enterprising  and  progressive  business  men.  The  prosperity 
of  any  community,  town  or  city  depends  in  a large  measure  on  its  commercial 
activity,  its  industrial  interests  and  its  trade  relations,  and  therefore  the  real 
upbuilders  of  a town  are  those  who  stand  at  the  head  of  the  leading  enter- 
prises. Mr.  Williams  has,  by  his  progressive  methods  and  enterprising  spirit, 
been  a definite  factor  in  the  advancement  of  Wooster's  business  interests. 

The  subject  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  on  the  19th  of  January, 
1861.  His  father,  Stephen  R.  Williams,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
February  17,  1817,  but  has  lived  in  Holmes  county  since  he  was  two  years 
old,  and,  what  is  more  notable,  has  lived  all  these  years  on  the  same  farm. 
His  antecedents  were  Welsh.  On  April  30,  1830,  Mr.  Williams  married 


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Jane  Hague,  who  was  born  in  this  country,  March  5,  1822,  but  whose  parents 
were  born  at  The  Hague.  Holland.  Stephen  R.  Williams  owns  a splendid 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  and,  despite  his  advanced  age,  he  still 
maintains  an  active  supervision  over  its  operation,  being  still  in  vigorous 
health  and  as  strong  mentally  as  when  in  his  physical  prime.  On  April  30, 
1910,  he  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  seventieth  wedding  anniversary.  To 
their  union  were  born  the  following  children : Rev.  Albert  B.,  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, Ohio;  Nancy,  the  widow  of  Lewis  Everhard,  deceased;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  George  W.  Burkett,  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Ruth,  the  wife  of  Rev.  J.  T. 
H.  Stewart,  of  Welcome,  Ohio;  W.  V.,  of  Winfield,  Kansas,  where  he  was  in 
the  hardware  business  for  twenty-two  years,  but  is  now  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness; and  O.  C.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Three  sons,  James,  Aaron  and 
John,  are  deceased. 

O.  C.  Williams  was  reared  on  the  parental  farmstead  in  Holmes  county 
and  remained  there  until  1884.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Harper  county,  Kan- 
sas. and  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business,  in  which  he  continued 
for  twelve  years,  meeting  with  fair  success.  He  then  returned  to  his  native 
state  and  went  to  farming  in  Holmes  county,  in  which  he  was  occupied  for 
about  ten  years.  On  May  1,  1905,  he  came  to  Wooster  and  took  charge  of 
his  present  business,  that  of  liveryman,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
The  barn  was  established  in  1887  by  his  brother-in-law,  Lewis  Everhard,  now 
deceased,  and  is  a large  and  commodious  structure,  capable  of  accommodating 
one  hundred  and  fifty  head  without  undue  crowding.  This  barn  bears  the 
distinction  of  being  the  first  ten-cent  bam  in  the  state  of  Ohio  and  the  second 
in  the  LTnited  States.  It  is  run  on  practically  the  European  plan,  every 
horse  getting  an  enclosed  stall.  The  barn  is  equipped  with  a ladies'  waiting 
room  and  toilet,  as  well  as  other  conveniences,  and  from  the  start  the  insti- 
tution has  met  with  the  approval  of  the  public,  it  being  accorded  a liberal  and 
constant  patronage,  especially  by  the  farmers,  by  whom  it  is  duly  appreciated. 

O11  June  20,  1895,  Hr.  Williams  was  married  to  Mary  Alice  Wishard, 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Wishard,  the  family  being  of  sturdy 
Scotch  ancestry  on  both  paternal  and  maternal  lines.  Mary  Wishard  was 
born  in  Danville.  Hendricks  county.  Indiana,  and  received  a good  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  her  native  state,  the  high  standard  of  which  is  a matter 
of  national  reputation.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  have  been  born  two 
children,  Horace  Williams,  born  February  5.  1897,  and  Elizabeth  Jane,  born 
October  15,  1908. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Williams  is  a Freemason,  belonging  to  the  lodge  at 
Millersburg.  Ohio,  W ith  his  wife,  he  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church. 


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to  which  they  both  give  a loyal  and  generous  support.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  though  he  has  no  inclination  for 
public  office.  Mr.  Williams  has  many  friends  in  Wooster,  where  his  character 
as  an  honorable  and  upright  man  is  well  known.  He  is  pleasant  and  agree- 
able in  manner,  and  both  he  and  his  estimable  wife  delight  to  offer  the 
hospitality  of  their  pleasant  home  to  their  many  friends. 


WILLIAM  HERBERT  BLISS. 

The  record  of  Mr.  Bliss  is  that  of  a man  who  by  his  own  unaided  efforts 
worked  his  way  from  a modest  beginning  to  a position  of  definite  standing 
in  the  business  circles  of  Wooster,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business.  His  life  has  been  of  unceasing  industry  and  perseverance  and  the 
systematic  and  honorable  methods  which  he  has  followed  have  won  for  him 
the  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Bliss  was  bom  at  Bloom ville,  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  on  the  16th  of 
March,  1869.  His  paternal  grandfather,  who  was  a native  of  New  York 
state,  was  a successful  merchant  there,  and  met  his  death  by  accidental  drown- 
ing after  removing  to  Ohio.  The  subject's  father,  Edson  P.  Bliss,  was  also 
born  in  the  state  of  New  York  and  was  brought  to  Ohio  when  a baby,  his 
parents  settling  in  Seneca  county.  After  receiving  his  education  and  reaching 
years  of  maturity,  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business,  and  was  so  engaged 
for  twenty-nine  years.  During  the  first  years  he  was  a business  partner  with 
Henry  M.  Flagler,  of  Standard  Oil  fame.  Mr.  Bliss  died  in  November, 
1886.  He  married  Elizabeth  Killey,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  and  who  died 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  four  years  old.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bliss  the  following  children  were  born:  Melvin  O.,  of  Bloomville,  Ohio; 
Malcolm  E.,  also  of  Blooniville:  Ginnela,  who  is  the  wife  of  Clinton  C.  Leyda, 
ticket  agent  at  Shreve,  Ohio;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

William  H.  Bliss  spent  his  boyhood  in  Bloomville.  and  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools,  graduating  in  due  time  from  the  Bloomville  high  school.  Desir- 
ing to  secure  a more  complete  education  he  then  entered  Heidelberg  Univer- 
sity, at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  then  spent  two  years 
in  Wooster  LTniversity.  In  1888  Mr.  Bliss  located  in  Wooster  and  established 
himself  in  the  grocery  business  in  1895.  From  a modest  beginning,  his  busi- 


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ness  has  grown  until  it  is  now  of  large  proportions  and  realizes  to  Mr.  Bliss 
a handsome  annual  net  income.  He  carries  a large  and  well-selected  stock 
of  everything  usually  to  be  found  in  an  up-to-date  grocery  and  his  efforts  to 
please  his  customers  have  been  rewarded  by  constantly  increasing  business. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1895,  Mr.  Bliss  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lillie 
May  Siegenthaler,  daughter  of  Albert  J.  Siegenthaler,  of  Wooster,  where  she 
was  born  and  reared.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bliss  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  are  interested  in  advancing  its  work  in  the  community. 
In  politics  Mr.  Bliss  is  a Republican,  but  takes  no  very  active  part  in  public 
matters,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  is  Democratic  in  his  tastes  and  has  made  many  warm  personal  friends 
since  locating  in  Wooster,  who  esteem  him  because  of  his  sterling  qualities. 
He  is  a self-made  man  and  is  eminently  entitled  to  representation  in  a work 
of  this  character.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bliss  have  a pleasant  home  at  No.  55  East 
La r will  street. 


WILLIAM  L.  LONG. 

I11  the  daily  laborious  struggle  for  an  honorable  competence  and  a solid 
career  on  the  part  of  a business  or  professional  man  there  is  little  to  attract 
the  reader  in  search  of  a sensational  chapter;  but  to  a mind  thoroughly  awake 
to  the  reality  and  meaning  of  human  existence  there  are  noble  and  imperish- 
able lessons  in  the  career  of  an  individual  who,  without  other  means  than  a 
clear  head,  strong  arm  and  true  heart,  directed  and  controlled  by  correct  prin- 
ciples and  unerring  judgment,  conquers  adversity  and  finally  wins,  not  only 
pecuniary  independence,  but,  what  is  far  better,  the  deserved  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  those  with  whom  his  active  years  have  been  mainly  spent.  To  this 
latter  class  belongs  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  contractors  and  builders  in  Wayne  county. 

Mr.  Long  was  born  in  Wooster  on  the  8th  of  October,  1871.  His  par- 
ents are  Jacob  and  Sarah  ( Ketker)  Long,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Paradise.  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer 
Subsequently  he  was  employed  as  a stone  mason,  and  later  lived  at  Cleveland. 
Ohio,  in  retirement,  having  removed  to  that  city  in  1905,  his  death  having 
occurred  recently.  His  widow  is  now  making  her  home  with  her  son.  Jacob 
Long  had  lived  in  Wayne  county  all  his  life  up  to  the  time  of  his  removal. 
His  family  is  of  German  extraction,  his  father,  Barnhart  Long,  having  been 
a native  of  the  Fatherland.  He  came  from  Germany  in  young  manhood. 


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settling  first  at  Goshen,  Indiana,  but  removing  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  an 
early  day.  He  was  an  expert  gunsmith  and  a highly  respected  man.  His 
death  occurred  in  1901.  The  subject’s  mother  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada, 
but  in  young  girlhood  was  brought  to  the  United  States  by  her  parents,  who 
settled  in  Wayne  county,  where  she  lived  all  her  life  up  to  the  time  of  her 
removal  to  Cleveland.  Jacob  and  Sarah  Long  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children,  thirteen  in  number:  Shannon,  deceased;  Dora,  the  wife  of 
Irwin  Stevens,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  William  L.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Jen- 
nie, the  wife  of  Edward  Gibbons,  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  Ethel,  the  wife  of 
Clem  Langell,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Alice,  wife  of  Hugh  McAnnaney,  of  Fort 
Lupton,  Colorado ; David,  of  Cleveland ; Earl,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years;  Goldie,  the  wife  of  Charles  Smith,  of  Cleveland;  Karl,  of  Cleve- 
land; Frank,  of  Wooster;  Hazel,  wife  of  Charles  Wheaton,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio;  Nellie,  deceased. 

Though  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  city  of  Wooster,  he 
went  to  live  with  his  father  on  a farm  at  ten  years  old,  and  worked  there  until 
fourteen  years  old.  His  parents  were  poor,  and  his  father  was  compelled  to 
support  his  large  family  by  day  labor.  After  the  father  rented  the  little  farm 
out  from  the  city  and  moved  there,  things  did  not  materially  brighten,  as  the 
land  was  poor  and  the  combined  efforts  of  father  and  boys  could  not  make  it 
produce  enough  to  keep  the  family  in  comfort.  William  became  discouraged 
at  the  outlook  and  told  his  father  he  was  going  to  Wooster  and  hunt  work, 
that  he  might  provide  his  mother  with  money,  as  she  had  not  seen  a ten-dollar 
bill  since  they  had  moved  to  the  farm.  The  boy  soon  found  employment,  and, 
being  possessed  of  a rugged  constitution  and  a willing  disposition,  he  was  soon 
enabled  to  command  fair  wages.  He  first  learned  the  stone-mason’s  trade  and 
then  that  of  a brick  mason,  in  both  of  which  he  became  a proficient  workman. 
Bv  thrift  and  economy  he  was  enabled  to  save  money  and  in  1891  he  went  into 
the  contracting  business  on  his  own  account.  In  this  line  he  has  achieved  a 
success  far  beyond  his  early  dreams  and  has  built  up  a business  second  to  none 
in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  has  accumulated  considerable  material  wealth, 
being  worth,  at  a conservative  estimate,  fifty  thousand  dollars,  all  of  which 
has  been  gained  by  hard  work  and  the  exercise  of  sound  judgment.  Mr. 
Long  constantly  employs  a large  number  of  workmen  and  has  performed  some 
of  the  largest  building  contracts  ever  let  in  this  county.  Among  the  buildings 
constructed  by  him,  the  following  may  be  mentioned : The  Wayne  county 
jail,  the  university  chapel,  part  of  the  Kauke  hall,  the  Severance  hall,  the 
university  power  house,  the  addition  to  the  Frick  Library  at  the  university, 
the  Holden  hall,  these  including  the  principal  buildings  at  Wooster  Univer- 


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sity,  the  Wayne  County  Building  and  Loan  Association  building,  the  Gersten- 
slager  Buggy  Company  factory,  Wooster  high  school  building,  J.  M.  Gitner's 
garage,  the  Wooster  brush  company's  new  factor}*,  and  many  other  of  the 
best  class  of  buildings  in  the  community,  besides  a large  number  of  the  best 
residences.  Everything  Mr.  Long  undertakes  is  done  well  and  he  has  long 
had  an  enviable  reputation  because  of  the  quality  of  his  work.  His  property 
interests  include  a beautiful  home,  in  which  he  takes  a justifiable  pride.  He 
also  bought  a fine  piece  of  farming  land,  and  his  father  and  mother  lived  on 
this  place  for  a while,  but  subsequently  moved  to  Cleveland,  where  so  many 
of  their  children  were  living.  Mr.  Long  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Wayne 
County  National  Bank  and  in  the  Gerstenslager  Buggy  Company,  both  of  them 
leading  institutions  of  their  kind  in  this  city,  and  a splendid  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  located  two  and  a half  miles  east  of  Wooster. 

In  1894  Mr.  Long  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  I.  Whitcomb,  a 
daughter  of  David  Whitcomb,  and  born  in  Havsville,  Ashland  county,  this 
state.  To  this  union  four  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Edna  V.,  Hugh 
J.,  Donald,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  Their  home,  on  Pitts- 
burgh avenue,  is  a charming  place,  where  all  visitors  meet  with  a hearty  and 
spontaneous  welcome  and  where  the  latch-string  ever  hangs  on  the  outside. 
In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Long  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party,  but 
though  frequently  importuned  to  accept  nomination  for  public  office,  he  has 
steadfastly  refused  to  do  so,  preferring  to  devote  his  attention  to  his  business 
interests  and  his  family,  to  which  he  is  devoted.  However,  he  is  giving 
effective  service  as  a member  of  the  board  of  public  safety.  Nevertheless  he 
is  essentially  alert  and  public-spirited  in  his  attitude  and  his  interest  in  all 
that  conserves  the  public  welfare  is  unabating.  Because  of  his  courteous 
manners,  genial  disposition  and  genuine  worth,  he  has  won  and  retains  a host 
of  warm  personal  friends.  Since  above  was  written  Mr.  Long’s  father  died. 
His  mother  makes  her  home  with  her  son. 


ALBERT  GERLACH. 

Among  the  enterprising  citizens  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  is  Albert  Gerlach, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  managing  one  of  the  oldest,  best  known 
and  extensive  shops  in  the  city,  while  he  maintains  a very  comfortable  home 
here,  and  the  years  of  his  residence  have  but  served  to  strengthen  the  feeling 


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of  his  fellow  citizens,  for  he  has  shown  what  rightly  directed  principles, 
coupled  with  honesty  and  industry,  can  accomplish  toward  definite  success. 
As  the  name  indicates,  this  family  is  of  German  origin.  Frank  C.  Gerlach, 
father  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  a native  of 
the  province  of  Prussia;  when  a young  man  he  joined  a large  colony  of  Ger- 
mans and  they  came  to  the  United  States,  most  of  them  locating  in  Ohio, 
young  Gerlach  making  his  way  to  Wooster,  where  he  decided  to  remain, 
finding  that  Wayne  county  offered  exceptional  inducements  for  a man  of  his 
temperament.  He  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  thus  founding  the  well 
known  establishment  of  which  the  subject  is  now  the  manager  and  owner. 
He  was  a successful  business  man  and  built  up  a very  lucrative  trade  here. 
He  took  considerable  interest  in  local  politics  and  at  one  time  served  in  a very 
creditable  manner  as  township  trustee.  He  lived  in  Wooster  continuously 
until  his  death,  in  March,  1885.  Frank  Gerlach  married  Johanna  Kaltwasser, 
a native  of  Prussia  who  came  to  America  when  a young  woman.  She  died 
on  December  27,  1909.  She  was  a kindly,  generous  and  honest  lady  whom 
everybody  respected.  By  her  marriage  with  Frank  Gerlach  she  became  the 
mother  of  four  children,  Albert,  Will,  Frank,  Jr.,  and  Julius. 

Albert  Gerlach  was  born  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  March  29,  1861,  and  he  has 
lived  here  all  his  life.  He  received  a very  practical  education  in  the  local 
schools,  and  when  a mere  boy  assisted  his  father  in  the  meat  business.  He 
very  naturally  decided  to  follow  in  the  latter’s  footsteps  and  follow  the  same 
line  of  work  for  a livelihood ; this  he  has  done  in  a manner  that  stamps  him  as 
progressive,  alert  and  honest  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  having 
been  taught  by  his  honored  parents  the  old-time  adage  that,  “Honesty  is  the 
best  policy.”  His  father  taught  him  the  “ins  and  outs’’  of  the  meat  business 
and  gave  him  a share  in  the  shop,  which  he  is  still  managing  in  the  same 
systematic  and  careful  manner  as  always  characterized  the  methods  of  the 
elder  Gerlach,  having  not  only  been  able  to  retain  the  old  trade  but  also  a con- 
stantly growing  new  list  of  good  customers.  By  his  thrift  and  able  manage- 
ment he  has  won  large  success,  accumulating  a substantial  competency  and 
ranking  with  the  progressive  business  men  of  Wooster. 

Mr.  Gerlach  has  never  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  the  married  state. 
Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a Democrat,  but  not  a partisan.  His  church  membership  is 
with  the  English  Lutherans,  of  which  he  is  a liberal  supporter  and  in  which 
congregation  he  is  held  in  high  favor. 


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DANIEL  S.  STOUT. 

Daniel  S.  Stout  needs  no  introduction  to  the  citizens  of  Wayne  town- 
ship, Wayne  county,  for  his  long  and  eminently  useful  life  has  been  spent  here, 
with  the  exception  of  his  service  in  the  army,  for  he  was  one  of  the  loyal  sons 
of  the  North  who  sacrificed  so  much  for  succeeding  generations,  undergoing 
the  trials  and  privations,  to  say  nothing  of  the  dangers  to  life  and  limb, 
during  the  stormy  days  of  the  early  sixties.  To  such  as  he  all  honor  is  due. 
As  indicated,  Mr.  Stout  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  this  county,  near 
Madisonburg,  August  2,  1839.  He  is  the  son  of  Daniel  Stout,  a native  of 
Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  married  Catherine  Oberlin,  a native  of 
Lancaster  county,  that  state.  He  came  as  a single  man  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  in  1825,  with  his  parents.  His  father  was  Matthias  Stout,  who  mar- 
ried Susan  Gable,  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  came  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  and  purchased  a small  place  near  Madisonburg,  on  which  Mr.  Stout 
lived  until  his  death,  his  widow  surviving  and  dying  in  Illinois. 

Daniel  Stout,  father  of  Daniel  S.,  of  this  review,  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  His  father,  Matthias,  was  a well-educated  man  and  a 
teacher  of  German  for  some  time.  Daniel  learned  the  bricklayer’s  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years,  devoting  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
to  farming.  He  first  secured  land  in  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1854  or 
1855  he  bought  seventy-four  acres  where  the  subject  now  resides  in  Wayne 
township.  There  was  an  old  log  house  on  the  place  at  that  time,  but  he 
improved  the  place.  His  first  wife  died  in  1882  and  he  married  a second 
time,  his  last  wife  being  Rebecca  Aultman,  a native  of  Orrville,  Ohio. 
Daniel  Stout  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children  by  his  first  wife  and 
three  by  his  second.  Those  living  by  his  first  wife  are,  Daniel  S..  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Jacob  O.,  of  Lima,  Ohio;  Simeon,  a bricklayer  at  Mechanics- 
burg,  this  county;  Susan  E.,  living  at  home;  Catherine,  also  at  home;  James 
F.,  of  St.  Marys,  Ohio;  Anna  B.,  living  at  home.  The  following  are  the 
children  by  Daniel  Stout’s  second  marriage:  Cora,  living  at  East  Palestine, 

Ohio;  Isa.  of  Orrville,  Ohio;  the  other  child  by  this  marriage  is  deceased. 
Daniel  Stout  held  the  office  of  trustee  of  his  township,  also  other  offices  within 
the  gift  of  the  people.  He  was  a Democrat  and  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  His  death  occurred  on  May  3,  1896. 

Daniel  S.  Stout,  of  this  review,  received  only  a common  school  educa- 
tion, and  he  lived  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he 
enlisted  his  services  in  defense  of  the  flag  during  the  Civil  war,  serving  with 


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'■•v  vdzerw  v,{  Wayne  tu\\n- 
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i ( * -■  »«■*!  a>  Ik  all  la  near  i>  v-h:e. 

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593 


credit  for  a period  of  four  years.  His  enlistment  occurred  in  October,  1861, 
in  Company  B,  McLaughlin’s  Squadron,  which  was  organized  at  Mansfield, 
Ohio.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  the  Big  Sandy  river  in  eastern  Tennessee 
and  was  in  that  valley  for  one  year;  thence  they  ascended  the  Ohio  river 
and  returned  to  the  Big  Sandy  river  country ; spent  two  months  in  Covington, 
Kentucky;  then  went  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and  were  there  when  the  place 
was  besieged  by  Longstreet.  Mr.  Stout  then  went  home  on  thirty  days’  fur- 
lough, after  which  he  returned  to  Lexington,  Kentucky.  In  March,  1864, 
he  went  across  Tennessee  to  Georgia  and  took  part  in  the  Atlanta  campaign 
and  was  captured  on  July  31st,  sent  soon  afterward  to  prison  at  Anderson- 
ville,  also  sent  to  the  Florence  prison,  and  after  five  months  he  was  paroled 
and  exchanged.  Then  he  came  home  again  on  a thirty-day  furlough,  return- 
ing to  his  command  in  North  Carolina,  remaining  with  the  same  until  his 
discharge  in  November,  1865,  after  which  he  came  home.  Three  of  his 
brothers  were  also  in  the  Union  army,  John,  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twentieth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  became  a captain;  Jacob,  who 
became  a second  lieutenant  in  the  company  with  Daniel  S.,  served  three  and 
one-half  years,  and  he,  too,  was  taken  prisoner;  William  was  also  in  the 
same  company  with  the  subject  of  this  review  and  died  in  Mellon  prison, 
Georgia. 

After  his  army  career,  Daniel  S.  Stout  launched  into  the  butter  and  egg 
business  at  Mechancisburg,  this  county;  but  after  spending  two  years  there 
he  went  to  Jackson  county,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  for  two  and  one- 
half  years,  then  returned  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Creston,  Wavne  county,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  butter  and  egg  business  for  two  years.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  is  carrying  on  general  farming 
very  successfully,  having  a nice  home  and  a well-managed  place.  He  has 
been  a trustee  of  Wayne  township  for  two  terms,  also  served  as  school  di- 
rector. He  votes  the  Democratic  ticket.  The  Stout  family  are  supporters 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  Wayne  township. 


ELMER  S.  LANDES. 

Men  possessed  of  genius,  of  business  capacity,  force  and  intelligence  need 
no  factitious  introduction  to  the  public  attention.  The  positions  of  honor, 
influence  and  power  in  commerce,  in  statesmanship,  in  fact  in  any  field  of  pub- 
lic activity,  are  not  always  occupied  bv  men  of  the  greatest  resources  or  the 
<3«) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


highest  character,  intellect  or  ability.  Men  who  possess  the  best  and  most 
valuable  attainments,  and  who  are  qualified  for  the  highest  service,  pass  quietly 
along,  almost  unrecognized,  unhonored  and  unsung.  An  accident  frequently 
thrusts  elaborations  and  exalted  position  upon  an  individual,  or  the  independ- 
ence of  accumulated  wealth,  although  he  may  be  too  small  to  fill  the  measure  of 
his  luck.  He  who  makes  himself  strong,  and  a factor, — a living,  acting,  ac- 
complishing entity  in  his  community, — whether  a young  man  or  not,  who 
makes  himself  felt  as  a progressive  personality  by  his  tact,  foresight,  enter- 
prise, energy  and  judgment,  is  a greater  and  more  valuable  citizen  than  he 
who  goes  “whistling  to  the  air"  in  perfumed  hammocks,  knitted  and  woven 
by  the  deft  spiders  of  circumstance. 

The  beginning  is  more  than  doing  a thing  in  time.  It  orders  a con- 
tinuance. It  implies  action,  choice,  purpose,  courage,  self-reliance,  progress. 
Some  lives  are  diligent  but  unproductive,  because  they  swing  down  into  the 
easiest  place  and  go  around,  but  never  up  and  forward.  Others  appropriate 
all  their  strength  in  pretense  in  appearing,  not  being.  We  conjecture  that 
with  Mr.  Landes  the  only  sane  philosophy  of  life  comes  through  action. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  as  indigenous 
to  the  soil  as  its  wild  flowers  or  its  forest  trees,  and  was  born  in  Madison- 
burg,  Wayne  township,  October  24,  1867.  He  is  a son  of  Thomas  Allen  and 
Martha  Jane  Landes,  of  Wayne  township,  both  of  whom  were  born  the  same 
year,  1846,  in  this  township;  his  mother  was  also  born  at  Madisonburg, 
where  she  has  lived  continuously  since  her  birth,  or  for  sixty-three  years. 
His  parents  were  united  in  marriage  in  1866,  and  to  this  wedded  union  four 
children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  were  born,  all  of  whom,  save  the 
daughter,  are  living.  His  ancestral  stock,  both  on  the  paternal  and  maternal 
line,  is  strongly  interfused  with  the  old  territory  blood,  albeit  on  the  latter  or 
on  the.  mother’s  side  there  is  a healthy  interjection  of  the  red  blood  of  the 
Celts,  the  irrepressible  Mishenaw  that  lives  immortally  in  song  and  eloquence, 
and  who  has  glorified  many  a battlefield  from  Drogheds  to  Boyne  Water. 
His  father  was  an  upright,  industrious  citizen,  the  owner  of  considerable 
real  estate  which  he  cultivated,  in  connection  with  which  he  engaged  in  train- 
ing, a quite  profitable  vocation,  and  such  other  work  as  came  within  the  range 
of  his  ability  and  equipment  to  perform,  his  sons  materially  assisting  him  in 
his  farm  work  and  other  fields  of  labor  in  which  he  may  have  been  engaged. 

But  during  these  earlier  years  of  strenuous  exertion  the  parents  did  not 
overlook  or  neglect  the  matter  of  education  of  their  children,  making  certain 
their  attendance  upon  the  country  or  the  village  school.  After  the  career 
with  his  father  on  the  farm  in  trading,  digging  and  drilling  wells,  etc.,  had 


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ended  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  entered  the  Smithville  Normal  School,  of 
Prof.  P.  A.  Palmer,  and  here  he  studied  for  two  years,  making  rapid  prog- 
ress in  faithfulness  and  efficiency  of  work.  With  his  elementary  equipment 
and  receiving  his  certificate,  he  launched  his  little  bark  on  the  mixed  waters 
of  pedagogy,  conducting  his  first  school,  in  Zinn  district,  Wayne  township. 
He  subsequently  pursued  this  as  a vocation  for  a period  of  thirteen  years, 
four  as  superintendent  at  Madisonburg,  etc.,  serving  as  instructor  one  year 
in  the  preparatory  department  of  the  Wooster  University,  under  Professor 
Dickason,  the  last  four  of  his  thirteen  years'  experience  in  the  schoolroom 
being  employed  as  superintendent  of  the  Dalton  school.  During  the  period  of 
his  highly  successful  service  at  Dalton,  he  was  granted,  in  consideration  of  his 
qualifications  and  merit,  an  eight-year  certificate  by  the  county  examining 
board,  the  first  one  covering  that  period  of  years  ever  issued  to  an  applicant. 
He  took  the  initiative,  as  the  first  of  the  younger  teachers  of  Wayne  county, 
to  incorporate  into  or  communicate  to  his  system  of  instruction  and 
plan  of  studies  the  normal  aspect  or  the  features  of  the  normal,  thereby  aim- 
ing to  qualify  and  fortify  such  of  the  scholars  as  were  desirous  and  ambi- 
tious of  becoming  teachers  for  the  scrutiny  and  inquisitive  ordeal  of  examina 
tion,  supplementing  this  course  of  study  with  suggestive  thoughts  and  proc- 
esses of  best  method  of  school  government.  That  this  idea,  in  greater  part, 
original  with  Mr.  Landes,  was  an  inspiring  success  and  operated  to  the  best 
advantage  of  all,  requiring  no  other  or  more  precise  demonstration  than  in 
the  fact  that,  at  the  termination  of  his  first  year  at  Dalton,  of  an  attendance 
of  but  little  in  excess  of  fifty  pupils,  twenty  of  them  obtained  certificates  as 
teachers  and  entered  the  pedagogical  field.  We  know  of  no  better  commen- 
tary, no  higher  or  more  significant  words  of  commendation  that  could  be 
pronounced  to  accent  and  emphasize  these  practical  and  vital,  but  unadver- 
tised and  unheralded,  achievements  of  the  school  room. 

Abandoning  the  phalanx  of  the  teachers,  he  removed  and  settled  in 
Wooster,  in  August,  1907,  and  at  once  embarked  in  the  realty  agency  busi- 
ness to  which  he  has  since  exclusively  devoted  his  time  and  attention.  He 
found  soon  after  he  had  opened  office  in  the  city  that  this  department  of  busi- 
ness was  measurably  in  an  inanimate,  stagnate  condition,  or  in  other  words, 
was  not  being  vigorously  pushed  along  the  lines  especially  as  he  conceived 
were  the  proper  ones  along  which  to  prosecute  it,  having  in  view,  as  a matter 
of  course,  the  compensations  that  might  accrue  to  him  personally,  and  that 
wider  and  broader  consideration  as  to  how  Wooster  might  be  benefited,  how 
far  its  sleepy  energies  might  be  animated,  how  a spirit  of  investment  of  pur- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


chase  and  sale  might  be  stimulated,  how  far  an  impulse  toward  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  city  of  Wooster  could  be  encouraged  and  verified, 
through  an  aggressive  and  vigorous  ‘‘agency"  such  as  he  but  recently  estab- 
lished. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  experiment  he  instituted  has  proven 
a success  so  far  as  Mr.  Landes  is  concerned,  and  equally  so  as  to  the  measure 
of  stimulas  of  life  it  has  imparted  to  healthier  action  in  real  estate,  a better 
understanding  and  definition  of  values,  and  a more  determined  and  decisive 
ambition  on  the  part  of  business  men  of  Wooster  and  the  citizens  in  general, 
to  stand  by  Mr.  Landes  and  stand  by  each  other  in  the  laudable  and  praise- 
worthy ambition  and  purpose  of  purchasing  property,  erecting  new  buildings 
conforming  to  the  laws  of  permanence,  taste  and  beauty  and  exerting  them- 
selves to  the  very  utmost  toward  the  growth,  development  and  expansion  of 
the  beautiful  city  of  Wooster,  making  it  not  only  a city  of  attractive  homes, 
but  a city  of  business,  a mart  of  trade,  factories,  mills,  the  theater  of  manu- 
facturers, with  both  hands  outstretched  toward  capital,  enterprise  and  genius, 
beckoning  them  to  come,  join  us,  keep  us,  in  the  great  scheme  of  development. 

Mr.  Landes  has  performed  a worthy  and  commendable  part  in  this  direc- 
tion. He  was  one  and  the  foremost  in  organizing  the  “Boosters’  Club,’’  now 
merged  in  the  Board  of  Trade,  of  which  he  is  an  active  member,  and  perhaps 
he  and  Mr.  John  Schultz  accomplished  more  than  came  from  any  other  source, 
in  formulating  the  plans  and  methods  of  procedure  that  secured  the  location 
in  our  midst  of  the  Gerstenslager  carriage  works.  So  consummate  was  the 
organization  of  this  club  that  in  the  days  of  the  canvass  for  the  amount  stipu- 
lated as  the  consideration  for  the  transfer  of  the  carriage  works  to  Wooster, 
one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  more  than  the  sum  required  was  subscribed 
by  the  business  men  and  other  enterprising  citizens  of  that  city.  As  a con- 
sequence of  the  enlargement  of  his  business  operations,  which  have  contrib- 
uted so  directly  and  substantially  to  the  growth  and  improvement  of  our  city, 
inspiring  new  enterprises  and  giving  fresh  momentum  to  those  already  con- 
templated, or  in  process  of  .development,  his  brother  Clarence  came  to  Woos- 
ter within  the  past  two  years,  forming  a partnership  with  him,  his  business 
having  assumed  such  proportions  that  assistance  on  his  part  became  necessary. 

Clarence  Landes  is  an  elder  brother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  a native 
of  W ayne  county,  educated  in  W ayne  county  and  a former  teacher  in  the 
schools  of  Wayne  county,  with  an  experience  in  this  vocation  of  eight  years, 
and  a business  man  in  Wayne  county  for  a number  of  years  prior  to  his  com- 
ing to  Wooster.  He  had  for  four  years  been  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade 


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in  the  flourishing  village  of  Dovlestown,  where  he  had  built  up  a fine  business, 
the  reputation  of  a gentleman  of  integrity,  honesty,  straightforward,  upright 
life,  possessing  excellent  qualities  as  a man  of  business,  characterized  by  the 
individuality,  self-reliance,  quiet  assertiveness,  enterprise,  judgment  and  alert 
executive  tact  of  his  brother.  He  is  a man  of  family,  has  come  to  Wooster 
to  stay,  make  it  his  home  and  help  make  it  one  of  the  hustling,  progressive 
and  most  beautiful  inland  cities  of  northern  Ohio. 

During  the  last  few  years  Mr.  Landes  has  also  written  and  published  two 
most  valuable  books  accordant  to  and  in  the  manner  of  the  “Our  Educational 
Service/1’  the  first  issued  in  1901,  entitled  “Outlines  in  United  States  History,” 
the  second  under  the  caption  of  “The  New  Practical  Orthography,”  in  a total 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  pages.  The  first  volume  embraces  a succinct 
history  of  political  parties,  from  the  time  of  the  Whig  and  Tory  organiza- 
tions, the  Federal,  and  Anti-Federal,  Democratic,  Anti-Masonic,  Free  Soil, 
Barnburners.  Hawkeyes,  Republicans,  etc. ; with  a chronological  record  of  our 
territorial  acquisitions  from  the  Revolutionary  period  to  Hawaii  and  our 
armed  contention  with  Spain,  within  the  last  decade.  It  is  a work  that  can- 
not fail  to  be  a most  valuable  and  helpful  assistant  to  student  and  teacher, 
and,  as  the  author  aptly  says  in  the  preface,  its  object  being  “to  introduce 
plans  by  which  the  acquisition  of  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  history  of  our 
country  may  not  only  be  an  interesting  but  a pleasant  task.” 

“The  New  Practical  Orthography”  is  a text  book  for  use  in  public 
schools,  grammar  schools  and  lower  grades  in  high  school,  the  later  editions 
of  these  works  being  issued  from  the  press  of  the  New  Publishing  Company, 
of  F.  A.  Owen.  Dansville.  New  York.  This  little  volume  supplies  a very  evi- 
dent demand  in  that,  as  the  author  most  pertinently  says,  “it  furnishes  a prac- 
tical treatise  on  orthography,  sufficiently  elementary  for  the  country  schools, 
the  grammar  school  and  the  lower  grades  in  the  high  school,  and  at  the  same 
time  comprehensive  enough  to  give  a fair  knowledge  of  the  principles  of 
orthography/' 

Mr.  Landes  is  a Republican  of  the  pronounced  type,  who  emphasizes  his 
patriotism,  party  fealty  and  genuine  Americanism  on  all  proper  occasions, 
never  obtrusive,  however,  in  promulgation  of  his  political  opinions  or  predi- 
lections. believing  that  in  a free  country,  such  as  this,  each  man  has  a right 
to  his  own  views  and  may  act  in  pursuance  thereto  in  affairs  political,  moral 
and  religious  and  all  matters  of  government.  He  is  now  serving  his  second 
term  as  chairman  of  the  Wayne  county  Republican  executive  committee  and 
assisted  materially  in  shaping  and  directing  the  congressional  campaign  of 
the  late  Hon.  M.  L.  Smyser  in  1907.  Although  he  is  a vigilant  and  active 


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member  of  his  party,  he  is  not  an  office  seeker — in  fact,  is  without  aspirations 
in  that  direction,  the  exception  to  this  being  in  1905,  when  his  party  nomi- 
nated him  for  county  auditor,  in  which  contest  he  was  far-away  and  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  but  went  down  in  the  “Herrick  landslide”  of  that  year. 

. Mr.  Landes  has  only  fairly  attained  the  midway  division  of  the  average 
acting  working  life  with  the  reasonable  assurance  and  promise  before  him  of 
more  working,  compensating  tomorrows  than  tested  and  exhausted  yester- 
days. He  is  largely  a self-made  man.  believes  in  work,  education  and  atten- 
tion to  business  in  hand,  the  mutual  responsibility  and  interdependence  of 
man  and  their  responsibility  to  state,  and  this  is  manifest  in  his  spirit  of  prog- 
ress and  enterprise.  He  believes  that  whatever  be  your  choice  in  life’s  great 
work,  you  must  grasp  this  truth.  You  are  a product  and  investment  your- 
self, if  you  will,  of  the  state  and  to  it  you  owe  some  returns.  Every  taxpayer 
has  contributed  to  your  present  advancement.  The  nation  has  found  out  that 
ignorance  is  a menace,  and  that  its  safety  and  protection  is  in  the  trained  and 
educated  minds  of  its  citizens,  through  the  village  schools,  the  normals,  acad- 
emies and  colleges.  It  is  true  that  freedom  has  its  obligations  and  liberty  its 
restrictions  and  no  man,  a product  of  our  American  institutions,  has  any 
moral  right  to  engage  in  anything  that  could  not  help  another  while  at  the 
same  time  it  affords  him  a livelihood  and  the  means  of  increasing  his  fortune. 
His  experiences  and  labor  as  a teacher  were  adjusted  along  these  parallels  of 
mental  usefulness,  and  so  are  his  exertions  in  the  realty  business  at  this  time, 
in  his  several  allotments  of  property,  of  building  sites  and  at  present  with 
more  than  forty  lots  for  sale  of  his  own  and  the  prospects  of  a dozen  houses 
being  built  in  the  immediate  future.  The  secret  of  the  success  of  Mr.  Landes 
is  imbedded  in  a fixed  purpose  that  differentiates  from  choice  or  desire,  in 
that  it  is  as  constant  as  the  needle  to  the  pole  and  as  certain.  He  recognizes 
the  unchangeable  equation : Attention  plus  service  and  sacrifice  equals  suc- 
cess. Like  the  lens,  it  concentrates  the  rays  of  mental  powers  upon  the 
point  to  be  attained  and  then  Wanamaker,  the  clerk,  becomes  the  merchant 
prince,  and  Edison,  the  newsboy,  the  wizard  of  the  world. 

Mr.  Landes  is  of  medium  height,  dark  hair  and  eves,  firmly  and  compactly 
built,  and  sound  as  the  pillars  in  the  Sistine  chapel.  Lie  is  sociable,  agreeable 
and  companionable,  guards  well  his  thoughts  and  words,  his  ears  a sanctuary 
from  the  name  of  his  absent  and  a locked  secret  of  his  present  friend.  Neither 
of  these  can  miscarry  in  his  trust.  He  undertakes  without  rashness  and  per- 
forms with  fixed  resolution,  well-balanced  and  floats  steadily.  He  is  generous 
and  liberal.  His  business  career  is  forward,  yet  he  has  the  silent  nerve  to  con- 
front opposition  or  failure  and  would  see  under  the  frown  of  defeat  the  smile 
of  victonr.  — By  Ben  Douglas. 


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JOHN  HOWARD  BEECHER  DANFORD. 

Success  has  been  worthily  attained  by  J.  H.  B.  Danford,  who  is  today 
accounted  one  of  the  prosperous  business  men  and  substantial  citizens  of  Woos- 
ter, Wayne  county,  Ohio.  To  his  energy,  enterprise,  careful  management 
and  keen  discernment  his  present  station  in  life  is  attributed.  He  started 
upon  his  career  as  an  independent  factor  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  and  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  best  business  concerns  in  the  city,  occupying 
a conspicuous  place  in  the  front  rank  of  her  successful  citizens. 

Mr.  Danford  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  on  July  4,  1867,  there- 
fore he  celebrated  his  natal  day  on  the  anniversary  of  our  national  independ- 
ence. His  parents  were  Samuel  M.  and  Rebecca  (Finley)  Danford.  The 
former,  who  was  born  in  Noble  county,  Ohio,  was  a farmer  by  profession  and 
shortly  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  he  removed  to  Guernsey  county,  where 
he  continued  his  farming  operations.  He  was  also  for  a while  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  but  subsequently  relinquished  that  and  returned  to  the 
farm.  During  the  great  gold  excitement  of  1849  he  caught  the  fever  and 
went  to  the  Pacific  coast,  spending  eight  years  in  Oregon  and  California. 
His  death  occurred  when  he  was  seventy-seven  years  old.  He  had  a brother 
in  the  Union  army  who  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  wounded  twenty- 
seven  times.  Rebecca  Finley  Danford  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  this 
state,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1879.  Her  mother’s  family  name  was  Morris 
and  she  was  related  in  direct  line  to  Robert  Morris,  one  of  the  immortal  sign- 
ers of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  To  Samuel  and  Rebecca  Danford 
the  following  children  were  born:  Angeline,  deceased;  Estella,  deceased; 
Viola  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Secrest.  of  Chaseville,  Noble  county,  Ohio;  Eliza 
is  the  wife  of  Noah  Davis,  also  of  Chaseville:  Charles  F.,  of  Cambridge, 
Ohio;  J.  H.  B.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  Cora,  the  wife  of  Ray 
Larrick,  of  Pleasant  City,  Ohio;  Anna  L.,  the  wife  of  C.  L.  Starr,  of  Pleasant 
City,  Ohio. 

J.  H.  B.  Danford  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  secured  a fair  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  home  township.  When  old  enough  he 
assumed  his  share  of  the  labors  of  the  farm  and  continued  to  make  his  home 
with  his  parents  until  1890.  He  was  then  variously  employed  until  about 
1893,  when  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  at  Pleasant  City,  where  he 
continued  with  fair  success  until  1904.  In  that  year,  desiring  a wider  scope 
for  business,  he  came  to  Wooster,  and  on  March  8,  1905,  be  bought  a half 
interest  with  H.  B.  Christine,  furniture  dealer,  and  in  December  of  the  same 
year  he  bought  his  partner’s  interest,  since  which  time  he  has  been  sole  pro- 


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prietor.  The  business  has  steadily  grown  and  is  now  the  largest  furniture 
store  in  Wooster.  Mr.  Dan  ford  occupies  three  floors  and  a basement,  each 
thirty-two  by  one  hundred  and  seventy -five  feet  in  size,  and  the  stock  carried  is 
in  every  respect  up  to  date,  being  carefully  selected  and  well  displayed.  In  con- 
nection with  the  general  line  of  furniture  and  household  furnishings,  Mr. 
Dan  ford  also  carries  on  an  undertaking  business.  In  this  line  also  he  is  very 
successful,  being  himself  a licensed  embalmer.  He  is  accommodating  and 
painstaking  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  funeral  directors  in  the  county. 

On  November  14.  1895,  Mr.  Dan  ford  married  Florence  Blake,  who  was 
born  at  Stockport,  Morgan  county,  Ohio.  She  is  of  distinguished  lineage, 
tracing  her  paternal  ancestry  to  Commodore  Blake,  the  noted  English  naval 
commander,  and  on  the  maternal  side  she  is  related  to  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee. 

Mr.  Danford  is  a director  in  the  Pleasant  City  Telephone  Company,  of 
Pleasant  City,  Ohio.  Socially  he  is  a member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
In  religion,  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  Mr.  Danford  is  one  of  the  trustees.  He  is  a Republican  in 
politics,  though  not  in  any  sense  an  officeseeker,  and  he  ever  manifests  a pub- 
lic-spirited interest  in  local  affairs,  giving  his  aid  and  influence  for  the  further- 
ance of  all  measures  for  the  general  good.  Because  of  his  high  personal 
character  Mr.  Danford  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN  N.  BOOR. 

The  founder  of  this  family  was  Michael  Boor,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many abort  the  middle  of  the  last  century  and  located  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  about  1754.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  farmers  of  that  region 
and  died  there  while  the  state  was  still  an  English  colony.  He  left  a son 
named  Nicholas,  born  January  27,  1792,  who  went  to  Frederick  county.  Vir- 
ginia, in  middle  life  and  spent  seven  years  in  that  part  of  the  country.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  farmed  until  his  death, 
in  1874.  While  in  Pennsylvania  he  followed  the  business  of  teamster  and 
freighter.  He  married  Catherine  Boyer,  who  was  born  February  2,  1793. 
and  died  July  2.  1855.  The  children  by  this  union  were:  William.  Maria, 

Elizabeth  (deceased),  Catherine  (deceased).  Polly,  Susan.  Susanna:  Adam 
and  Jacob  are  deceased;  Mary  is  still  living;  David  and  Louisa  are  deceased; 
George,  who  lives  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  served  three  vears  in  the  Civil 
war  in  Company  C.  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 


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John  N.  Boor,  the  twelfth  child  of  this  large  family,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Pennsylvania,  July  18,  1834.  He  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  twenty-two  years  old,  and  then  took  charge  of  a threshing 
machine,  which  he  conducted  for  nine  years,  two  of  these  on  his  own  account, 
and  was  very  successful  in  this  line  of  work.  He  served  as  constable  from 
1859  to  i860  in  this  and  in  1862  in  Canaan  township,  but  resigned.  He  was 
captain  of  a militia  company. 

Mr.  Boor’s  war  record  is  one  of  which  his  descendants  may  well  be 
proud  and  it  forms  one  of  the  principal  chapters  in  his  life  history,  for  he 
was  one  of  the  patriotic  sons  of  the  North  who  left  the  pleasures  and  oppor- 
tunities of  home  and  business  to  render  service  for  the  Union.  On  April  23, 
1861,  in  response  to  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  volunteers,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
four  months.  In  January,  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  D,  Ninth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Cavalry,  of  which  William  D.  Hamilton  was  colonel,  and  so  inter- 
esting and  praiseworthy  was  the  record  of  this  regiment  that  a detailed  ac- 
count of  its  operations  is  deemed  advisable  here,  for  it  was  noted  for  its  con- 
tinued action  and  dash  and  fight.  It  was  first  organized  in  Camp  Zanes- 
ville in  1862,  and  was  then  but  one  battalion,  four  companies,  commanded 
by  Mr.  Hamilton,  who  was  then  a major,  this  gallant  officer  having  been  a 
captain  in  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Infantry.  It  was  not  until 
September,  1863,  that  Captain  Proctor,  of  the  Eighteenth  United  States 
Infantry,  mustered  in  the  Second  and  Third  Battalions.  In  the  fall  of  1862 
the  First  Battalion  was  put  into  shape  and  until  January  remained  in  Ohio, 
and  was  drilled,  but  without  horses.  Later  they  were  mounted  and  crossed 
over  into  Kentucky,  and  kept  watch  on  the  roving  bands  of  Confederates, 
and  at  Pine  Mountain  Gap,  June  16,  1863,  they  had  their  first  battle.  It 
was  not  to  be  expected  that  men  under  such  a leader  would  acquit  themselves 
badly,  and  on  that  day  the  Ninth  Ohio  Cavalry  began  to  make  history  for 
itself,  to  do  honor  to  the  state  from  which  it  came,  and  to  render  valuable 
service  to  the  country  it  was  organized  to  defend.  It  engaged  in  sixty-four 
battles  and  skirmishes.  It  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1864  that  the  entire  regi- 
ment was  together,  the  several  battalions  meeting  at  Pulaski,  Tennessee,  two 
of  the  battalions  having  made  a very  gallant  charge  against  Roddy's  entire 
brigade  of  Confederates,  who  fled  before  the  gallant  Ohioans.  On  July  10, 
1864.  the  Ninth  took  part  in  Rousseau's  great  raid  through  Alabama,  riding 
through  the  garden  of  the  South,  where  no  Union  soldier  had  ever  been 
before,  skirmishing  for  fourteen  days,  fighting,  tearing  up  railroads,  burn- 


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ing  mills,  factories  and  cotton,  working  day  and  night  destroying  the  re- 
sources of  the  enemy, — in  fact,  they  reserved  only  three  hours  daily  for  rest 
and  sleep.  Rarely  in  the  history  of  warfare  was  there  such  riding  as  this. 
It  was  a most  successful  raid,  but  it  has  never  been  given  its  rightful  place 
in  history.  Rousseau  found  Sherman’s  army  at  Marietta,  Georgia,  and  the 
Ninth  took  part  in  the  great  Atlanta  campaign.  A battalion  under  Major 
Bowles  led  the  advance  of  the  memorable  flank  movement  when  Sherman 
threw  invincible  columns  to  the  right,  which  soon  ended  the  great  campaign. 
On  the  memorable  march  to  the  sea  the  regiment  was  conspicuous  and  was  a 
part  of  the  army  under  that  gallant  leader,  General  Kilpatrick,  and  did  heroic 
work.  In  July,  1865,  the  survivors  of  the  regiment  returned  to  their  homes, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  none  of  those  who  are  living  today  but  feels  proud 
of  the  fact  that  he  belonged  to  a regiment  with  such  a splendid  record. 

Following  is  a list  of  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  the  regiment 
engaged  in  1863:  Pine  Mountain  Gap,  Big  Creek  Gap,  Waltzburg,  all  in 

Kentucky;  Knoxville,  Powell  Valley,  both  in  Tennessee;  pursuit  of  Morgan, 
siege  of  Knoxville;  following  were  consecutive  in  1864:  Florence,  repulse 

of. an  attack  on  Decatur,  Center  Star,  Courtland  Road,  Rousseau’s  raid,  Coosa 
River,  Ten  Islands,  Talladega,  Stone’s  Ferry,  Lochapoka,  Auburn,  Chesaw 
Station,  all  in  Alabama,  with  part  of  Rousseau’s  raid  in  Georgia;  siege  of 
Atlanta,  East  Point,  Georgia:  Chattahooche  river,  pursuit  of  Wheeler,  pur- 
suit of  Forrest,  all  in  Alabama;  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy,  Bear  Creek  Station, 
Macon,  Griswoldsville,  Milledgeville,  Oconee  River,  Waynesboro,  Louisville, 
Rocky  Creek  Church,  Brier  Creek,  Ebenezer  Creek,  siege  of  Savannah,  all  in 
Georgia ; Campbellsville,  Lawrenceburg,  Tennessee ; Arnold’s  Plantation.  Alta- 
maha  Bridge,  March  to  the  Sea,  Georgia;  Taylor’s  Creek,  Barnwell,  Willis- 
ton,  Aiken,  Blackville,  Gunters  Bridge,  Winnsborough.  South  Carolina;  Lex- 
ington, Broad  River  Bridge,  Phillips’  Cross  Roads,  Rockingham,  Salem 
Grove,  Monroe  Cross  Roads,  Fayetteville,  Taylor’s  Hole  Creek,  Averasboro, 
Bentonville,  Faison’s  Depot,  Smithfield  Railroad,  Raleigh.  Morrisville,  Chapel 
Hill  and  Bennett  House,  all  North  Carolina. 

This  splendid  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Lexington,  North  Carolina, 
July  20,  1865,  and  discharged  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  August  2d  following. 
The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Second  Brigade.  Cavalry  Division,  Twenty- 
third  Corps,  until  March,  1864.  Ordered  to  Athens,  Alabama,  and  attached 
to  the  cavalry  command.  Dodge’s  left  wing.  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  until 
May,  1864.  then  it  was  attached  to  Kilpatrick’s  Second  Brigade,  Third  Di- 
vision. with  which  it  remained  until  June,  1865. 


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Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Boor  saw  some  strenuous  service,  and 
according  to  his  comrades  he  was  always  ready  for  duty  and  never  swerved 
from  danger  or  a difficult  task.  Following  is  a roster  of  his  comrades  in 
Company  D : Emerson  Benson,  W.  J.  Boden,  James  Boileau,  Joseph  Bur- 

goon,  Levi  Bowers,  William  Barkimer,  David  Baker,  S.  N.  Cook,  D.  M. 
Dougherty,  John  Double,  Harrison  H.  Dodd,  George  Fisher.  Abraham  Fel- 
ger,  David  R.  Houser,  L.  H.  Hughes,  William  Herron,  William  Henderson, 
John  Hill,  Henry  Heck,  Lewis  H.  Immel,  Jacob  Johnson,  John  W.  Kurtz, 
J.  A.  Kister,  Timothy  Lyne,  Byron  McKenzie,  John  Moore,  Joseph  Marshall, 
B.  Mitchelson,  George  Morrison,  W.  A.  Nichols,  J.  A.  Petty,  Cornelius  Pettit, 
John  Rhodes,  William  Santell,  James  Singre,  Joshua  Stotsberry,  John  A. 
Strauss.  James  A.  Smith,  Thomas  C.  Smith,  John  Sparr,  J.  A.  Switzer, 
Justus  F.  Watson,  Sam  F.  Wireman,  Sam  S.  Wyre,  Joseph  C.  Wheeler, 
Henry  Wells. 

Mr.  Boor  was  taken  prisoner  on  October  2,  1864,  in  Georgia  and  was 
held  at  Macon  for  two  weeks,  and  at  Millen,  Georgia,  for  six  weeks.  He 
also  saw  the  inside  of  prisons  at  Savannah  and  at  Florence,  South  Carolina. 
February  27,  1865,  he  was  paroled  and  put  on  a boat  at  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina,  eventually  reached  Annapolis,  Maryland,  from  which  place  he  went 
to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where,  after  a furlough  of  thirty  days,  he  was  dis- 
charged on  June  15,  1865.  Mr.  Boor  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  par- 
ticipated in  the  first  engagement  of  the  Civil  war,  the  battle  of  Philippi, 
West  Virginia,  on  June  3,  1861,  and  he  and  a comrade  captured  the  first 
armed  prisoner. 

In  1869  Mr.  Boor  built  a steam  saw-mill  on  his  place  in  Wayne  town- 
ship, this  county,  which  he  conducted  without  intermission  for  thirty  years, 
doing  a very  large  business  and  becoming  widely  known  as  a mill  and  lumber 
man.  In  1878  and  1879  he  served  as  township  assessor,  was  elected  ap- 
praiser in  the  latter  year  and  served  one  term.  In  1884  be  was  again  elected 
assessor  and  in  1890  was  re-elected  land  appraiser.  In  the  fall  of  1893  be 
was  elected  infirmary  director  and  served  very  acceptably  in  this,  as  in  his 
former  public  capacities,  for  a period  of  six  years.  He  has  always  been 
active  in  politics  on  the  Democratic  side.  He  has  long  been  a member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church  at  Madisonburg,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers who  built  the  structure  in  1876.  The  congregation  started  with  about 
thirty  members  and  now  lias  seventy  or  more.  Mr.  Boor  was  trustee  from 
1875  to  and  he  always  took  a great  deal  of  interest  in  religious  work. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Given  Post,  No.  133, 


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at  Wooster,  and  ranks  high  among  his  old  comrades,  as  well  as  among  the 
citizens  of  the  county  generally.  He  has  been  successful  in  business,  promi- 
nent in  politics,  and  one  of  the  factors  in  developing  his  part  of  the  county. 

On  March  13,  1862,  Mr.  Boor  married  Elizabeth  C.  Carl,  who  was  born 
in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  February  16,  1841.  She  is  a daughter  of  Philip 
and  Otilla  (Bush)  Carl,  who  came  from  Germany  and  were  early  pioneers 
of  Ashland  county.  He  died  in  1844  and  his  widow  married  Philip  Beck, 
but  both  are  now  deceased.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Boor,  named  as  follows:  George  Clement,  bom  January  23.  1863,  is  a 

druggist  in  Rocky  River,  Ohio,  and  married  Adeline  Wagner;  Edwin  Nich- 
olas, born  September  3,  18C6,  is  electrician  for  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  & 
Southwestern  Electric  Company,  married  Ora  Hershey  and  has  two  children, 
Ruth  and  Helen:  Dr.  Seymour  C.,  born  July  7.  1868,  was  educated  at  Cleve- 
land and  Baltimore,  married  Amanda  Gingery  and  lives  in  Burbank,  Ohio: 
Effie  Gertrude,  born  February  10,  1872,  married  F.  O.  Miller,  a farmer  of 
Wayne  township,  and  has  three  children,  Marie,  Harold  and  Gladys. 


ISAAC  N.  HOUGH. 

County  auditor  from  1903  to  1909  and  for  many  years  an  educator  of 
wide  repute,  Isaac  X.  Hough  is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  horn  in 
Chester  township  on  July  12,  1849.  He  springs  from  an  old  and  well  known 
Pennsylvania  family  that  figured  in  the  early  history  of  various  parts  of  the 
Keystone  state,  but  for  many  years  the  name  has  been  a familiar  sound  in 
northern  Ohio,  his  father,  David  Hough,  moving  with  his  parents  to  Wayne 
county  when  but  six  years  old  and  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  the 
family  homestead  in  Chester  township.  By  occupation  David  Hough  was  a 
tiller  of  the  soil,  which  useful  and  honorable  calling  he  followed  for  many 
years  with  gratifying  success.  He  was  a man  of  high  character  and  eminently 
respectable  social  standing,  wielded  a strong  influence  for  good  among  his 
neighbors  and  friends  and  was  long  esteemed  one  of  the  leading  citizens.  He 
departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  one  month  and  one  day,  and  left 
to  his  posterity  the  memory  of  noble  deeds  and  high  ideals  and  a name  un- 
stained by  the  slightest  suspicion  of  dishonor. 

Mary  Showalter.  wife  of  David  Hough,  was  also  of  Pennsylvania  birth 
and.  like  her  husband,  came  to  Ohio  in  early  life  and  spent  her  youth  and 
young  womanhood  in  the  county  of  Wayne.  She  combined  many  noble  qual- 


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ities  of  mind  and  heart,  which  were  reproduced  in  her  offspring,  and  ended 
her  earthly  course  in  the  year  1895,  esteemed  and  honored  by  all  who  knew 
her. 

The  children  of  David  and  Mary  Hough,  eleven  in  number,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Lucv,  wife  of  Edmund  Keyser,  of  Wooster,  Ohio;  Daniel,  who  lives 
in  Cass  county,  Missouri;  John,  deceased;  William,  of  Belding,  Michigan; 
Matilda,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  George  W.  Forbes,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio:  Sarah  Jane,  who  is  unmarried  and  lives  in  the  city  of  Wooster;  Isaac 
N.,  the  subject  of  this  review;  James  A.,  deceased;  Margaret  W.,  who  mar- 
ried J.  W.  Crummel,  of  Apple  Creek,  this  state;  Ida  A.,  wife  of  C.  B.  Burch- 
field, also  a resident  of  Apple  Creek,  and  Clara  M..  who  was  basely  murdered 
some  years  ago  in  the  city  of  Mansfield,  Ohio. 

Isaac  N.  Hough  is  descended  from  sturdy  and  eminently  honorable 
ancestry  and  inherits  to  a marked  degree  many  of  the  sterling  qualities  of 
his  antecedents.  He  was  reared  in  close  touch  with  nature  on  the  farm  and 
grew  to  the  full  stature  of  well-rounded  manhood  under  excellent  home  in- 
fluences, learning  while  still  young  those  lessons  of  industry  and  thrift  which 
make  for  success  in  material  matters  and  the  principles  of  morality  and 
probity  which  constitute  such  important  parts  of  every  symmetrically  devel- 
oped character.  Under  the  wholesome  discipline  of  farm  labor  he  laid 
broad  and  deep  the  solid  foundations  upon  which  his  subsequent  career  as 
an  educator  and  public  spirited  official  rests  and  to  this  rugged  school  of 
experience  attributes  much  of  the  success  which  has  made  him  an  influential 
factor  and  recognized  leader  among  his  fellow  men.  At  the  proper  age  he 
entered  the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood,  where  his  progress  was 
commendable,  and  he  later  attended  Smithville  Academy  several  terms,  in 
which  he  made  rapid  advancement  in  the  higher  branches  of  learning.  Leav- 
ing the  latter  institution  with  a well  disciplined  mind,  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing and  during  the  thirty  years  ensuing  devoted  his  attention  very  closely 
and  conscientiously  to  that  useful  and  noble  work,  attaining,  in  the  mean- 
time. much  more  than  local  repute  as  an  educator.  It  is  a fact  worthy  of 
note  that  Mr.  Hough’s  long  experience  as  a teacher  was  confined  to  a very 
small  area  of  Wayne  county.  All  of  his  thirty  winter  and  twenty-two  summer 
schools,  with  the  exception  of  four  terms,  were  taught  in  four  districts,  his 
frequent  retention  for  long  periods  of  service  in  the  same  place  bearing  elo- 
quent testimony  to  his  ability  as  an  instructor  and  to  his  great  personal 
popularity  with  pupils  and  patrons. 

In  the  year  1897  *^r-  Hough  entered  the  auditor’s  office  as  deputy 


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under  A.  B.  Peckinpaugh,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  1902,  when 
he  was  nominated  for  the  position  by  the  local  Democracy  and  triumphantly 
elected  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Being  familiar  with  every  detail  of  the  office 
and  obliging  in  his  relations  with  the  public,  he  discharged  his  duties  in 
such  a capable  and  satisfactory  manner  that  he  was  chosen  his  own  successor 
in  1905.  As  an  official  he  was  industrious  and  painstaking  and  his  loyalty 
to  the  people's  interests  as  custodian  of  one  of  their  most  important  trusts 
has  earned  for  him  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  men 
as  a public  servant  and  sterling  worth  as  an  intelligent,  broad-minded  and 
progressive  citizen. 

Mr.  Hough  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  10th  day  of  March,  1887,  with 
Lillie  A.  Martin,  of  Wooster,  daughter  of  John  Martin,  a well-known  resi- 
dent of  the  city,  the  union  proving  mutually  happy  and  resulting  in  the  birth 
of  six  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased.  Howard  E.,  the  first  born  of 
the  family,  died  in  infancy;  Waldo  O.,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  was  grad- 
uated from  the  city  high  school  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  and  then  entered 
the  Gem  City  Business  College  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  he  completed  the 
full  course  and  attained  to  high  honor  as  a student.  On  graduating  from 
the  latter  institution  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the  Gerstenslager  Buggy 
Company  of  Wooster,  but  two  years  later  resigned  the  position  to  enter 
the  Wesleyan  University,  Delaware,  Ohio.  After  one  year  he  had  to  give 
up  college  work  on  account  of  his  father's  illness.  He  is  now  assistant  state 
examiner  of  county  records.  He  is  an  exceptionally  intelligent  young  man 
and,  actuated  by  a laudable  ambition  to  succeed,  has  before  him  a promis- 
ing and  brilliant  future.  Beulah  M.,  the  oldest  daughter,  like  her  brother, 
is  much  given  to  study  and  literature  and  is  one  of  the  brightest  and  most 
intelligent  young  ladies  of  the  city  in  which  she  lives.  She,  too,  made  a 
remarkable  record  as  a student,  completing  the  high  school  course  when 
she  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  being  the  youngest  person  ever  graduated 
from  that  institution.  Later  she  took  a full  course  in  bookkeeping,  stenog- 
raphy and  typewriting  in  the  business  college  at  Wooster,  served  as  first 
deputy  auditor  under  her  father,  and  is  now  in  the  Citizens  National  Bank. 
Blanche  I.,  the  second  daughter,  sustains  the  high  reputation  of  her  brother 
and  sister,  being  an  ambitious  student  and  standing  among  the  first  of  her 
classes  in  the  city  high  school.  The  fifth  in  order  of  birth  died  in  infancy, 
the  next  being  a daughter.  Clara  M..  a bright  and  interesting  young  lady 
who  is  prosecuting  her  studies  in  the  high  school,  where  she  has  already 
achieved  a creditable  record. 


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Mr.  Hough  is  proud  of  his  children  and  has  provided  them  with  excep- 
tional educational  advantages,  which,  to  their  credit,  they  fully  appreciate. 
They  heartily  second  all  of  his  efforts  in  their  behalf  and  thus  far  have  fully 
realized  his  ardent  hopes  and  high  expectations,  proving,  as  already  indicated, 
remarkably  intelligent  and  ambitious  and  giving  promise  of  future  honor  and 
usefulness  in  whatever  stations  in  life  they  may  be  called  to  fill.  Mrs.  Hough 
is  a lady  of  fine  mind  and  beautiful  character  whose  refining  and  elevating  in- 
fluence has  contributed  much  to  the  moral  discipline  as  well  as  the  intellectual 
advancement  of  her  offspring.  She  has  been  an  able  and  judicious  counsellor 
to  her  husband,  assisting  him  in  all  his  efforts,  encouraging  him  in  his  aspira- 
tions and  presiding  over  his  home  with  the  grace  and  dignity  characteristic  of 
the  intelligent  and  broad  minded  American  housewife  of  today.  The  entire 
family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  are  deeply  interested  in 
the  various  lines  of  religious  work  under  the  auspices  of  the  organization,  be- 
sides giving  their  assistance  and  influence  to  all  enterprises  and  movements  for 
the  general  welfare  of  the  community. 


JAMES  LLOYD  GRAY. 

A due  measure  of  success  invariably  results  from  clearly  defined  purpose 
and  consecutive  effort  in  the  affairs  of  life,  but  in  following  out  the  career  of 
one  who  has  attained  success  by  his  own  efforts  there  comes  into  view  the  in- 
trinsic individuality  which  has  made  such  accomplishments  possible.  Such 
attributes  were  evidently  possessed  by  James  L.  Gray,  for  many  years  promi- 
nent in  the  commercial  and  industrial  life  of  the  city  of  Wooster  and  he  suc- 
ceeded in  leaving  the  indelible  imprint  of  his  personality  upon  the  lives  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  into  contact.  He  was  born  in  Milton,  Northumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1832.  His  father  was  of  Scotch  and  his  mother  of 
German  ancestry.  They  came  to  Pennsylvania  in  what  historians  are  pleased 
to  call  “an  early  day,”  the  mother  dying  there  when  her  son,  James  L.,  was  a 
small  child,  consequently  he  was  reared  by  his  uncle,  Samuel  Blain,  who  lived 
on  a farm  near  the  birthplace  of  the  subject. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Gray  began  life  for  himself,  first  obtain- 
ing a position  as  clerk  on  a steamboat  that  plied  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi, 
for  the  life  of  a riverman  in  those  days  was  a fascinating  one  and  appealed 
very  strongly  to  the  boyish  imagination  of  the  subject.  This  life  he  followed 
for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  had  occasion  to  ascend  and  descend  all 


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the  navigable  rivers  tributary  to  the  Mississippi,  one  of  the  most  notable  and 
interesting  trips  being  to  the  Yellowstone  Park  in  quest  of  furs. 

But  finally,  tiring  of  life  on  the  river,  Mr.  Gray  returned  to  his  home 
town,  Milton,  Pennsylvania,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  saddler's 
trade,  after  which  he  located  at  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania.  There  he  met 
and  afterwards  married  Eunice  Magaw,  a native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  soon  after  his  marriage  he  brought  his  young  bride  to  Wooster, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  at  once  engaged  in  business,  and  eventually 
became  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Gray  was  one  of  the  loyal  sons  of  the  North  who  sacrificed  the  pleas- 
ures of  home  and  opportunities  of  business  to  aid  in  suppressing  the  rebellion, 
enlisting  in  1864  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Regiment  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  with  credit  in  the  famous  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, having  been  in  the  quartermaster's  department  a part  of  the  time.  After 
the  war  he  returned  to  Wooster  and  for  a time  was  superintendent  of  the 
Home  mills.  In  1875  be  began  dealing  in  coal,  lime  and  builders*  supplies, 
which  business  grew  until  it  reached  very  large  proportions  and  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  June  8.  1886,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Charles 
M.  Gray,  a well-known  resident  of  Wooster,  Ohio:  Mrs.  Cora  B.  Plummer,  de- 
ceased: Mrs.  Emma  E.  Orr,  deceased:  Mrs.  Eunice  Jeffries,  of  Charlotte, 
North  Carolina:  William  L.  Gray,  a resident  of  Wooster. 

James  L.  Gray  was  a man  of  pleasing  disposition,  honorable  in  public  and 
private  life,  and  he  merited  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  universally  held. 
He  was  a loyal  Republican,  taking  a very  active  interest  in  political  affairs. 
He  served  as  a member  of  the  volunteer  fire  department,  which  in  his  day  was 
an  important  factor  in  the  life  of  Wooster.  Fraternally  he  was  a member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Knights  of 
Honor,  and  he  also  be  longed  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was 
one  of  the  pillars  of  the  English  Lutheran  church,  having  served  as  a member 
of  the  building  committee  in  the  erection  of  the  Tabernacle  on  North  Mar- 
ket street. 


JOHN  MEIER. 

Admired  and  respected  for  his  general  intelligence,  as  well  as  for  his 
sterling  qualities  as  a neighbor  and  a citizen,  no  man  in  the  town  of  Fred- 
ericksburg stands  higher  in  public  esteem  than  the  worthy  individual,  the 
salient  facts  of  whose  life  and  character  are  herein  set  forth. 


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• - ; t -s.  an 

. - kinifired  - 
.....  ilir  • • 

an  Kt'«.r' 

'•**  ' n"’ 

• i . r ! 1 

< ’■  ■ i . 

* : •*<«■  aiul  hmltk'l 

■ . > | m trtiuns  am  t ■ 

■ > i k‘t>< ),  at  the  ae'e  • « : 


. . • f : ie*  h >n<  i\\  chi!'  Ire 

- * *’.:■!$  \|  IV  t ‘i  *17t  I ! ! *1 

. : . \j  t > Kmnre  [eft  rie>.  • ' • 

' ’ tr',!  . * l'  \V<  m cter. 

: !e  h’  * i'  'T,  hull  - >ra!  it.  -it’  •' 

1 e nem  n \n  \\  hirh  he  \\ re  unar  . 

. a \ri  \.  art  me  niterr-t  in  ].■•!.' 
vt  , i ia  ■ ha u lament . V\  hirh  ■ : ; 

* i *c  v”  h .-entail  v he  w a * a * 1 1<  ■ 
I.  * • 1 ’h  ,\v  K v^hity  , ,f  1 \ th:a>  aad  h ‘ ' 

- - -I  ■ {!*-•>■  nM  . \ nttv  «>f  the  RepuMie 

t I ' i ■ • - i . i la  i a i*  cUllP'h,  having  served  a*' 

• ■ "a  n<«*  ’ hi  * ert  n »n  < > 1 the  ! a hen  ana  e t »n  \ - ■" 

J<  MIX  Mh  ir.R. 

• • : < . . 1 1 * * i i esj^  n d n <r  Ins  iiMelh^enee.  a<  w ell  .c 

ar  ia  a «,  a - ht  *rs  a^  a i-e-^V  »•  »r  and  a err/en.  m>  man  m the  town  * t 
* iekdaim  "'anX  higher  in  ] c : 1 * 1 1 < eCerrfi  than  the  wnrhiv  indc  > ' 
‘-{h||u  farts  < » f w i»<  *'  r lite  and  eh  a meter  are  Rear  in  >et  b>nh. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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John  Meier  is  a native  of  the  little  republic  of  Switzerland,  having 
been  born  at  Brugg,  in  the  canton  of  Aargau,  on  the  first  day  of  September, 
1831.  He  received  some  education  in  his  native  land  and  also  attended  school 
one  term  after  coming  to  the  United  States.  He  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
making in  his  youth,  at  which  he  became  an  expert.  In  1853  he  determined 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World,  and  accordingly  set  sail  for  the  United 
States,  landing  in  due  time  at  the  port  of  New  York.  From  there  he  went 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  remaining  there  from  June  to  November,  in  which 
month  he  located  in  Saltcreek  township.  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  which  was 
his  home  during  the  following  six  years.  During  this  time  he  was  employed 
at  his  trade  of  shoemaking.  Locating  then  at  Fredericksburg,  Wayne  county, 
he  remained  there  three  years,  working  at  the  shoemaker's  bench,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  he  moved  onto  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies  and  that 
has  been  his  home  continuously  since.  The  farm,  which  is  located  in  sec- 
tion 23,  is  a splendid  piece  of  rural  land,  about  seventy  acres  of  it  being  in 
cultivation.  The  improvements  on  the  place  are  complete  and  substantial 
and  all  things  about  the  farm  indicate  thrift,  industry  and  general  prosperity, 
the  property  being  now  considered  a valuable  one.  In  i860  Mr.  Meier  went 
to  Switzerland  for  his  two  brothers,  and  in  1862  he  sent  for  his  parents  and 
family  and  they  made  their  home  here  with  him  until  their  deaths,  a num- 
ber of  years  ago.  After  coming  to  the  farm,  Mr.  Meier  also  carried  on 
the  occupation  of  shoemaking  to  some  extent,  more  as  a matter  of  accommo- 
dation than  necessity,  but  he  has  relinquished  that  work,  being  now  too  old 
for  steady,  hard  work.  In  his  first  coming  to  Ohio  he  met  with  some 
peculiar  and  occasionally  exciting  experiences.  The  country  was  extremely 
wild  and  at  that  time  there  were  yet  many  Indians  in  the  northern  part  of 
Ohio,  the  town  of  Fredericksburg  being  an  important  trading  post.  Bridges 
were  practically  unknown  and  roads  were  few  and  far  between,  the  common 
routes  for  travel  being  simple  trails  through  the  dense  forests.  Massillon 
was  the  nearest  town  of  any  considerable  size,  and  the  early  settlers  were 
compelled  to  endure  hardships  and  inconveniences  little  appreciated  at  the 
present  day. 

In  1861  Mr.  Meier  was  united  in  marriage  to  Matilda  Merilat.  a sister 
to  Captain  Merilat  and  a daughter  of  David  Merilat.  She  was  a native  of 
Switzerland  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  was  brought  to  this# country 
bv  her  parents.  In  his  native  land  David  Merilat  was  a school  teacher,  but 
after  coming  to  this  country  he  became  a prominent  and  successful  farmer  of 
Wayne  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meier  have  been  born  eight  children,  brief 

< ) 


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mention  of  whom  is  made  as  follows : Sophia  married  first  Charles  Fletcher, 
later  Charles  Hipp,  is  the  mother  of  five  children,  and  lives  at  Marion,  Ohio; 
Ida  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Barnes,  of  near  Nashville,  Holmes  county,  and  is 
the  mother  of  nine  children;  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  Hiram  Sanderson,  of  Salt- 
creek  township,  and  is  the  mother  of  four  children ; Mary  is  at  home;  William, 
at  home;  John,  who  married  Sadie  Kane,  lives  in  Saltcreek  township  and 
has  one  child,  Matilda;  Emma  married  Eugene  Rouhier,  of  Stark  county, 
and  they  have  six  children;  Charles,  who  married  Maria  Fellows,  lives  at 
Garretsville.  and  they  have  one  child. 

In  politics  Mr.  Meier  is  a Democrat  and  has  always  taken  a wide-awake 
interest  in  public  affairs,  though  not  a politician.  However,  he  has  during 
his  long  life  here  served  his  fellow-citizens  acceptably  in  a number  of  local 
offices.  In  religion  he  is  a member  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Mount  Eaton. 
He  is  widely  known  and  has  the  respect  and  confidence  of  a large  circle  of 
friends.  His  long  and  busy  life  is  drawing  to  a close,  but  when  he  finally 
passes  over  the  river  it  will  be  with  the  knowledge  that  his  life  has  been 
well  and  honorably  spent. 


DAVID  MYERS. 

The  true  spirit  of  progress  and  honorable  achievement  has  been  manifest 
in  the  career  of  the  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch  and  who,  since  discontinuing  the  strenuous  life  which  was 
characterized  by  such  signal  success,  has  been  living  in  honorable  retirement 
in  the  city  of  Wooster.  His  life  has  been  one  of  fulness  and  completeness  of 
vigor  and  inflexible  integrity  and  while  engaged  in  the  vocation  to  which  in 
the  main  his  attention  has  been  devoted,  he  accomplished  great  and  lasting 
good  for  the  material  progress  of  various  cities  and  communities  and  at  the 
same  time  failed  not  to  reap  the  reward  which  his  industry  and  skill  so  richly 
deserved. 

David  Myers  is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  a descendant  on  the 
paternal  side  of  a long  line  of  sturdy  German  ancestry,  which  was  first  rep- 
resented in  America  by  his  father,  Daniel  Myers,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Wurtemherg  about  the  year  1814  and  settled  in  Wilmington,  Delaware. 
After  spending  a few  years  in  that  city  he  removed  to  I^ancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  thence  when  a young  man  to  Wayne  county.  Ohio,  where  in 
1828  he  married  Martha  DeWese,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  county 
of  Columbiana,  this  state.  In  his  younger  days  Daniel  Myers  was  a cooper, 


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but  in  after  life  he  became  a fanner,  which  vocation  he  followed  until  his 
death,  in  1873.  Mrs.  Myers  survived  her  husband  five  years,  departing  this 
life  on  the  home  farm  in  Chester  township  in  1878.  She  sprang  from  an  old 
and  highly  respected  family,  that  figured  actively  in  the  early  history  of  eastern 
Ohio  and,  tracing  her  ancestry  further  back,  it  appears  that  several  of  the 
DeWese  family  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  that  two  of  Mrs. 
Myers’  brothers  served  with  distinction  in  the  war  of  1812.  By  reason  of 
this  connection  with  the  struggle  for  independence,  three  of  Mr.  Myers’  daugh- 
ters hold  membership  with  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  a pa- 
triotic society  composed  of  female  descendants  of  the  soldiers  of  that  war. 
Daniel  and  Martha  Myers  were  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living  at  the  present  time,  viz : Mrs.  Rebecca  Reichard,  whose  home  is  in 
Iowa  near  the  town  of  Knoxville;  David,  of  this  review;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Berkey,  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio;  John,  a resident  of  Chester  township, 
Wayne  county,  and  Mrs.  Anna  Powers,  who  lives  in  the  city  of  Wooster. 

David  Myers  was  born  December  16,  1833,  an(l  spent  his  childhood  and 
youth  on  the  family  homestead  in  Chester  township  where  he  early  became 
familiar  with  the  practical  duties  of  the  farm  and  learned  to  appreciate  the 
true  dignity  and  worth  of  honest  toil.  In  the  free,  outdoor  experience  of 
wood  and  field  he  grew  up  strong  and  rugged  and  well  fitted  for  the  active 
career  upon  which  he  subsequently  entered  and  while  still  a young  man  he  be- 
gan to  formulate  the  plans  for  his  future  course  of  action.  In  a little  log 
school  house  not  far  from  the  parental  home  he  obtained  a fair  knowledge 
of  such  branches  of  learning  as  were  then  taught  and,  having  early  manifested 
decided  predilection  for  mechanical  work,  he  began,  ere  attaining  his  majority, 
to  learn  the  trade  of  a carpenter,  in  which  he  soon  acquired  much  more  than 
ordinary  efficiency  and  skill.  Having  mastered  his  craft,  he  worked  at  the 
same  for  some  time  in  a subordinate  capacity,  but,  actuated  by  a laudable  am- 
bition to  extend  his  operations,  he  afterwards  became  a contractor  and  it  was 
not  long  until  the  high  reputation  of  his  work  caused  a wide  demand  for  his 
services. 

Without  following  in  detail  Mr.  Myers’  long  and  eminently  honorable 
career  as  a contractor  and  builder,  suffice  it  to  state  that  from  the  beginning 
he  was  animated  by  a desire  to  excel  and  that  during  his  active  years  he  erected 
many  buildings  in  various  cities  of  his  own  and  other  states  which  still  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  superior  mechanical  skill.  Among  the  more  notable  pub- 
lic edifices  under  his  direction  in  Wooster  are  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
the  .City  .Hall,  a number  of  the  university  buildings,  the  Overholt  residence, 


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pronounced  the  finest  private  dwelling  in  the  city,  besides  many  others,  to  say 
nothing  of  numerous  structures  throughout  the  country.  His  fame  as  a me- 
chanic extending  far  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  county,  he  contracted  for  a 
number  of  buildings  in  New  York  City  and  Brooklyn,  including  residences, 
churches,  halls  and  various  other  public  edifices,  and  later  did  much  work  in 
his  line  in  several  eastern  and  central  states  and  throughout  the  northwest. 
The  beautiful  and  imposing  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Duluth,  Minne- 
sota, one  of  the  finest  and  most  attractive  temples  of  worship  in  the  state  and 
representing  a cost  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  was  erected 
by  him,  as  were  also  similar  edifices  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  Monmouth,  Illinois, 
New  Rochelle,  New  York,  and  in  many  other  cities  and  towns,  all  of  which 
bear  evidence  of  a high  order  of  architectural  skill  and  efficiency  of  workman- 
ship, bespeaking  a thorough  mastery  of  the  builder's  art. 

Mr.  Myers  was  in  Iowa  when  the  country  became  disrupted  by  the  late 
Civil  war  and,  being  loyal  to  the  government  and  its  institutions,  he  did  not 
hesitate  when  the  call  came  for  volunteers  to  help  put  down  the  rebellion. 
Enlisting  in  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  Iowa  Infantry  in  1861,  he  was  soon  at  the 
scene  of  action,  rendering  valiant  service  for  the  Union  and  during  his  three 
years  at  the  front  his  conduct  under  all  circumstances  was  that  of  a brave  and 
gallant  soldier  who  shrank  from  no  danger  and  was  ever  ready  to  go  where 
duty  called.  He  shared  with  his  comrades  the  vicissitudes  and  fortunes  of 
war  in  a number  of  noted  campaigns  and  battles,  including  Corinth,  where  he 
served  under  General  Belknap,  and  won  promotion  to  a lieutenancy  by  meri- 
torious conduct  while  under  fire  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Iuka,  siege  and  capture 
of  Vicksburg  and  numerous  other  engagements,  receiving  at  Corinth  a pain- 
ful wound  in  the  arm,  which,  however,  did  not  long  incapacitate  him  from 
service. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  period  of  enlistment,  which  included  three  of  the 
most  strenuous  years  of  the  war.  Mr.  Myers  was  discharged  with  an  honorable 
record  and,  returning  to  civil  life,  resumed  contracting  and  building,  which  he 
followed  with  success  and  profit  until  1886,  when  he  discontinued  active  labor 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  retirement.  By  industry,  judicious 
management  and  wise  economy  he  amassed  a handsome  competency,  amply 
sufficient  indeed  to  enable  him  to  spend  the  future  free  from  anxiety  and  care 
and.  being  thus  fortunately  situated,  he  is  enjoying  that  rest  which  he  has  so 
well  earned  and  the  many  blessings  which  have  come  to  him  as  the  result  of 
his  many  years  of  endeavor. 

Mr.  Myers  returned  to  Ohio  soon  after  the  war  closed  and  in  1865  was 


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united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Miller,  daughter  of  Jacob  Miller,  of  Somer- 
set county,  Pennsylvania.  When  five  years  old  she  was  brought  to  Ohio  by 
her  parents  and  at  the  celebration  of  her  nuptials  was  living  in  Wayne  county, 
where  she  had  made  her  home  for  a number  of  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers 
had  five  children,  namely:  Viola,  deceased;  Martha,  who  married  ex-County 
Clerk  David  Mussleman,  of  Wooster;  John,  assistant  cashier  of  the  Wayne 
County  Bank;  Blanche,  wife  of  John  Ames,  chemist  of  the  Ohio  Experiment 
Station  at  Wooster,  and  Miss  Claude  Myers,  who  is  still  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Myers  manifests  a commendable  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  progress  of  the  city  of  his  residence  and  the  good  of  the  people  and  keeps 
in  touch  with  the  times  on  the  leading  questions  and  issues  of  the  day.  He  is 
a director  of  the  Wayne  County  National  Bank,  and  in  addition  to  a beautiful 
home  on  Beall  avenue  and  other  property  in  Wooster,  owns  a fine  farm  in  the 
county  to  which  he  gives  much  personal  attention.  Fraternally,  he  holds 
membership  with  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and  Royal  Arcanum  orders  and 
politically  wields  an  influence  for  the  Democratic  party.  The  Methodist 
church  holds  his  religious  creed,  and  with  his  wife  and  certain  of  his  children 
he  is  a regular  attendant  of  the  congregation  worshiping  in  Wooster,  also  a 
liberal  contributor  to  its  support  and  to  the  various  lines  of  work  under  its 
auspices.  His  son  John  and  daughter  Mrs.  Ames  subscribe  to  the  Presby- 
terian faith,  both  being  active  and  consistent  members  of  the  church  of  that 
denomination  in  Wooster.  Personally  Mr.  Myers  stands  high  in  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  his  neighbors  and  fellow  citizens  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  well-to-do  men  of  the  city  in  which  he  resides.  Courteous 
and  kindly  in  his  relations  with  others,  an  influential  factor  in  the  business 
world  and  ready  at  all  times  to  assist  laudable  measures  for  the  general  wel- 
fare, he  has  lived  to  high  and  noble  ends  and  the  future  awaits  him  with 
bounteous  rewards. 


THOMAS  ARTHUR  GRAVEN,  M.  D. 

Of  high  academic  and  professional  attainments  and  holding  worthy  pres- 
tige among  the  successful  medical  men  of  Wooster,  where  he  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  since  1904,  Dr.  Thomas  Arthur 
Graven  occupies  a large  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  merits 
specific  notice  in  a work  devoted  to  the  representative  men  of  his  adopted  city 
and  county.  He  was  born  January  6,  1871,  in  Holmes  county.  Ohio,  where 
his  paternal  ancestors  settled  in  an  early  day  and  figured  prominently  in  the 


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development  and  progress  of  that  part  of  the  state.  The  Graven  family  is  of 
German  origin  and  in  the  old  country  were  originally  known  by  the  name  of 
Gravenstein.  The  first  member  of  the  family  to  emigrate  to  America  ap- 
pears to  have  been  the  Doctor's  great-great-grandfather  (given  name  un- 
known). who  settled  near  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  A son,  John  Graven, 
born  October  5,  1758,  in  Germany,  was  four  years  old  when  he  came  to 
America,  locating  at  Philadelphia.  He  grew  to  maturity  on  the  family  estate 
near  that  place,  married  Rebecca  Randall,  who  was  bom  in  that  city  in  the 
year  1762,  and  about  the  year  1816  migrated  to  what  is  now  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  secured  land,  developed  a farm  and  in  due  time  became  a pub- 
lic spirited  and  praiseworthy  citizen.  He  was  a conspicuous  figure  in  the  pio- 
neer history  of  the  above  county  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
dying  on  February  22,  1833,  on  the  land  he  had  purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment. His'  wife  survived  him  until  1848,  on  March  6th  of  which  year  she. 
too,  was  called  to  her  final  reward.  She  and  her  husband  were  Quakers. 
Among  the  children  of  John  and  Rebecca  Graven  was  a son  by  the  name  of 
Thomas,  who  was  born  December  2,  1805,  in  Philadelphia,  and  who  subse- 
quently became  a manufacturer  of  powder,  in  connection  with  which  he  also 
had  important  agricultural  interests  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  when  about  eleven  years  of  age.  Elizabeth  McKel- 
vey,  who,  on  October  11,  1838,  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Graven,  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  12,  1818,  and  belonged 
to  one  of  the  old  and  highly  esteemed  families  of  that  part  of  the  Keystone 
state.  She  bore  her  husband  nine  children,  and  departed  this  life  September 
9,  1893,  at  Holmesville,  Ohio,  where  her  husband,  on  December  12,  1871,  also 
breathed  his  last,  after  a continuous  residence  of  fifty-five  years. 

Marion  Graven,  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Graven,  was  born  in 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  February  4,  1847,  ancl  m his  young  manhood,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1868,  married  Sarah  Jane  McCulloch,  whose  birth  occurred  near 
Holmesville  on  the  17th  day  of  January,  1851.  Mrs.  Graven's  father,  David 
McCulloch,  was  born  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  December  20,  1808,  and  died 
in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  February  25,  1892,  after  living  on  the  same  farm  for 
a period  of  eighty  years.  He  filled  many  important  offices  of  trust  and  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  a justice  of  the  peace.  His  parents  were 
Hugh  and  Elizabeth  (Gibson)  McCulloch,  the  former  born  in  Fife  county, 
town  of  Leven.  Scotland,  in  1759.  and  the  latter  born  in  county  Down,  Ire- 
land, in  1770.  Hugh  McCulloch  came  to  America  in  1780  and  taught  school 
in  Pennsylvania  and  later  in  Ohio,  having  been  a well  educated  man  and  a 
teacher  of  some  note  before  leaving  his  native  land.  His  wife  came  to 


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America  with  her  parents  in  1788,  on  account  of  religious  persecution,  and 
married  in  1793.  She  joined  him  in  Pennsylvania  in  1788  and  on  April  14, 
1 81 1,  he  moved  to  the  new  settlements  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where,  at 
various  times,  the  settlers  were  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  a block  house  on  ac- 
count of  the  hostility  of  the  Indians.  Mrs.  McCulloch  died  March  18,  1814, 
and  her  husband  on  the  6th  of  January,  1836.  Hugh  McCulloch  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  under  Generals  Meigs  and  Shane,  participated  in  a number 
of  battles  and  minor  engagements  and  earned  an  honorable  record  as  a brave 
and  gallant  soldier.  He  was  a man  of  wide  intelligence  and  varied  attain- 
ments, did  much  to  popularize  and  disseminate  the  cause  of  education  among 
the  settlers  of  Holmes  county,  and  his  memory  is  still  cherished  by  the  people 
of  the  community  in  which  he  spent  so  many  years  of  his  life. 

Marion  Graven  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life,  owning  nearly 
four  hundred  acres  of  splendid  farming  land.  He  was  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness affairs  and  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
prominent  and  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  was  an 
elder  for  twenty-four  years,  and  he  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  general 
assembly  which  met  at  Saratoga,  New  York,  in  1894.  He  was  a Republican 
in  politics  and  took  an  intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs,  though  not  in  any 
sense  a seeker  after  public  office.  His  death  occurred  January  9,  1903,  at  his 
home  in  Loudonville,  Ohio,  where  he  had  moved  with  his  family  in  1901. 

Marion  and  Sarah  Jane  Graven  reared  a family  of  three  children,  the 
oldest  of  whom  is  Dr.  Thomas  Arthur  Graven,  of  this  review.  David  Homer 
Graven,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  was  graduated  from  the  Ohio  State 
University  when  a young  man,  having  taken  the  full  course  in  the  law  depart- 
ment, and  in  1900  he  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  North- 
western Ohio  University  at  Ada.  For  some  time  he  gave  his  attention  to  the 
legal  profession,  but  for  some  years  past  he  has  been  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  at  Loudonville,  where  he  makes  his  home.  John  Elmer  Graven, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  graduated  from  the  University,  of  Wooster 
with  the. class  of  1899,  then  went  to  Harvard  Law  School  and  afterwards  went 
to  Texas,  where  his  death  occurred  on  April  15,  1900.  The  mother  of  these 
children  is  still  living  and  resides  at  Loudonville.  where  she  has  many  warm 
friends  who  have  learned  to  prize  her  for  the  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  which  she  inherits  from  a long  line  of  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 

In  the  year  in  which  Dr.  Thomas  Arthur  Graven  was  born  (1871)  his 
parents  changed  their  residence  to  Perrysville.  in  the  county  of  Ashland,  but  in 
1883  they  returned  to  Holmes  county,  where  the  future  physician  and  surgeon 
received  his  early  educational  training.  He  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies 
and  it  was  not  long  until  he  was  qualified  to  teach,  which  useful  calling  he 


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followed  in  connection  with  agricultural  pursuits  until  taking  up  the  study  of 
medicine,  for  which  he  had  long  manifested  a decided  preference.  In  due 
time  he  yielded  to  this  predilection  by  entering  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  from  which  he  was  graduated  May  15,  1900.  He 
immediately  thereafter  located  at  the  town  of  Mohican,  Ashland  county, 
where  he  soon  built  up  a lucrative  practice  and  earned  an  honorable  reputa- 
tion as  a capable  and  progressive  physician  and  surgeon.  After  four  years' 
successful  practice  at  the  above  place,  Doctor  Graven  decided  to  locate  in  a 
larger  and  more  inviting  field,  accordingly,  in  March,  1904,  he  opened  an  office 
in  Wooster,  where  his  abilities  soon  won  recognition,  as  his  continuous  ad- 
vancement and  eminent  professional  success  abundantly  attests,  he  being  at  this 
time  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  city  with  an  extensive  patronage 
which  is  steadily  growing  in  magnitude  and  far-reaching  influence.  Doctor 
Graven  is  a close  and  critical  student,  who  keeps  in  close  touch  with  everything 
relating  to  his  calling  and,  although  younger  than  many  of  his  contemporaries, 
he  already  stands  well  to  the  front  among  his  professional  brethren  of  Wooster 
and  Wayne  county,  and,  judging  by  his  past  achievements,  his  friends  and  the 
public  in  general  predict  for  him  a bright  and  promising  future. 

Doctor  Graven,  on  September  26,  1895,  was  happily  married  to  Tamzon 
Finney,  who  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio.  December  13,  1875,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  D.  and  Lois  (Numbers)  Finney.  To  this  union  has  been  bom 
one  son,  Marion  Finney  Graven,  born  November  9,  1901,  a bright  and  intelli- 
gent boy  who  gives  promise  of  a brilliant  future.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Graven 
occupy  an  important  place  in  the  social  life  of  their  adopted  city  and  have 
many  warm  friends  and  admirers  in  the  society  circles  to  which  they  belong. 
They  are  both  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  at  Wooster.  In 
politics  the  Doctor  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and  in  the 
election  of  1908  he  was  his  party's  candidate  for  coroner  of  Wayne  county. 
Doctor  Graven  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  belonging  to  Ebenezer 
Lodge,  No.  33.  at  Wooster,  and  also  the  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons.  He 
also  holds  membership  in  Lodge  No.  42.  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  Lodge  No.  22,  Knights  of  Pythias,  both  at  W ooster.  Dr.  Graven  owns 
a beautiful  home  at  North  Beechev.  corner  of  Larwell  street. 


JAMES  MEIER. 

To  a great  extent  the  prosperity  of  the  agricultural  sections  of  our  great 
country  is  due  to  the  honest  industry,  the  sturdy  perseverance  and  the  wise 
economy  which  so  prominently  characterizes  the  foreign  element  that  has  en- 


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tered  largely  into  our  population.  By  comparison  with  their  “old  country” 
surroundings,  these  people  have  readily  recognized  the  fact  that  in  America 
lie  the  greatest  opportunities  for  the  man  of  ambition  and  energy.  And  be- 
cause of  this  many  have  broken  the  ties  of  home  and  native  land  and  have 
entered  earnestly  into  the  task  of  gaining  in  the  New  World  a home  and  a 
competence.  Among  this  class  may  be  mentioned  the  late  James  Meier, 
who,  by  reason  of  years  of  indefatigable  labor  and  honest  effort,  not  only 
acquired  a well-merited  material  prosperity,  but  also  richly  earned  the  highest 
esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  was  associated. 

James  Meier  was  born  in  Switzerland,  that  small,  rugged  country  that 
has  sent  so  many  enterprising  and  valuable  citizens  to  the  great  Republic  of 
the  West,  his  birth  occurring  in  the  year  1836.  in  Brugg,  canton  of  Aargau, 
and  there  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  a member  of  an  honored  and  hard-working  family  and  when  a mere 
lad  began  learning  the  shoemaker’s  trade,  at  which  he  soon  became  an 
expert  and  which  he  successfully  followed  for  a period  of  thirty-seven  years. 
Being  thus  skilled,  a good  judge  of  leather  goods  and  always  honest  in  his 
work,  his  output  was  eagerly  sought  after  and  he  was  always  very  busy 
at  his  bench. 

His  brother,  John  Meier,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
book,  came  to  America,  and,  finding  conditions  favorable  here,  returned  home 
in  i860  and  upon  coming  back  to  the  United  States,  James  Meier  and  another 
brother  accompanied  him,  their  parents  following  them  later,  making  their 
home  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  until  their  deaths. 

James  Meier  located  four  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Wooster,  where 
he  became  very  comfortably  established,  having  a neat  home  and  acquiring 
a good  little  farm  in  Franklin  township  which  he  worked  to  advantage  in 
connection  with  shoemaking,  having  made  many  valuable  improvements  of 
his  seventy-eight  acres  there.  The  farm  is  now  operated  by  his  widow  and 
children  and  yields  them  a very  comfortable  income. 

Mr.  Meier  was  loyal  to  his  own  flag,  and  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Swit- 
zerland army  for  a number  of  years,  in  which  he  is  said  to  have  discharged 
every  duty  faithfully;  and  after  coming  to  America  he  was  no  less  loyal 
to  our  institutions,  thus  becoming  a very  welcome  citizen.  In  his  native 
country  he  belonged  to  the  Reformed  church,  and  was  always  noted  for  his 
peaceable,  honest  relations  with  his  neighbors,  all  of  whom  liked  and  re- 
spected him. 

The  death  of  James  Meier  occurred  in  September,  1908,  and  his  remains 
rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Fredericksburg. 


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Mr.  Meier  was  a single  man  when  he  came  to  America,  and  in  1864  he 
married  Eliza  McCullough,  of  Holmes  county,  where  her  people  have  long 
been  well  known.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meier  reared  a large  family,  fifteen  children 
having  been  born  to  them,  thirteen  sons  and  two  daughters,  named  as  fol- 
lows: Albert,  George,  William,  Lucinda,  Hugh,  Edward,  John  (deceased), 
Victor,  Maynard,  Cyrene,  Jacob,  Atena,  Joseph,  Virgil,  and  Xeal. 


JAMES  DINSMORE  BEER,  M.  D. 

Among  the  successful  physicians  and  respected  citizens  of  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  is  Dr.  James  Dinsmore  Beer,  of  Wooster,  who  is  a native  son  of  the 
Buckeye  state,  having  been  born  at  Canton,  Stark  county,  on  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1858.  He  is  descended  from  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  stock,  his  great- 
grandfather, Thomas  Beer,  having  been  a native  of  county  Antrim,  Ireland, 
from  whence  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1722.  He  settled  at  Easton,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  followed  the  pursuit  of  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1 8 1 1 . His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Aura  Aten  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  a large  family.  Among  these  children  was  Thomas,  the  subject’s 
grandfather,  who  was  born  at  Eaton,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a Presby- 
terian minister,  in  the  pulpit  of  which  church  he  acquired  considerable  distinc- 
tion. He  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1827  and  was  among  the  first 
ministers  of  his  church  in  this  county.  His  first  charge  here  was  in  Greene 
township,  after  which  he  preached  in  succession  at  Wayne  church,  Congress 
church,  Lattasburg  (or  Mount  Hope)  and  Jeromeville.  After  serving  many 
years  as  a faithful  servant  of  his  Master,  he  retired  from  active  work  and  re- 
moved to  Ashland,  settling  on  a farm,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 
His  death  occurred  in  1886,  when  he  was  about  ninety  years  old.  At  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  he  married  Margaret  Cameron,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  twelve  children,  one  of  whom  was  a son,  also  named  Thomas,  who  was 
born  near  the  Wayne  church.  Wayne  county,  on  September  7,  1832.  He  se- 
cured a good  education  and  has  been  for  many  years  a successful  lawyer  at 
Bucvrus,  Ohio,  to  which  point  he  moved  in  i860  from  Canton.  He  has  risen 
to  a position  of  distinction  in  his  profession  and  for  twenty  years  he  rendered 
efficient  service  as  a jurist.  From  1873  to  1884  he  served  as  judge  of  the 
common  pleas  court  of  Crawford  county  and  from  the  latter  year  until  1893 
as  judge  of  the  circuit  court.  He  is  a man  of  high  attainments,  whose  sterling 


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worth  and  high  ability  has  been  widely  recognized.  His  wife,  the  subject’s 
mother,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Tabitha  Mary  Dinsmore  and  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  14,  1828.  Her  parents  were  James  A. 
and  Grizzee  (Collins)  Dinsmore.  James  Dinsmore  was  a pioneer  settler  of 
his  section  of  Ohio,  having  entered  land  in  1814  in  what  was  then  Wayne 
county,  but  is  now  in  Ashland  county.  This  worthy  couple  have  had  born  to 
them  the  following  children:  Mary  Margaret,  who  died  in  1866;  James  D., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Thomas,  a farmer  at  Bucyrus,  this  state;  William 
C.,  a prominent  financier  at  Yonkers,  New  York;  Dorcas  G.,  who  is  principal 
of  a public  school  at  Yonkers,  New  York;  Katharine  J.,  of  Bucyrus;  Robert 
L.,  deputy  postmaster  at  Yonkers,  New  York;  Mary  E.,  a professional  singer, 
also  residing  at  Yonkers,  New  York;  one,  a twin  of  Robert,  died  in  infancy. 

James  Dinsmore  Beer  removed  with  his  parents  to  Bucyrus  when  two 
years  old  and  in  that  city  he  received  his  preliminary  education.  After  com- 
pleting the  public  school  course,  he  was  for  two  years  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  and  then  for  a number  of  years  he  followed  various  pursuits,  including 
working  with  a crew  of  civil  engineers,  and  he  was  also  employed  for  a time 
in  compiling  county  histories.  During  this  time  his  absorbing  ambition  was  to 
secure  funds  with  which  to  obtain  a higher  education.  From  1883  to  1886  he 
was  engaged  in  the  retail  drug  business  at  Kingston,  Tennessee,  and  in  the 
latter  year  was  enabled  to  carry  out  his  long-cherished  plans.  He  entered  the 
Starling  Medical  College,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in  1889  he  was  graduated  at 
that  well-known  institution,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  On 
April  1st  of  that  year  he  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Wooster,  Ohio,  and  has  remained  continuously  in  the  practice  here  since,  a 
period  of  twenty  years.  He  engages  in  the  general  practice  of  medicine  only, 
not  caring  for  the  surgical  feature  of  the  science.  He  has  had  marked  suc- 
cess in  the  treatment  of  patients  and  has  always  commanded  his  full  share 
of  the  public  patronage,  being  regarded  as  a safe,  conservative  and  careful 
doctor.  He  has  a well-selected  library  of  technical  works  and  keeps  in  close 
touch  with  the  latest  advances  in  the  healing  art.  He  is  associated  with  his 
fellow  practitioners  through  his  membership  in  the  Wayne  County  Medical 
Society,  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion. 

- Fraternally.  Dr.  Beer  is  a member  of  Ebenezer  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  at  Wooster,  of  which  he  is  a past  master.  He  was  raised  to  the  degree 
of  a Master  Mason  in  Union  Lodge.  No.  38,  at  Kingston,  Tennessee,  which 
lodge  was  instituted  in  1796,  having  been  the  thirty-eighth  Masonic  lodge  in- 


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stituted  in  America.  Dr.  Beer  is  a man  of  large  physique,  weighing  in  the 
neighborhood  of  three  hundred  pounds,  and  possesses  a disposition  correspond- 
ingly  generous.  He  enjoys  a large  acquaintance  and  is  well  liked  among  all 
classes. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1884,  Dr.  Beer  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Jeane  L.  Thoburn.  She  was  a native  of  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and  because 
of  the  death  of  her  father  while  she  was  yet  in  infancy,  she  was  reared  by  her 
grandfather.  Her  father.  Dr.  Joseph  Thoburn,  was  during  the  Civil  war 
colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  West  Virginia  Infantry  (Union),  and  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  in  command  of  the  First  Division,  Army  of  West  Virginia,  under  Gen- 
eral Sheridan,  and  the  latter,  in  his  published  work  on  the  Civil  war,  gives 
Colonel  Thoburn  conspicuous  mention.  Colonel  Thoburn  was  of  a notable 
family,  his  brother,  Bishop  James  Thoburn,  being  one  of  the  most  prominent 
figures  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Going  to  India  as  one  of  the  pioneer 
missionaries  to  the  Mohammedans,  he  labored  there  continuously  for  fifty 
years,  being  honored  by  his  church  with  the  rank  of  missionary  bishop  of 
India.  He  is  a man  of  marked  and  versatile  ability  and  met  with  wonderful 
success  in  the  foreign  field.  A sister,  Isabelle  Thoburn,  now  deceased,  was  for 
several  years  the  very  successful  president  of  a college  at  Lucknow,  India. 
Other  members  of  the  Thoburn  family  have  been  distinguished  in  various  lines. 
To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Beer  have  been  born  the  following  children  : Mary  Margaret, 
born  January  10,  1887,  is  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Wooster;  Thomas, 
born  November  22,  1888,  Jeane  Lyle,  born  May  3,  1893,  are  both  at  home 
and  are  pursuing  their  education,  as  is  Dorcas  A.,  who  was  born  November 
14. 1894. 


JOSEPH  WELLINGTON  LEHR. 

J.  \Y.  Lehr  was  first  introduced  to  this  planet  January  16,  1859,  in  Chester 
township,  Wavne  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Abraham  and  Susan  B.  (Carl) 
Lehr.  His  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Wavne  county,  removing 
here  from  Pennsylvania  and  first  locating  in  Canaan  township,  subsequently 
removing  to  Wavne  township,  later  to  Chester  township.  He  followed  the 
vocation  of  farming,  which  seems  to  have  been  the  pursuit  adopted  and  prose- 
cuted by  his  ancestors  for  generations.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a strong 
and  active  youth,  and  performed  the  boy’s  and  afterward  the  young  man’s  part 


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in  assisting  his  father  in  the  various  duties  that  are  associated  with  and  lie 
within  the  scope  of  the  plans  and  processes  of  farming.  He  availed  himself 
of  the  opportunities  and  advantages  made  possible  at  that  period  to  attend  the 
country  schools,  where  he  was  industrious  and  studious,  making  commendable 
progress  and  acquiring  good  grades  in  his  different  studies  and  all  assign- 
ments made  by  his  teachers.  He  then  resolved  and  executed  the  resolution 
to  register  as  a student  at  Ada,  then  under  the  exclusive  supervision,  manage- 
ment and  control  of  his  cousin.  Prof.  Henry  Lehr,  then  to  Smithville  for  three 
years,  when  he  entered  upon  his  career  as  teacher,  acting  in  this  capacity  for 
one  year,  or  from  1875  to  1879.  When  he  was  yet  in  his  first  teens  it  was  his 
boyish  disposition  and  determination  to  become  a physician.  There  being  in 
his  present  mind  a glamour,  fascination,  an  animating  and  inspiring  halo,  en- 
circling the  practice  and  the  profession,  this  seemed  to  be  the  predominant 
thought,  the  distinctive  and  separate  aspiration,  the  lode-star  of  his  life,  his 
studies  at  the  district  school,  at  Smithville,  at  Ada,  and  his  other  and  co-related 
pursuits.  It  must  be  remembered  that  if  it  was  a youthful,  it  was  likewise  a 
wise,  commendable  and  honorable  ambition,  in  the  fact  that  he  possessed  the 
intelligent  independence  and  judgment  to  decide  for  himself,  to  make  the  choice 
for  himself,  as  to  his  life-work,  present  and  future,  upon  the  wisdom  of  which 
selection  hinged  future  destiny. 

Personal  friends,  intimate  acquaintances  and  parental  influence  and  direc- 
tion played  no  part,  or  if  so,  no  important  one  in  dictating  or  even  suggesting 
the  course  or  pursuit  this  young  man  should  or  might  adopt.  His  inclinations 
were  not  to  be  a farmer,  after  the  manner  and  example  of  his  father,  or  a 
merchant,  a man  of  business,  a teacher,  lawyer,  or  preacher — simply  and  only 
a physician.  It  may  therefore  be  logically  conjectured,  and  philosophically 
deduced,  that,  by  this  uniform  preparation,  invariable  expression  of  purpose, 
were  the  keynotes  sounded  by  a strong  and  flexible  determination  and  will, 
supported  by  a young  but  discreet  judgment,  which  of  themselves  were  fore- 
shadowing the  avaunt  couriers  of  his  subsequent  success  in  the  profession  of 
his  boyhood's  selection. 

Success  was  then  coming  half-way  to  meet  him.  His  aptitude  and  genius 
for  his  work  was  congenital;  it  was  born  with  him.  Selftrust  in  his  case 
proved  to  be  the  first  secret  of  success  and  it  was  the  best  test  of  his  capacity 
and  character.  There  was  no  doubt  or  indecision  in  his  composition ; opposi- 
tion and  competition  did  not  dishearten  him,  for  they  operate  as  whetstones 
by  which  a well-balanced  highly  tempered  nature  are  polished  and  sharpened. 
His  student  and  college  years  were  a series  of  self-denials  of  rest,  recreations 


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and  many  of  the  animating  diversions  he  would  not  have  found  it  in  his  heart 
to  have  enjoyed.  But  he  studied,  pondered,  sacrificed  and  toiled  on,  and  thus 
we  find  the  predicate  and  the  ultimate  deductive  and  the  legitimate  result.  For 
as  in  the  planetary  system  myriads  of  orbs  revolve  in  resplendent  order  around 
one  common  center,  directed  in  their  course  by  fixed,  unalterable  laws,  so 
complicated  that  the  slightest  variation  on  the  part  of  any  one  body  must  have 
its  climax  in  a “wreck  of  matter  and  crush  of  worlds,”  so  in  human  life  every 
cause  produces  its  legitimate  effect,  every  action  or  series  of  actions  are  fol- 
lowed by  their  legitimate  consequence. 

Joseph  W.  Lehr  became  a student  of  medicine  in  1879,  entering  the  office, 
of  the  late  Charles  J.  Warner,  of  Congress,  a physician  of  wide  practice  and 
high  professional  attainments,  with  whom  he  remained  for  four  years,  gradu- 
ating from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Wooster  in  1883.  He 
began  practice  at  once,  opening  an  office  March  1st  of  this  year  at  Overton. 
Here  for  eight  years  he  remained  where  his  professional  ability  was  recog- 
nized in  the  building  up  of  an  encouraging  and  lucrative  practice,  but  having 
determined  to  locate  at  the  county  seat,  he  removed  to  Wooster,  March  1, 
1891.  On  January  6,  1903,  he  was  married  to  May  C.  Newall,  of  Wooster 
township,  with  whom  and  in  the  circle  of  his  home  there  is  serenity  and  pleas- 
ure of  domestic  enjoyment. 

The  Doctor  has  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  of  life,  but  instead  of  it  being 
studded  with  peaks  and  spurs  and  crags,  it  is  a plateau,  from  which  he  can  sur- 
vey the  vanished  eighteen  thousand  yesterdays  and  look  up,  and  forward,  and 
on,  to  that  many  more  useful  and  compensating  tomorrows. 

Doctor  Lehr  was  not  born  with  the  imaginative  “spoon  in  his  mouth*’ 
nor  a Sir  or  Don  prefix  to  his  name,  nor  any  hope  for  peerage.  He  stands 
not  on  what  he  borrows  from  his  ancestors,  but  knows  that  he  must  work  out 
his  own  name  and  honor.  He  cares  nothing  for  display,  pretense,  nor  osten- 
tation, but  for  the  solid  virtues,  the  excellence  and  the  genuiness  of  man  and 
things.  Self  made,  he  is  responsible  for  this.  He  has  now  attained  his 
zenith,  is  in  the  full  strong  prime  of  life,  the  descendant  of  a stanch  and  rug- 
ged German  ancestry,  with  the  Teutonic  enthusiasm  in  his  blood  and  the  loy- 
alty to  friends  and  country  of  the  old  Prussian  and  Hohenzollern  of  the 
Fatherland.  He  is  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  straight  as  the  mast  on  a 
frigate,  with  dark  hair  and  eyes,  a firm  and  well  rounded  neck,  admirably  ad- 
justed to  a brace  of  shoulders  after  the  manner  of  a veritable  modern  Ajax, 
tipping  the  beam  at  two  hundred  thirty  pounds,  active,  muscular, — in  short, 
the  picture  of  health,  a model  in  physical  outline,  in  facial  assertiveness,  force, 
will  and  expression  as  one  who  had  obeyed  the  Scriptural  command,  “Physi- 


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cian,  know  thyself/’  standing  four  square  to  the  winds,  and  sound  as  the  pillars 
of  the  Sistine  Chapel  of  Rome.  He  sprung  from  the  commonality.  He  has 
fashioned  his  nature  on  moral  and  intellectual  worth,  personal  qualities  and  not 
personal  possessions.  He  fixes  a high  value  on  his  professional  honor,  upon 
his  self-respect,  his  intrinsic  value,  not  so  much  of  it  only  as  can  be  seen  by 
others,  but  as  he  sees  it  by  his  introspection.  He  discovered  himself  and  can- 
not run  away  with  himself.  The  world  at  best  is  but  a sort  of  a big  university 
and  he  is  still  a learner  and  student  in  it,  in  which  he  is  constantly  gathering 
thoughts,  sending  them  abroad  with  his  eyes,  his  brains  traveling  with  his 
feet.  He  is  a man  inhabited  by  kindly  dispositions  and  a gentleman  in  and 
out  of  his  profession.  Courtesy  and  affability  can  be  no  more  severed  from 
him  than  life  from  his  soul,  not  out  of  a base  and  servile  popularity  and  desire 
of  ambitious  insinuation,  but  of  a native  gentleness  of  disposition  and  true 
value  of  himself.  His  individuality  is  strongly  marked,  with  the  healthy 
geniality  of  a large-shouldered  man  combined  with  it.  He  is  possessed  of  an 
acute  sense  of  humor,  quick  in  repartee  and,  seing  the  point,  has  a story  to  tell 
— the  latest  one.  that  he  renders  in  idiomatic  English,  that  he  heard  or  saw  in 
some  newspaper  or  magazine.  He  is  a fluent  talker,  a good  conversationalist, 
fond  of  open  debate  and  wields  a sledge  hammer  in  public  discussions.  He 
has  an  innate  passion  for  the  woods,  hills,  the  gorges  and  streams  and  all  the 
beautiful  wild  offerings  of  nature.  The  country  affords  to  him  its  free  sports 
and  amusements;  its  wider  range  of  rambles  or,  better  still,  for  both  physical 
and  mental  training,  it  gives  him  opportunity  to  employ  spare  hours  of  labor 
and  attention  to  his  farm,  as  the  chances  are,  if  he  had  not  been  a doctor  he 
would  have  been  a farmer.  It  was  the  original  and  divinely  appointed  calling 
of  man  God  planted  in  Eden,  and  made  it  man’s  first  duty  to  '‘dress  and  keep 
it."  When  driven  from  Eden  it  was  still  his  mission  “to  till  the  ground  from 
which  he  was  taken."  and  to  “eat  bread  in  the  sweat  of  his  face."  As  said, 
he  is  now  at  the  zenith  of  his  power,  alert,  energetic,  practical,  scientific  and 
remarkably  successful  in  the  extension  and  expanding  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Stout,  active  and  muscular,  an  actor  and  athlete,  a devotee  at  the  shrine 
of  baseball,  a firm  believer  in  physical  recreation  and  the  stimulating,  health- 
giving and  invigorating  results  of  the  college  gymnasium.  He  is  public 
spirited  and  projective,  wants  good  school  houses,  more  schools,  academies, 
universities,  etc.,  and  the  standard  of  education  raised  from  high  to  higher, 
“in  the  parliament  of  man,  the  federation  of  the  world.”  If  in  the  skirmish 
with  disease  or  the  clenched  battle  with  death  he  is  repulsed  or  vanquished,  he 
moves  on  with  a steady  step,  his  sanguine  temperament  impels  him  to  a more 
vigilant  quest  for  the  better  and  best  protection  and  defense  against  the  Mer- 


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curys  that  stand  and  point  at  the  door  of  death.  Victory  doesn’t  always  perch 
on  the  banners  of  the  great  physician,  but  he  enjoys  a noble  recompense,  the 
loyal  hosannas  of  the  myriads  he  has  rescued  from  the  fateful  jaws  of  dis- 
ease. He  looks  down  the  vistas  with  a justifying  hope,  for  on  the  ruins  of 
today  are  built  the  temples  of  tomorrow.  According  to  the  legend  of  Virgil 
when  Troy  fell,  its  banished  citizens  reared  a mightier  city  on  the  Tiber. 

— By  Ben  Douglas. 


JOHN  SNODGRASS  CASKEY. 

Among  the  well-remembered,  successful  and  highly  honored  citizens  of 
Wayne  county  of  the  past  generation,  few  left  the  impress  of  their  personality 
any  deeper  upon  the  minds  of  those  with  whom  they  came  in  contact  than 
the  late  John  Snodgrass  Caskey,  a man  whom  everybody  respected  for  his 
public  spirit,  his  high  sense  of  honor  and  his  genial  disposition,  a man  who 
possessed  talents  of  such  unusual  magnitude  that  he  succeeded  in  various 
lines  of  endeavor,  a learned,  accomplished  and  right-thinking  man  whose  in- 
fluence, which  was  always  salutary,  continued  to  pervade  the  lives  of  his  many 
friends  long  after  he  had  closed  his  eyes  on  earthly  scenes,  and  which  influ- 
ence will  continue  to  brighten  the  pathways  of  many  for  all  time  to  come. 

Mr.  Caskey  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year 
1838,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Nancy  Caskey,  prosperous  farmers  of  that 
county,  owning  a large  tract  of  land,  and  who  were  highly  respected  people, 
plain  and  industrious.  Mr.  Caskey  received  a good  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county.  He  was  an  ambitious  lad  and  studied  hard,  in 
fact,  he  was  a student  all  his  life.  He  took  up  the  study  of  homeopathy, 
received  his  diploma  and  for  a time  practiced  very  successfully  in  Ashland 
county.  But,  tiring  of  this  line  of  endeavor,  he  came  to  Wayne  county.  Ohio, 
and  began  farming.  Discontinuing  this  in  a short  time,  he  engaged  in  the 
ice  business,  then  purchased  of  a Mr.  Harris  his  share  in  a grocery  store,  the 
firm  being  known  as  McClarran  & Harris.  He  proved  himself  to  be  a 
business  man  of  unusual  ability.  But  he  had  always  been  interested  in 
politics  and  now  gave  considerable  attention  to  the  same.  In  the  year  1880 
he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Wayne  county  by  the  Democrats,  served  two 
terms  of  two  years  each,  and  for  a period  of  four  years  he  discharged  the 
duties  of  the  same  in  a very  satisfactory  manner  to  all  concerned.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  maintained  his  grocery  business,  which  he  continued  to 
conduct  four  years  after  retiring  from  the  treasurers  office.  Then  he  dis- 


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solved  partnership  with  McClarran,  having  become  well  fixed  financially. 
He  moved  into  his  own  building  and  opened  an  extensive  grocery  store,  which 
he  continued  to  conduct  with  his  usual  success  until  1902,  when  he  sold 
out  to  Berry  & Fletcher. 

Mr.  Caskey  was  married  on  October  1,  i860,  to  Josephine  Newman,  a 
lady  of  refinement  and  esthetic  tastes,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Maria 
(Ewing)  Newman,  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  where  the  family  has  long 
been  well  established  and  highly  respected,  her  father  having  been  a well- 
known  physician  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Ashland  county, 
this  state.  No  children  were  born  of  this  union. 

Mr.  Caskey  was  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masons.  He  was  called  to  his  reward 
on  June  5,  1903,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  is  remembered  as  a 
genial,  honest  and  progressive  citizen. 


JOHN  F.  HARRISON. 

Another  of  the  native  sons  of  the  Buckeye  state  who  has  here  passed 
his  entire  life  and  by  his  energy,  integrity  and  progressive  business  methods 
attained  a high  degree  of  success,  is  John  F.  Harrison,  fanner,  lumberman 
and  public  official.  He  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the 
state,  since  his  paternal  grandfather  located  in  Ohio  over  ninety  years  ago, 
and  that  he  has  attained  his  prosperity  by  worthy  means  is  evident  from  the 
unqualified  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  the  community  where  his  life  has 
been  passed. 

The  Harrison  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Franklin  township,  Wayne 
county,  and  is  of  English  antecedents.  The  first  of  the  name  left  England 
about  two  years  after  the  death  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  Great  Protector. 
They  were  Protestants  in  religious  faith  and  because  of  the  constant  fight  be- 
tween the  factions  they  decided  to  go  to  a land  where  they  might  worship  un- 
disturbed according  to  the  dictates  of  their  conscience.  They  settled  near 
Frederickstown.  Maryland.  The  subject’s  grandfather,  John  Harrison,  who 
was  a Quaker,  was  born  August  t.  1796,  near  Uniontown,  Favette  county. 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  a very  generous  and  benevolent  man  and  is  said  to 
have  never  turned  a tramp  away  from  his  door  hungry,  and.  what  is  more  re- 
markable. he  reserved  a room  in  his  house  for  the  accommodation  of  tramps 

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who  happen  his  way  at  nightfall.  John  Harrison  removed  to  Cadiz,  Harrison 
county,  Ohio,  in  1816,  subsequently  coming  to  Wayne  county.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer,  and  was  also  a lime-burner,  which  in  those  days  was  an 
appreciated  industry.  He  was  the  father  of  twelve  children.  He  was  twice 
married,  having  eleven  children  by  his  first  wife  and  one  by  the  last.  He  died 
in  October,  1889,  in  the  ninety-fourth  year  of  his  age. 

The  subject's  father  was  Stephen  Harrison,  who  was  born  in  Franklin 
township,  Wayne  county,  and  who  during  his  life  followed  the  pursuit  of  agri- 
culture. His  death  occurred  June  21,  1888.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Celestia  J.  Firestone.  She  was  born  at  Fredericksburg,  this  county,  her 
family  having  come  to  this  state  from  Maryland  in  about  1832.  Grandfather 
Firestone,  who  died  in  1887,  was  in  early  life  a wagonmaker,  and  in  later  life 
a farmer.  To  Stephen  and  Celestia  Harrison  were  born  three  children, 
namely:  Zella  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Leeper  and  lives  in  the  state  of 
Idaho;  John  F.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  Annetta  B.  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  J.  Taylor,  of  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county. 

John  F.  Harrison  was  born  on  the  14th  day  of  September,  1865,  on  the 
paternal  homestead  in  Franklin  township,  this  county,  and  has  lived  there  all 
his  life  up  to  about  five  years  ago,  when  he  removed  to  Wooster  to  be  in 
closer  touch  with  business  and  official  interests.  He  received  a fair  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  township  and  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer.  In 
1890  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  also  went  into  the  sawmill 
and  lumber  business,  in  which  he  has  been  successful.  He  has  sawed  much 
lumber  for  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad  Company,  besides  doing  a large  gen- 
eral business.  The  Harrison  lumber  yard,  located  at  an  eligible  site  near  the 
B.  & O.  depot,  Wooster,  has  for  a number  of  years  enjoyed  its  full  share 
of  the  public  patronage  and  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  business  enter- 
prises of  the  city.  Mr.  Harrison  owns  the  old  family  homestead  in  Franklin 
township,  and  expects  to  move  back  to  it  at  the  close  of  his  official  term.  He 
also  has  other  business  interests. 

In  November,  1901,  Mr.  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  com- 
missioner, on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  in  1904  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
office.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  Wayne  county  is  normally  Democratic,  and 
that  this  was  the  first  instance  in  which  a Republican  had  ever  been  re-elected 
to  the  office  of  county  commissioner,  it  was  a high  testimonial  to  the  enviable 
standing  of  Mr.  Harrison  in  the  opinion  of  the  voters  of  the  county.  As 
commissioner,  Mr.  Harrison  was  largely  instrumental  in  breaking  up  what  was 
known  as  the  “bridge  graft."  which  had  become  so  notorious  in  many  Ohio 
counties.  Mr.  Harrison  inaugurated  the  inquiry  which  exposed  the  whole 


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scheme  and  after  his  success  in  ousting  the  graft  gang  other  counties  in  the 
state  took  the  matter  up  and  were  also  successful  in  accomplishing  the  same  re- 
sult. The  result  was  a vast  saving  to  the  public  treasury  and  better  results 
in  the  way  of  construction  work.  For  his  accomplishment  in  this  line  alone, 
Mr.  Harrison  won  the  thanks  and  appreciation  of  the  tax-payers  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Harrison  has  always  taken  a deep  and  commendable  interest  in  public 
matters  and  had  previously  served  in  Franklin  township  as  school  director  and 
supervisor,  giving  efficient  and  appreciated  service. 

On  January  18,  1893,  Mr.  Harrison  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ella  Force, 
the  daughter  of  Palmer  Force,  of  Franklin  township,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  namely:  Russell  L.,  bom  September  2, 
1894;  Hazel  L.,  born  April  4,  1898,  and  Irene  Adell,  bom  August  23,  1905. 
In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Harrison  is  a member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  religion  he  is,  with 
his  wife,  a Presbyterian  and  both  are  members  of  the  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion at  Fredericksburg.  They  give  a generous  support  to  the  various  activities 
of  the  church  and  in  every  walk  of  life  are  to  be  found  on  the  right  side  of 
movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  community.  Possessing  many  fine  traits 
of  character  and  being  of  a genial  disposition,  Mr.  Harrison  makes  friends  of 
all  whom  he  meets  and  he  is  eminently  deserving  of  representation  in  a work 
of  this  character. 


JOHN  BUNYAN  NOLIN. 

Among  the  most  highly  regarded  citizens  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  John 
B.  Nolin,  who  has  resided  here  since  about  1874,  having  been  previously  en- 
gaged mainly  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  now  conducting  one  of  the  lead- 
ing livery  stables  in  this  city,  in  connection  with  which  he  runs  an  automobile 
garage,  complete  in  every  detail  and  an  enterprise  highly  appreciated  here  by 
the  owners  of  machines. 

Mr.  Nolin  is  a native  son  of  the  Keystone  state,  having  been  bom  at 
Allegheny,  on  November  16,  1849.  His  father  was  John  Nolin,  who  was 
born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  an  infant 
and  soon  afterwards  the  family  became  separated  and  drifted  apart,  losing 
track  of  each  other.  John  Nolin  became  a farmer  on  reaching  mature  years 
and  in  1874  left  Pennsylvania  and  located  about  seven  miles  northwest  of 
Wooster.  Wayne  county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
September  27,  1885,  aged  seventy  years.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  Ann  Long, 


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who  was  also  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  who  died  on  De- 
cember 27,  1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  Their  union  wras  blessed 
in  the  birth  of  five  children,  as  follows:  David,  deceased;  Arthur  Morrow, 
who  resides  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania;  Catherine,  deceased;  Theodore  Ad- 
dison of  Greeley,  Colorado;  and  John  B.,  the  subject. 

John  B.  Nolin  spent  his  early  years  under  the  parental  roof  and  w as  reared 
to  the  life  of  a farmer.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and  secured  a fair 
education.  Upon  attaining  maturity  he  continued  his  farming  operations, 
with  which  he  combined  threshing  in  season  and  general  teaming.  He  was 
fairly  successful  in  his  affairs,  but  in  about  1894  he  removed  to  Wooster  and 
went  on  the  road  as  a salesman  for  agricultural  and  coal-mining  machinery. 
He  w’as  a good  salesman  and  continued  in  this  line  for  four  years.  Tiring 
then  of  the  road,  which  compelled  him  to  remain  away  from  home  the  greater 
part  of  the  time,  he  relinquished  that  work  and,  in  1901,  went  into  the  general 
livery  business  in  Wooster,  in  which  line  he  has  been  successful  to  a very 
gratifying  degree.  His  stable  is  large  and  well  arranged  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  his  own  and  transient  stock  and  his  vehicles  are  not  only  varied  in  char- 
acter, but  in  style  are  the  equal  of  anything  in  the  county.  Mr.  Nolin  is  ac- 
commodating and  obliging  in  serving  the  public  and  he  has  been  favored  writh 
a liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage.  In  addition  to  his  livery  business,  Mr. 
Nolin  has  also  established  an  automobile  garage  department,  which  met  a 
long-felt  want  here,  and  this  too  has  been  given  satisfactory  encouragement 
by  the  owners  of  machines  who  prefer  to  have  their  property  taken  care  of  by 
some  one  who  will  look  after  the  machines  properly. 

In  1874  Mr.  Nolin  took  unto  himself  a wife  in  the  person  of  Susan  Mc- 
Roberts,  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  near  Pittsburgh.  This  union 
lias  been  a happy  one  and  has  been  sealed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  all 
sons,  as  follows:  Clarence,  who  is  interested  in  the  liverv  business  with  his 
father;  Edward  J.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Mansfield,  Ohio, 
and  Wiley  M.,  who  is  a barber  at  Zanesville,  this  state.  Fraternally,  Mr. 
Nolin  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellow  s,  the  principles 
of  which  order  meet  with  a daily  exemplification  in  the  subject's  life.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  stanch  Republican,  giving  the  party  a warm  and  enthusiastic  support. 
Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nolin  are  active  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Wooster  and  give  a generous  support  to  the  varied  interests  of  the 
society.  Viewed  in  a personal  light,  Mr.  Nolin  is  a strong  man.  His  business 
interests  have  claimed  much  of  his  attention,  yet  he  has  ever  found  time  to 
faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  citizenship  and  promote  public  progress 
through  active  co-operation  in  all  measures  for  the  general  good. 


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HENRY  MILTON  KNEPP. 

Back  to  stanch  old  German  stock  does  Mr.  Knepp  trace  his  lineage,  and 
that  in  his  character  abide  those  sterling  qualities  which  have  ever  marked  the 
true  type  of  the  German  nation,  is  manifest  when  we  come  to  consider  the 
more  salient  points  in  his  life  history,  which  has  been  marked  by  consecutive 
industry  and  invincible  spirit,  eventuating  most  naturally  in  securing  for  him 
a high  position  in  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellowmen.  He  has  passed 
practically  his  entire  life  in  Wayne  county,  where  his  father  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneer  settlers,  contributing  his  quota  to  its  development  and  prosperity, 
even  as  his  son  has  endorsed  and  supported  every  movement  looking  to  the  bet- 
terment and  advancement  of  the  community’s  best  interests. 

Henry  M.  Knepp  was  born  in  East  Union  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  13th  of  October,  1859,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Leah  (Myers) 
Knepp.  The  father  was  a native  of  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Ohio  in  young  manhood,  settling  at  Orrville,  Wayne  county.  At  that  time 
there  was  but  one  house  at  Orrville.  Mr.  Knepp  has  always  been  a farmer  by 
vocation  and  is  now  living  in  retirement  at  Jackson,  this  county.  The  sub- 
ject’s mother  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1837  came 
to  Ohio,  the  trip  overland  being  made  in  a “prairie  schooner,”  a common  mode 
of  travel  in  that  early  day.  Her  death  occurred  at  Jackson,  this  county,  on 
August  19,  1879.  She  bore  her  husband  four  children,  briefly  mentioned  as 
follows:  Henry  M.,  the  first  born,  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Jamison,  of  Creston,  this  county;  Samuel  A.  and 
Frank  also  live  at  Creston,  both  being  married. 

Henry  M.  Knepp  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  old  and  received  a good  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Canaan 
township.  He  supplemented  this  education  by  attendance  at  the  Smithville 
Academy,  after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  being  employed  for 
twelve  consecutive  terms  in  this  county.  He  then  accepted  a position  as  in- 
structor in  the  Spirit  Lake  Normal  Academy,  at  Spirit  Lake,  Iowa,  and  was 
so  engaged  when  his  wife  died.  He  then  relinquished  the  pedagogic  profes- 
sion and  returned  home.  He  took  up  surveying  and  civil  engineering  and  in 
June,  1885,  he  graduated  in  the  course  of  civil  engineering  at  the  Ada  (Ohio) 
Normal  LTniversity.  He  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  in 
which  he  met  with  distinctive  success,  and  in  1901  he  was  placed  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  for  county  surveyor,  having  no  opposition  for  the  place.  He  was 
elected  and  took  office  the  following  year.  In  1904  he  was  re-elected  and  so 
impressed  were  the  people  as  to  his  fitness  for  the  office  that  no  one  was  placed 


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in  nomination  to  oppose  him  and  he  was  re-elected.  He  was  again  elected  to 
the  office  in  1908,  and  in  thus  serving  his  third  term,  certainly  a marked  testi- 
monial to  his  technical  ability  and  his  popularity  as  a man.  He  had  previous- 
ly served  four  years  as  assessor  of  Canaan  township.  He  is  the  owner  of 
property  at  Wooster  and  Creston.  In  every  sphere  of  activity  to  which  he  has 
lent  his  energy,  Mr.  Knepp  has  achieved  a distinctive  success  and  has  won  an 
enviable  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  people,  most  of  whom  have  known  him  all 
his  life. 

In  1887  Mr.  Knepp  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma  Johnson,  of  Canaan 
township,  but  their  wedded  life  was  of  short  duration,  her  death  occurring  the 
following  year.  In  1891  he  married  Della  Fetzer,  a daughter  of  Peter  Fetzer, 
of  Canaan  township,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children,  daughters, 
namely,  Beulah,  who  is  seventeen  years  old,  and  Ruth,  who  is  fifteen. 


ALBERT  S.  SAURER. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  republic  of  Switzerland  is  one  of  the 
smallest  countries  of  the  world,  it  has  sent  a large  number  of  emigrants  to 
the  United  States  during  the  years  that  have  elapsed  since  our  independence 
was  secured.  The  people  of  that  country,  appreciating  the  blessings  of  liberty, 
of  which  they  had  a strong  example  in  their  own  land,  were  not  slow  to  recog- 
nize the  possibilities  that  opened  out  in  splendid  perspective  before  all  who  lo- 
cated in  this  country.  Accordingly,  ever  since  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  large  numbers  of  the  hardy  Swiss  have  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  sought 
homes  in  the  United  States.  And  here  their  descendants  have  become  among 
the  most  intelligent,  patriotic,  industrious  and  upright  of  our  great  and  won- 
derful cosmopolitan  population.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  descended  from 
Swiss  ancestors,  his  grandfather.  John  Saurer,  having  been  a native  of  that 
country.  He  came  to  America  when  a young  man  and  in  about  1824  settled 
in  Wayne  county.  His  son,  the  subject’s  father,  was  Simon  S.  Saurer,  who 
was  born  in  this  county  and  lived  here  all  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in  1902, 
at  the  age  of  sixtv-six  years.  He  was  a blacksmith  by  trade  and  also  followed 
farming,  being  successful  in  both  callings.  He  was  a man  who  enjoyed  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  being  possessed  of  those  sterling  qualities  of 
character  which  commend  a man  to  the  consideration  of  his  fellows.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Tschantz,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Paint  township,  Wayne 


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county.  She  is  now  living  near  Maysville,  Salt  Creek  township.  To  this 
union  were  born  the  following  children:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Adam  Hoff- 
man, of  Sugarcreek  township:  Philip  S.,  a hardware  merchant  at  Barberton, 
Ohio;  Emanuel,  a manufacturer  and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Maysville 
Tile  Works,  at  Maysville,  this  county:  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  Constant  Hoff- 
man, of  Sugarcreek  township;  Benjamin,  of  Saltcreek  township;  Peter,  of 
Sugarcreek  township;  Edward,  of  Holmes  county,  this  state;  Albert  S.,  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  review,  and  Alfred,  of  Saltcreek  township. 

Albert  S.  Saurer  was  born  in  Sugarcreek  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
on  May  16,  1871,  and  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  old,  in  the  meanwhile  receiving  such  education  as  was  afforded  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  township.  This  education  he  afterwards  supplemented 
by  attendance  at  the  Bixler  Business  College,  at  Wooster,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated. At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  Mr.  Saurer  went  to  Rittman  and  entered 
the  employ  of  his  brother  in  the  hardware  business,  with  whom  he  remained 
four  years.  His  brother  was  postmaster  and  during  this  period  the  subject 
served  as  assistant  postmaster,  this  being  during  President  Cleveland's  first  ad- 
ministration. He  then  worked  about  a year  for  Landes  Brothers  at  Rittman, 
and  then  returned  to  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  for  awhile.  In  1891 
Mr.  Saurer  came  to  Wooster  and  accepted  employment  with  Harding  & Com- 
pany, hardware  dealers,  with  whom  he  remained  for  thirteen  years.  He  was 
then  for  a short  time  with  the  Canton  Hardware  Company,  at  Canton,  Ohio, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Wooster  and  for  about  two  and  a half  years  was 
associated  with  the  Wooster  Hardware  Company.  In  1905  Mr.  Saurer  was 
placed  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  the  office  of  county  recorder  and  was  sub- 
sequently elected,  assuming  the  duties  of  his  office  in  September,  1906.  So 
satisfactory  were  his  services  to  the  county  in  that  capacity  that  in  1908  he  was 
re-elected  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term.  He  is  a careful  and  painstaking 
official  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties  he  exercises  the  same  care  that 
he  would  in  his  own  private  business  affairs.  Since  entering  the  office  Mr. 
Saurer  has  purchased  the  interest  of  A.  F.  Cooley  in  the  Wooster  Hardware 
Company,  and  is  thus  interested  at  this  time. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1894,  Mr.  Saurer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sue  M. 
Dull,  a daughter  of  Daniel  Dull,  of  Wooster,  and  born  in  Wayne  township  in 
1871.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  whose  names  and  date  of  birth 
are  as  follows:  Amy  E.,  February  26,  1896;  Robert  D.,  April  20,  1899;  Ruth 
L..  August  2,  190T. 

In  politics  Mr.  Saurer  has  ever  maintained  a stanch  allegiance  to  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  been  active  in  its  support.  Fraternally  he  belongs 


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632 

to  Lodge  Xo.  42,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  at  Wooster,  and  is  also 
a member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Wooster  Board  of  Trade.  Mr. 
Saurer  has  had  a deep  interest  in  fancy  poultry,  of  which  he  has  a number  of 
fine  specimens,  and  has  evinced  an  interest  by  his  membership  in  Wooster 
Poultry  Association,  of  which  he  is  the  present  secretary  and  treasurer.  This 
association  is  a live  organization  and  is  doing  much  to  advance  the  standard 
of  poultry  in  this  section.  In  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saurer  are  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  English  Reformed  church  at  Wooster,  to  which  they  give  a gener- 
ous support.  Mr.  Saurer  is  a man  of  many  splendid  qualifications  and  he  has 
won  and  retains  a host  of  warm  personal  friends  throughout  the  county. 


JAMES  B.  MEECH. 

James  B.  Meech  has  long  been  an  important  factor  in  professional  cir- 
cles of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  his  popularity  as  an  attorney  is  well  de- 
served. as  in  him  are  embraced  the  characteristics  of  an  unbending  integrity, 
unabated  energy  and  industry.  He  is  public-spirited  and  takes  a deep  interest 
in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the  intellectual,  civic  and  material  welfare  of 
the  community  in  which  he  has  so  long  resided, — in  fact,  where  his  life  has 
been  spent,  for  he  was  horn  in  Chippewa  township,  October  7,  1853,  the  son 
of  George  and  Martha  (Housel)  Meech,  the  latter  a native  of  Summit 
county,  this  state,  first  seeing  the  light  of  day  in  the  city  of  Akron.  James 
B.  Meech’s  paternal  grandparents.  Abel  and  Katherine  Meech,  were  sturdy 
Xew  Englanders,  coming  to  Ohio  in  a very  early  day  and  locating  in  Chip- 
pewa township:  they  took  up  government  land  which  they  developed  into  a 
good  farm  and  spent  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives  here.  Thus  the 
name  Meech  has  been  a familiar  one  in  this  section  of  Wayne  county  since 
the  days  of  the  forest  primeval.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Meech 
were  Hiram  and  Sarah  Housel.  residents  of  Summit  county  back  in  the 
times  of  the  first  settlers. 

George  Meech.  father  of  James  B.,  was  probably  born  in  New  England 
in  1827.  and  Martha  Housel,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Summit  county.  Ohio, 
in  1832.  They  met  and  married  in  the  last-named  county  and  there  became 
prosperous  fanners  and  stock  dealers.  Both  died  in  1858.  leaving  four 
daughters  and  one  son.  lames  B..  of  this  review.  George  Meech  was  a 
stanch  W hig,  later  a Republican. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


633 


James  B.  Meech  was  a studious  lad  and  he  made  a good  record  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  community.  Later  he  took  a course  in 
Dennison  University,  leaving  that  institution  in  his  sophomore  year,  1875. 
He  then  gave  way  to  a desire  of  long  standing  to  begin  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  R.  B.  Young  at  Doylestown,  and  later  with  Judge  Joseph  Down- 
ing of  Wooster.  He  made  rapid  progress  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1877  ar|d  immediately  took  up  practice  in  Doylestown  and  has  been  here 
ever  since.  He  was  successful  from  the  first  and  now  he  has  a clientele 
second  to  none,  enjoying  a lucrative  practice  in  the  local  courts,  all  his  time 
being  taken  with  his  legal  affairs.  He  is  a convincing  speaker  before  a jury 
and  his  knowledge  of  jurisprudence  and  all  phases  of  the  law  is  profound. 

Mr.  Meech  was  married  December  20.  1882,  to  Etta  Franks,  daughter 
of  Lyman  and  Elizabeth  Franks,  mentioned  at  length  in  another  part  of  this 
work.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meech  two  children  have  been  born,  Bessie  B.,  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  at  Akron.  Ohio,  and  Mildred,  deceased. 

Politically,  Mr.  Meech  is  a loyal  Republican  and  he  has  taken  consid- 
erable interest  in  local  party  affairs,  having  held  many  local  offices,  and  in 
1891  made  the  race  for  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Meech  does  an  extensive  business  as  the  representative  of  the  Home 
Insurance  Company  of  Xew  York,  also  the  Pennsylvania  Fire  Insurance 
Company  and  the  Insurance  Company  of  North  America.  He  is  well  known 
throughout  the  county  and  is  popular  with  all  classes  and  he  and  his  wife 
mingle  with  the  best  society  of  the  county  and  township. 


PROF.  OHIO  M.  YOCUM. 

Educator,  local  manager  and  joint  proprietor  of  the  Yocums-Bixler  Busi- 
ness College,  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a native  of  Missouri,  born  in  the  town  of  Warren- 
ton  on  May  30.  1877.  His  father.  James  E.  Yocum,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Cumberland  county.  Pennsylvania,  in  1826.  was  brought  to  Wayne  county  by 
his  parents  when  two  years  old  and  lived  here  until  1865,  when  he  moved  to 
Warrenton,  Missouri,  near  which  place  he  has  since  resided,  following  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming.  In  1849,  while  living  in  W ayne  county,  he  joined  a com- 
pany of  men  as  adventurous  and  daring  as  himself  and  crossed  the  plains  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of  California,  but  after  spending  three  years 
in  that  far-off  region,  returned  home  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


removal  west,  as  stated  above.  He  served  in  the  One  Hundred  Sixty-ninth 
Regiment  Ohio  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war,  took  part  in  a number  of  cam- 
paigns and  battles  and  earned  a creditable  record  as  a soldier.  At  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-three  years,  he  is  still  quite  well  preserved,  retaining  the 
possession  of  most  of  his  faculties,  both  physical  and  mental,  and  keeping  in 
close  touch  with  current  events  and  the  leading  public  questions  of  the  times. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  Mrs.  James  E.  Yocum  bore  the  name  of  Adelaide  Mun- 
hall;  she  is  a native  of  Ohio  and  still  living,  having  borne  her  husband  children 
as  follows  : Morris,  deceased ; Mrs.  Ida  T.  Shelton,  of  Warrenton,  Missouri : 

Emmerson  J.,  deceased;  Wade,  who  lives  in  Warrenton,  as  does  Eva  Beall 
Yocum,  who  is  unmarried;  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Miller,  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth, 
resides  at  Jonesburg,  Missouri;  Howard  lives  in  Warrenton;  Dr.  Lincoln  A. 
Yocum,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  is  a well  known 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Wooster,  Ohio;  Mrs.  May  Godfrey,  of  Carroll,  Iowa, 
is  the  ninth  in  number;  Horace,  of  Massillon,  Ohio,  and  Charles,  of  Warren- 
ton, Missouri,  the  tenth  and  eleventh  respectively,  the  youngest  member  of  the 
family  being  Prof.  Ohio  M.,  whose  name  heads  the  article. 

Ohio  M.  Yocum,  who,  as  already  stated,  is  a native  of  Missouri,  spent  his 
childhood  and  youth  at  the  paternal  home  near  Warrenton  and  early  became 
familiar  with  the  varied  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  country  lads.  When 
old  enough  to  be  of  service  he  bore  his  part  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm  and 
when  not  thus  engaged  pursued  his  studies  in  the  country  school  near  his  home, 
where  in  due  time  he  fitted  himself  for  more  advanced  work  in  the  Central 
Wesleyan  College  of  Warrenton.  After  finishing  the  curriculum  of  that  insti- 
tution, he  entered  the  business  college  at  Massillon,  Ohio,  where  he  took  a full 
course  in  commercial  work  and  was  graduated,  following  which  he  accepted  a 
position  in  the  same  institution,  which  he  filled  with  credit  for  a period  of  one 
year.  Professor  Yocum's  rise  in  the  line  of  commercial  education  was  rapid 
and  commendable  and  in  1901,  when  but  twenty-three  years  old,  he  took  upon 
himself  the  local  management  ofithe  Yocums-Bixler  Business  College,  of  which 
he  and  his  brother,  H.  G.  Yocum,  became  proprietors  that  year  and  with  which 
both  have  since  been  identified,  the  latter  assuming  general  management  of  the 
enterprise.  The  Yocums-Bixler  Business  College  was  established  in  1888 
by  Prof.  Gideon  Bixler,  who  began  work  with  a class  of  penmanship,  the  suc- 
cess of  which  soon  induced  him  to  add  the  various  branches  of  a commercial 
course  and  enlarge  his  facilities  for  the  proper  accommodation  of  pupils  re- 
quiring his  services.  A reorganization  was  effected  in  1891.  since  which  date 
the  number  of  students  has  steadily  increased  until  there  is  now  an  average  at- 
tendance of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  with  four  teachers  selected  with  refer- 
ence to  efficiency  and  skill  in  their  respective  departments. 


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Since  the  school  came  under  the  management  of  the  Yocum  brothers  its 
success  has  been  such  as  to  lead  them  to  establish  similar  institutions  in  various 
other  cities,  and  at  this  time  they  have  a chain  of  schools  in  the  following 
places : Massillon,  Mansfield,  Findlay,  Uhrichsville  and  New  Philadelphia,  all 
growing  out  of  the  original  establishment  at  Massillon  and  Wooster,  which 
continues  to  be  the  headquarters  of  the  proprietors. 

Professor  Yocum  is  an  educator  of  wide  and  honorable  reputation  in  his 
line  of  work  and  the  school  of  which  he  is  the  executive  head  is  one  of  the  best 
known  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  He  possesses  executive  ability  of 
a high  order,  also  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  various  courses  of  his  school. 
Young  and  energetic,  he  has  made  his  influence  a power  for  good  in  the  busi- 
ness world  and  his  presence  a blessing  to  the  hundreds  of  young  men  and 
women  with  whom  he  is  constantly  brought  into  contact. 

Professor  Yocum  was  married  in  June,  1903,  to  Grace  Jeanette  Yoder, 
of  Wooster,  the  union  being  blessed  with  one  child,  a daughter,  Dorothy  Ade- 
laide, who  was  born  on  the  25th  day  of  September,  1904.  Professor  and  Mrs. 
Yocum  are  esteemed  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Wooster 
and  stand  high  in  the  general  esteem  of  the  people  of  the  city.  They  are  popu- 
lar in  the  social  life  of  the  community,  take  an  active  interest  in  all  that  tends 
to  the  moral  advancement  of  their  kind  and  fill  a large  place  in  the  public  gaze 
by  reason  of  their  prominence  in  religious  and  intellectual  work. 

The  Yocums-Bixler  Colleges,  to  which  passing  reference  is  made  in  a pre- 
ceding paragraph,  yield  precedence  to  no  other  institution  of  the  kind  in  the 
United  States,  the  course  of  study  being  as  complete  as  that  of  more  preten- 
tious schools  and  the  methods  of  instruction  in  the  hands  of  thoroughly  trained 
specialists  second  to  none.  The  commercial  course  includes  bookkeeping, 
business  arithmetic,  penmanship,  commercial  law.  correspondence,  corporation 
and  voucher  accounting,  rapid  calculation,  spelling,  commercial  literature  and 
business  practice.  There  is  also  a shorthand  and  typewriting  course.  To  ac- 
commodate many  students  who  otherwise  could  not  avail  themselves  of  the 
splendid  opportunity  for  a business  training  which  the  school  affords,  a night 
course,  including  all  the  branches  of  the  curriculum,  has  been  established  and 
is  now  a highly  prized  feature  of  the  institution. 


WELKER  G.  CHRISTY. 

The  popular  citizen  and  enterprising  business  man  whose  name  fur- 
nishes the  heading  of  this  review  needs  no  formal  introduction  to  the  people 
of  Wooster  and  Wayne  county.  Identified  with  the  commercial  interests  of 


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the  city  and  taking  an  active  part  in  promoting  the  material  advancement  of 
the  community,  he  has  forged  rapidly  to  the  front  in  business  circles,  besides 
earning  an  honorable  reputation  as  one  of  the  county’s  progressive  men  of 
affairs.  Welker  G.  Christy  is  a worthy  descendant  of  an  old  and  respected 
family  that  had  its  origin  in  Ireland,  of  which  country  his  great-grandfather, 
James  Christy,  was  a native.  This  ancestor  came  to  America  many  years  ago 
and  is  supposed  to  have  settled  in  Pennsylvania  where  his  son,  Robert.  Christy, 
the  subject's  grandfather,  was  born  and  reared.  Robert  Christy  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  commonwealth  and  in  the  prime  of  life  migrated  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  fanning  and  milling  and  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  dying  sometime  in  the  eighties,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years. 

James  W.  Christy,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Wayne 
and  is  still  a citizen  of  the  same,  residing  at  this  time  in  a beautiful  home  a 
short  distance  north  of  Wooster  and  devoting  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  For  a number  of  years  he  carried  on  a successful  lumber  business 
at  the  county  seat,  but  after  accumulating  a comfortable  competency  retired  to 
the  country  where  he  is  now  enjoying  some  of  the  blessings  earned  during  his 
active  business  career.  He  served  in  the  One  Hundred  Twentieth  Regiment 
Ohio  Infantry  during  the  late  Civil  war  and  participated  in  many  of  the  blood- 
iest battles  of  that  historic  struggle,  in  one  of  which  he  received  a slight  though 
painful  wound.  He  was  over  three  years  at  the  front,  during  which  time 
he  discharged  his  duties  faithfully  and  courageously  and  at  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  service  retired  from  the  army  with  an  honorable  record  as  a brave 
and  gallant  soldier. 

In  his  young  manhood  James  W.  Christy  married  Mary  Troutman,  of 
Wayne  county,  who  is  still  living,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  two 
children,  viz:  Mrs.  A.  W.  Smvser.  of  Overton.  Ohio,  and  Welker  G..  of  this 
sketch. 

Welker  G.  Christy,  to  a brief  review  of  whose  career  the  following  lines 
are  devoted,  is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  dates  his  birth  from  the 
jgth  of  December,  1874.  His  early  life,  devoid  of  any  incident  or  event  of 
especial  interest  and  pretty  much  like  that  of  the  majority  of  lads,  was  spent 
under  the  parental  roof,  where  he  received  the  training  and  bent  of  mind  which 
in  due  time  led  him  to  plan  for  the  future  so  as  to  become  more  than  a mere 
passive  agent  in  the  affairs  of  men.  After  completing  the  common  school 
course,  he  attended  for  some  time  the  Northern  Ohio  University  at  Ada,  fol- 
lowing which  he  remained  two  years  at  home  assisting  his  father  in  the  culti- 
vating of  the  farm.  Possessing  a practical  mind  and  manifesting  while  still  a 


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mere  lad  a decided  preference  for  business  pursuits,  he  bent  all  his  energies  in 
the  direction  of  the  world  of  trade,  fully  determined  to  carry  out  his  well  de- 
fined purposes  and  achieve  success  in  the  calling  which  he  should  select.  With 
this  object  in  view,  he  left  home  in  the  year  1900  and  entered  the  Wooster 
Hardware  Company  as  an  employe  for  a period  of  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  not  only  became  familiar  with  every  detail  of  the  business,  but  also  ac- 
quired a practical  knowledge  of  the  basic  principles  upon  which  the  world  of 
trade  is  founded. 

By  diligence  and  faithfulness  Mr.  Christy  won  the  confidence  of  his  em- 
ployers and  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  indicated  he  purchased  the  interest 
of  I.  N.  McKinney  and  became  one  of  the  proprietors.  Since  1903  he  has  de- 
voted his  attention  very  closely  to  the  interests  of  the  firm  and  to  him  belongs 
not  a little  of  the  credit  of  building  up  and  greatly  extending  the  business  until 
the  establishment  is  now  the  largest  and  most  successful  af  the  kind  in  the  city 
and  one  of  the  best  known  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  Mr.  Christy  is  a 
clear-headed,  far-seeing  business  man  whose  methods  have  ever  been  progres- 
sive and  successful  and  whose  name  stands  for  fair  and  honorable  dealing  in 
all  the  terms  imply.  Although  younger  than  the  majority  of  his  contempor- 
aries in  Wooster,  he  has  won  distinctive  prestige  in  commercial  circles  and  by 
adhering  to  the  straightforward  course  he  has  heretofore  pursued  he  bids  fair 
to  fill  a still  larger  and  more  conspicuous  place  in  the  business  world  as  the 
years  go  by.  With  a clear-cut,  eminently  sane  and  practical  character  and  a 
forceful,  attractive  personality,  he  has  come  to  the  front  in  other  than  his  own 
business  interests,  being  a director  of  the  Citizens  National  Bank  of  Wooster, 
besides  giving  a free  and  generous  support  to  all  enterprises  having  for  their 
object  the  advancement  of  the  city  along  material  lines. 

Mr.  Christy  is  a Republican  in  politics  and  as  a member  of  the  county 
executive  committee  he  has  rendered  his  party  valuable  service  by  his  judicious 
counsel  and  effective  campaign  work.  Although  a recognized  leader  and 
ready  at  all  times  to  make  sacrifice  for  the  good  of  the  party,  he  is  not  an  office 
seeker  nor  aspirant  for  any  kind  of  public  renown,  preferring  the  plain,  satis- 
factory life  which  he  now  leads  and  the  simple  title  of  citizen  to  any  honors 
or  emoluments  within  the  gift  of  his  fellowmen.  His  fraternal  relations  are 
represented  by  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  its  various  branches, 
in  all  of  which  he  has  been  honored  from  time  to  time  with  important  official 
positions.  As  a member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Wooster  his  life 
has  been  influential  for  good  and  the  doctrines  and  teachings  to  which  he  yields 
assent  he  endeavors  to  exemplify  in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Christy  has  never  assumed  the  duties  or  responsibilities  of  the  mar- 
riage relation  and  his  present  manner  of  living  is  becoming  his  position  and 
high  social  standing  in  the  community.  All  of  his  business  life  has  been  spent 
in  Wooster,  and  his  personal  history  presents  no  pages  blotted  by  unworthy 
or  dishonorable  conduct.  Few  men  are  as  well  and  favorably  known,  and  none 
enjoy  higher  standing  as  a generous,  obliging,  large-hearted  friend.  His  hand 
is  ever  open  to  accommodate  the  poor  and  needy,  no  worthy  object  appeals  to 
him  in  vain  and  his  popularity  is  only  limited  by  the  bounds  of  his  acquaintance. 


CHRISTOPHER  JOHN  HARROLD. 

Among  those  whose  lives  and  labors  have  conferred  honor  and  distinc- 
tion upon  the  county  of  Wayne  and  its  beautiful  and  prosperous  seat  of  jus- 
tice, is  the  well-known  gentleman  whose  name  appears  above  and  who,  as 
custodian  of  one  of  the  people’s  most  important  official  trusts,  fills  a large 
place  in  the  public  life  of  Wayne  county.  C.  J.  Harrold,  clerk  of  the  Wayne 
county  courts,  is  a native  of  Ohio,  born  two  miles  east  of  West  Lebanon 
in  Stark  county  on  the  17th  day  of  March,  1859.  The  family  to  which  he 
belongs  is  a very  old  and  historic  one,  it  being  a matter  of  record  that 
the  name  was  derived  from  Harold,  the  last  of  the  Saxon  kings  of  England, 
to  whom,  according  to  well  authenticated  data,  the  subject’s  antecedents  are 
directly  traceable. 

When  the  Harrolds  first  came  to  America  is  not  known,  but  it  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  at  quite  a remote  date  as  the  name  was  well  known  in 
Pennsylvania  many  years  ago,  especially  in  Lancaster  county,  where  the  sub- 
ject’s grandfather,  Christopher,  was  born  and  reared.  Later  he  moved  to 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  and  where  his 
son  Wesley,  who  was  six  months  old  when  his  parents  left  their  native  state, 
grew  to  maturity. 

Wesley  Harrold  was  reared  on  the  paternal  homestead  near  the  division 
line  between  the  counties  of  Stark  and  Wayne  and  on  reaching  manhood’s 
estate  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  followed  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one  years.  When  a young  man  he  married  Magdalena  Mottinger,  whose 
father  came  from  Germany  in  an  early  day  and  settled  near  a small  village 
in  Summit  county  by  the  name  of  Inland,  where  he  became  a successful  tiller 
of  the  soil  and  where  Mrs.  Harrold  was  born.  She  died  at  the  age  of  fiftv- 
seven,  after  bearing  her  husband  seven  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows : 


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Mrs.  Parmelia  Baughman,  of  Navarre,  Stark  county;  Mrs.  Lucy  Oberlin, 
of  Massillon;  Mrs.  Clara  Wertz,  who  lives  in  the  city  of  Akron;  Manias  C., 
deceased;  William  A.,  whose  home  is  in  Massillon,  and  Arthur  S.  O.,  of 
Navarre;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

Christopher  J.  Harrold  was  reared  on  the  family  homestead  in  Stark 
county  and  grew  to  the  full  stature  of  well-developed  manhood  with  a proper 
conception  of  the  d'gnity  of  life  and  the  duties  and  responsibilities  which  it 
entails.  When  old  enough  to  be  of  service  he  became  familiar  with  the  rugged 
duties  of  the  farm,  and  in  the  district  school  hard  by  which  he  attended  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  laid  the  foundation  of  mental  discipline  which  subse- 
quently made  h:m  a well  educated  and  widely  informed  young  man.  On  fin- 
ishing the  common  school  branches  he  entered,  in  1877,  Heidelberg  Univer- 
sity at  Tiffin,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  a period  of  five  years  and  then 
took  a business  course  in  Duff's  Commercial  College  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, from  which  he  Was  graduated  with  an  honorable  record  as  an  indus- 
trious and  enterprising  student.  After  completing  his  training  in  the  latter 
institution,  Mr.Harrold  engaged  in  the  nursery  business  at  Dalton,  Wayne 
county,  where  he  continued  with  gratifying  success  from  1882  till  1905,  when 
he  disposed  of  the  business  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  clerk  of  Wayne  county 
courts,  a position  to  which  he  was  elected  the  preceding  year.  Mr.  Harrold 
began  taking  an  interest  in  public  matters  at  quite  an  early  age  and  in  due 
time  became  an  influential  factor  in  local  politics  and  a leader  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  his  community.  An  active  worker  and  a judicious  adviser  in 
party  councils,  he  rendered  valuable  service  in  a number  of  campaigns  and  in 
1904,  when  an  available  candidate  Was  required  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the 
courts,  the  choice  very  properly  fell  to  him.  In  November  of  that  year  he 
defeated  his  Republican  competitor  by  a handsome  majority  and,  taking 
charge  of  the  office  in  August,  1905,  he  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
duties  of  the  same,  proving  a capable  and  popular  public  servant  and  making 
a record  above  the  suspicion  of  reproach. 

Mr.  Harrold  is  distinctively  a man  of  affairs  and,  as  already  indicated, 
fills  a large  place  in  the  public  life  of  his  city  and  county  and  richly  merits 
the  recognition  which  he  has  received  as  an  able  official  and  enterprising  citi- 
zen. He  has  always  stood  for  progress  and  improvement  and  all  means  and 
measures  for  the  material  advancement  of  the  community  and  the  social, 
intellectual  and  moral  welfare  of  the  populace  find  in  him  a zealous  and  lib- 
eral patron.  Like  the  majority  of  broad-minded,  wide-awake  men,  he  believes 
in  the  efficacy  of  secret  fraternal  organizations  and  to  this  end  has  become 
identified  with  the  Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has  attained  to  a high  standing, 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


belonging  to  Ebenezer  Lodge  in  Wooster,  also  to  the  commandery,  chapter 
and  council,  taking  the  thirty-second  degree  in  Cleveland  in  the  year  1909. 
He  is  also  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  order  in  Wooster 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Dalton,  besides  being  an  active 
and  influential  member  of  the  encampment,  in  which,  as  in  the  subordinate 
lodge,  he  has  been  honored  with  important  official  positions  from  time  to 
time. 

Mr.  Harrold,  on  December  28,  1882,  was  happily  married  to  Emma  M. 
Wertz,  of  Dalton,  Ohio,  daughter  of  W.  H.  H.  and  Carrie  V.  Wertz,  a pe- 
culiar coincidence  being  the  marriage  of  his  two  sisters  at  the  same  time. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrold  have  two  children,  the  older  of  whom  is  now  Mrs. 
Carrie  L.  Shroth,  of  Columbus.  The  younger,  Mildred,  fourteen  years  of 
age,  is  a student  in  the  city  schools.  These  daughters  and  their  parents  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  all  of  them  taking  an  active  interest  in  re- 
ligious and  charitable  work  and  demonstrating  by  their  daily  lives  the  beauty 
and  worth  of  the  faith  to  which  they  hold. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  WORST. 

The  life  history  of  him  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  closely  identified 
with  the  history  of  Wayne  county,  which  has  been  his  home  for  many  years. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  untiring  activity  and  has  been  crowned  with  a high 
and  well-merited  degree  of  success. 

Mr.  Worst  was  born  on  the  13th  day  of  August,  1859,  in  Prairie  town- 
ship, Ashland  county.  Ohio.  -His  father,  Samuel  Worst,  was  born  in  the 
same  locality  in  1817,  and  his  death  occurred  on  March  24,  1894.  He  was 
a farmer  by  vocation  and  was  very  successful  in  his  operations,  having  owned 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  besides  his  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  acres,  two  other  farms  in  Ashland  county,  of  fifty-seven  and  one  hun- 
dred acres  respectively,  and  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  acres  in 
Congress  township.  Wayne  county.  He  was  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  belonged  to  the  Dunkard  church.  He  was  three  times 
married,  first  to  Mary  Martin,  who  was  born  in  Chester  township,  Wayne 
county.  Ohio,  and  who  died  in  1868.  Subsequently  he  married  Mary  Flack- 
ler,  a native  of  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  after  her  death  he  wedded 
Lucy  Resecker.  of  Summit  county,  this  state.  Samuel  Worst  was  the  father 


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of  nine  children,  namely  ; John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years,  Elizabeth, 
Margaret,  Nancy.  George,  Mary,  Samuel,  David  and  William,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  Worst,  was  a native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  about  1817  he  came  to  Ohio  and  entered  a tract  of  government 
land  in  Ashland  county.  At  that  time  there  were  but  three  houses  in  Wooster 
and  but  one  house  between  that  place  and  his  farm.  He  was  a prominent 
and  progressive  man  and  stood  high  in  the  community.  He  died  at  the 
remarkable  age  of  ninety-four  years.  The  subject’s  maternal  grandfather 
was  Rev.  John  Martin,  a well-known  minister  of  the  Dunkard  church.  He 
was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  about  1835  came  to  Wayne 
county,  settling  in  Chester  township.  He  was  a man  of  excellent  parts  and 
was  highly  regarded  throughout  the  community. 

William  H.  Worst  remained  at  borne  during  the  years  of  his  youth 
and  secured  a fair  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  assisted  his  father 
in  the  duties  of  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  and  then  for 
about  a year  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor  by  the  month.  He  then  rented 
farms  for  seven  years  and  was  successful  in  his  operations,  being  enabled 
in  1887  to  buy  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  one  and  a half  acres  in  Congress 
township.  Subsequently  he  bought  a half  interest  in  the  old  home  farm  in 
Ashland  county  and  has  operated  both  farms  with  much  success.  In  1899 
he  bought  a comfortable  and  attractive  home  in  the  village  of  Pleasant  Home 
and  retired  from  active  farm  work,  having  rented  his  farms  to  others,  though 
he  still  maintains  a general  supervision  over  them.  He  is  not  altogether  idle, 
however,  as  he  gives  some  attention  to  the  real  estate  business.  He  is  a man 
of  good  business  methods  and  makes  a success  of  whatever  he  undertakes. 
He  possesses  a genial  disposition  and  a kindliness  of  manner  which  wins 
him  friends  wherever  he  goes  and  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  his  community. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1884.  Mr.  Worst  wedded  Bel  via  Cline,  who 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Ashland  county.  Ohio.  September  t6.  i86r, 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Cline,  early  settlers  in  that  section.  There 
was  born  to  this  union  one  son,  Guy,  born  January  17,  1886,  and  whose 
death  occurred  on  October  3,  1886. 

In  politics  Mr.  Worst  is  a stanch  Democrat,  and  has  served  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  several  official  capacities,  having  been  trustee  of  Congress  town- 
ship for  six  years,  a member  of  the  school  board  for  five  years  and  a notarv 
public  for  seven  years.  Socially,  he  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order 

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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  He  belongs  to  that 
public-spirited,  useful  type  of  men  whose  ambitions  and  desires  are  directed 
in  those  channels  through  which  flow  the  greatest  and  most  permanent  good 
to  the  greatest  number,  and  it  is  therefore  consistent  with  the  purpose  and 
plan  of  this  work  that  his  record  be  given  among  those  of  other  representative 
citizens  of  Wayne  county. 


HORACE  NELSON  MATEER. 

Holding  worthy  prestige  as  a scholar,  scientist  and  physician,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  has  achieved  distinction  in  the  various  lines  of  effort  to 
which  he  has  devoted  his  talents  and  as  a citizen  alive  to  all  that  makes  for  the 
progress  of  his  county  and  state  he  commands  the  same  high  degree  of  con- 
fidence and  esteem  which  characterize  his  professional  status. 

Dr.  Horace  Nelson  Mateer  is  a native  of  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  born  December  12,  1855,  about  eleven  miles  from  Gettysburg,  the 
scene  of  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  sanguinary  battles  of  the  late  Civil  war 
and  one  of  the  few  decisive  engagements  of  modern  times.  The  Mateer 
family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  and  the  present  patronymic  is  a modification 
of  the  name  McTeer,  by  which  the  ancestors  of  the  American  branch  were 
originally  known.  When  the  Doctor’s  antecedents  first  came  to  America 
can  not  be  ascertained,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  some  time  during  the 
colonial  period,  as  the  name  was  familiar  in  various  parts  of  the  Cumberland 
valley  as  early  as  the  Revolutionary  struggle.  William  Mateer,  the  Doctor’s 
grandfather,  was  a native  of  the  above  valley  and  a farmer  by  occupation. 
Among  his  children  was  a son  by  the  name  of  John  Mateer,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  7,  1807,  and  who 
also  became  a tiller  of  the  soil,  first  in  his  native  valley  and  later  in  fhe  county 
of  Mercer;  thence  he  removed  to  Illinois,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  dying  in  Monmouth,  Illinois,  January  29,  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years. 

Mary  Nelson  Divcn,  wife  of  John  Mateer  and  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  also  born  and  reared  in  southeastern  Pennsylvania,  and  be- 
longed to  one  of  the  old  and  well-known  Scotch-Irish  families  that  settled 
in  the  Cumberland  valley  at  a very  early  period.  She  survived  her  husband 
about  twenty-three  years,  departing  this  life  in  1898  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine. 

John  and  Mary  X.  Mateer  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom 


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the  late  Calvin  Wilson  Mateer,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  a distinguished  minister  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  for  forty-five  years  a missionary  to  the  Chinese, 
was  the  oldest.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  received  a collegiate  and  the- 
ological training  and  after  a few  years  of  ministerial  labor  in  his  native  state 
and  elsewhere  was  sent  in  1863  as  a missionary  to  China,  where  he  not  only 
inaugurated  important  religious  work,  but  founded  the  Tung  Chow  College, 
one  of  the  principal  educational  institutions  of  the  Flowery  kingdom,  which 
he  served  as  president,  and  the  success  of  which  was  due  very  largely  to  his 
efforts  and  judicious  management.  He  became  one  of  the  most  noted  men  of 
his  church  in  the  foreign  field  and  in  addition  to  locating  a number  of  mission 
stations  and  publishing  many  valuable  books  on  various  subjects,  served  as 
chairman  of  the  committee  which  translated  the  Bible  into  the  Chinese  tongue, 
one  of  the  greatest  and  most  important  works  of  the  kind  ever  accomplished 
in  the  domain  of  scholarship.  Doctor  Mateer  was  first  married  to  Julia 
Brown,  of  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  who  proved  a worthy  helpmeet  to  her  dis- 
tinguished husband,  sharing  his  labors  in  the  missionary  field,  encouraging 
him  in  all  his  efforts  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  Chinese  and  teach  them 
the  way  of  life  and  demonstrating  her  worth  in  a special  manner  in  looking 
after  the  interests  of  hundreds  of  Chinese  children,  who  learned  to  prize  her 
as  something  more  than  a mother. 

Some  time  after  the  death  of  this  excellent  woman,  the  Doctor  con- 
tracted a matrimonial  alliance  with  Ada  Haven,  of  Pekin,  China,  who  sur- 
vives him  and  at  present  lives  in  the  city  of  Weishein,  where  she  is  engaged 
in  missionary  work.  During  his  forty-five  years  as  a missionary  Doctor  Ma- 
teer revisited  his  native  land  but  three  times,  his  interest  in  his  labor  being 
such  that  he  found  it  difficult  to  turn  it  over  to  others,  even  for  a brief  period. 
He  lived  a very  active  and  eminently  useful  life,  accomplished  great  results 
for  civilization  and  the  Christian  religion  and  was  planning  for  still  more  ex- 
tensive operations  when  death  called  him  from  his  labors  in  the  year  1908.  . 

William  Diven  Mateer,  the  second  son,  after  a long  and  useful  career 
as  a business  man  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  is  now  living  in  retirement  at  Santa 
Ana,  California.  Mrs.  Jane  Henderson  Kirkwood,  the  third  of  the  family, 
is  the  wido\v  of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood,  for  many  years  professor 
of  mathematics  in  the  University  of  Wooster  and  a most  highly  esteemed 
scholar  and  accomplished  gentleman.  John  Lourie  Mateer,  the  next  in  order 
of  birth,  went  to  China  a number  of  years  ago  as  superintendent  of  the  print- 
ing establishment  of  the  American  board  of  commissioners  for  foreign  mis- 
sions in  the  city  of  Pekin.  He  died  there  the  year  before  the  Boxer  uprising 
and  his  loss  was  greatly  deplored  by  all  the  foreign  contingent  in  that  capital. 


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Rev.  Robert  McCheyne  Mateer,  a learned  Presbyterian  divine,  located  at 
Wieshein,  China,  is  the  fifth  in  succession.  Since  going  to  the  present  field 
of  labor  in  1882,  he  has  done  much  important  educational  and  evangelical 
work  and  is  esteemed  one  of  the  most  successful  and  judicious  missionaries  in 
the  province  where  he  is  located.  Dr.  Horace  Nelson  Mateer,  of  this  review, 
is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  The  youngest  of  the  family,  Mrs.  Lillian 
Mateer  Walker,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Stokes  Walker,  is  deceased.  Both 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Walker  went  to  the  Flowery  kingdom  as  missionaries  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  but  after  several  years  of  strenuous  work  they  were 
obliged  to  return  home  on  account  of  the  husband's  failing  health,  arriving 
in  this  country  in  1885.  Later  Mrs.  Walker  fell  a victim  to  disease  con- 
tracted while  abroad  and  departed  this  life  in  the  year  1900.  lamented  by  all 
who  knew  her. 

When  Horace  N.  Mateer  was  about  one  year  old  his  parents  moved  from 
Cumberland  valley  to  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  seven  years  later 
they  changed  their  place  of  abode  to  Henry.  Illinois,  where  the  future  physi- 
cian and  scientist  received  his  preliminary  educational  discipline.  Later  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  upon  their  removal  to  Monmouth,  in  the  same  state, 
and  in  due  time  entered  the  college  in  that  city,  which  he  attended  from  1872 
to  1875  inclusive.  Shortly  after  his  father’s  death  he  entered  the  junior  class 
of  Princeton  University,  New  Jersey,  completing  the  prescribed  course  of 
study  in  that  institution  and  graduating  in  1877,  ' lls  brother  Robert  receiving 
his  degree  the  same  year.  During  the  two  years  following  he  was  principal 
of  the  Laird  Institute,  a preparatory  school  at  Murraysville,  Pennsylvania, 
which  position  he  resigned  in  1879,  to  spend  a year  in  post-graduate  work  at 
Princeton. 

In  the  fall  of  1880  Doctor  Mateer  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  the  three  years 
ensuing  in  close  study  and  research,  making  an  honorable  record  as  a student 
and  standing  high  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  professors  and  class- 
mates. On  the  completion  of  his  course,  in  June.  1883,  he  was  graduated  with 
first  honors  of  his  class,  in  addition  to  which  he  also  received  the  Henry  C. 
Lea  prize  for  the  best  graduating  thesis,  both  rewards  coming  to  him  as  a 
result  of  painstaking  study  and  investigation  and  a laudable  ambition  to  excel 
in  all  of  his  work.  The  year  following  his  graduation  he  was  made  resident 
phvsician  and  surgeon  of  the  University  Hospital  in  Philadelphia,  but  after 
holding  the  position  for  a short  time  resigned  and  in  April,  1884,  located  at 
Wooster,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
with  most  signal  success. 


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In  September  of  the  above  year  Doctor  Mateer  formed  a co-partnership 
with  Dr.  James  D.  Robison,  which  lasted  very  agreeably  for  three  years, 
when  it  was  discontinued  by  reason  of  Dr.  Mateer’s  appointment,  in  the  fall 
of  1887,  to  the  chair  of  biology  in  Wooster  University.  He  accepted  the  lat- 
ter position  with  the  understanding  that  he  continue  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  connection  with  his  duties  as  professor.  Doctor  Mateer  founded  the  de- 
partment. of  which  he  is  still  the  head,  equipped  it  for  effective  work  and  it 
is  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  popular  departments  of  the  university. 
He  has  devoted  a number  of  years  to  the  study  of  scientific  subjects,  has  made 
many  original  investigations  in  fields  but  little  explored  and  is  now  recognized 
as  an  authority  on  all  chemical,  microscopic  and  bacteriological  methods  which 
have  come  into  prominence  of  recent  years  in  connection  with  the  treatment 
of  disease.  He  has  a fine  private  laboratory  for  diagnosing  his  own  cases,  in 
addition  to  which  his  services  are  frequently  utilized  in  special  work  for 
other  physicians  and  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  and  obstinate  diseases. 

Doctor  Mateer  is  not  only  the  master  of  his  profession,  but  as  a scientist 
holds  an  important  place  in  the  world  of  thought  and  scholarship.  His  labors 
have  been  eminently  creditable  and  successful  and  by  reason  of  his  superior 
methods  of  treatment  and  the  original  discoveries  which  he  has  made  from 
time  to  time  he  may  be  considered  a true  benefactor  of  suffering  humanity. 
Availing  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  add  to  his  professional  and  scien- 
tific knowledge  and  skill,  he  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  trend  of  current 
thought  and  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  the  latest  discoveries.  He  belongs  tQ 
the  Wayne  County  Medical  Society,  Northeastern  Ohio  Medical  Society,  the 
American  Medical  Association,  and  is  an  influential  member  of  the  American 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Wooster  Hospital  and  has  ever  manifested  a commendable  interest  in 
the  institution,  laboring  constantly  for  its  success  and  sparing  no  reasonable 
efforts  to  make  it  meet  the  high  purposes  which  the  originators  had  in  view. 

The  domestic  life  of  Doctor  Mateer  dates  from  October  25,  1888,  when 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Gaston,  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  George  and  Rachael  (Montgomery)  Gaston,  a union  blessed  with 
four  children,  viz:  John  Gaston,  born  February  14,  1890,  a junior  in  the 
Wooster  University;  Mary  Nelson,  born  September  2,  1891  ; Elizabeth  Mont- 
gomery, born  July  31,  1894,  and  Dorothy,  who  first  saw  the  light  of  day  on 
November  1,  1901. 

Doctor  and  Mrs.  Mateer  are  members  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
church,  and  take  an  active  interest  in  all  lines  of  good  work  under  the  auspices 
of  the  same.  In  politics  he  is  independent  in  all  the  term  implies,  refusing 


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to  acknowledge  the  behests  of  parties  or  partisans  and  casting  his  ballot  for 
the  candidates  best  qualified  for  the  offices  to  which  they  aspire.  A ripe 
scholar,  a noted  scientist,  a distinguished  physician  and  withal  a courteous  and 
polished  gentleman,  Doctor  Mateer  wields  a wide  influence  for  good  and  has 
made  the  world  wiser  and  better  by  his  presence.  He  comes  of  a family  of 
culture  and  refinement  and  of  strong  religious  convictions,  six  of  the  seven 
children  born  to  his  parents  offering  themselves  for  missionaries  and  four  of 
them  being  accepted.  The  Doctor  at  one  time  had  an  ambition  to  enter  this 
important  field,  but  was  rejected  on  account  of  a slight  physical  defect  from 
which  he  suffered  when  quite  young.  That  he  failed  to  carry  out  his  original 
intentions  of  going  to  foreign  parts  is  a matter  of  congratulation  on  the  part 
of  thousands  of  his  fellowmen  who  have  profited  by  his  eminent  abilities  as  a 
healer  of  human  ills  and  his  services  as  a leader  in  important  fields  of  scien- 
tific research. 


DAVID  H.  BRADEN,  M.  D. 

Fortified  by  careful  and  extended  professional  training  and  a natural 
predilection,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  holds  prestige  as  one  of  the  able  and 
popular  members  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  Wooster,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  general  practice  as  a physician  and  surgeon  with  office  headquarters 
on  North  Sixth  street.  A resident  of  the  city  since  1903,  he  has  come  rapidly 
to  the  front  among  the  enterprising  and  progressive  men  of  his  calling  and 
as  a representative  of  the  homeopathic  school  of  medicine  he  has  secured  a 
large  and  lucrative  patronage  and  is  continually  adding  to  his  fame  as  a suc- 
cessful healer. 

Dr.  David  H.  Braden  is  a representative  of  an  old  and  well-known  Ohio 
family  that  came  to  the  state  when  the  country  was  a wilderness  and  the  feet 
of  the  red  men  still  pressed  the  soil.  His  grandfather,  a true  type  of  the  brave 
and  daring  pioneer  of  the  early  days,  at  intervals  was  obliged  to  defend  his 
backwoods  home  from  the  attacks  of  the  savages  and  from  time  to  time  par- 
ticipated in  forays  against  the  wily  foes  until  the  latter  were  finally  driven 
from  the  country.  He  figured  prominently  in  the  early  history  of  the  state 
and  not  only  founded  a large  and  eminently  respectable  family,  but  left  the 
impress  of  his  individuality  so  indelibly  impressed  upon  the  community  in 
which  he  settled  that  his  memory  is  there  cherished  as  a leader  of  men  and 
a benefactor  of  his  kind. 

Daniel  Braden,  the  Doctor’s  father,  was  born  in  Ashland  county  in  the 


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year  1845  and  is  still  living  near  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  for  a number  of  years  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  prosperous  men  of  Milton  township  in  the  above  county,  where  he 
owns  large  landed  interests  and  stands  high  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his 
neighbors  and  fellow  citizens.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  war  he 
enlisted  in  an  Ohio  regiment  and  gave  three  years  and  three  months  to  the 
service  of  his  country,  during  which  time  he  took  part  in  a number  of  noted 
campaigns  and  bloody  battles  and  earned  an  honorable  record  as  a brave  and 
gallant  defender  of  the  union.  In  his  young  manhood  Daniel  Braden  married 
Mary  Daniels,  who  also  was  born  in  the  county  of  Ashland  and  who  departed 
this  life  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-five  years,  after  bearing  her  husband  two 
children,  the  older  of  whom  being  Mrs.  William  Dravenstodd,  of  Wayne 
county,  and  the  younger  the  subject  of  this  review. 

David  H.  Braden  is  a native  of  Ashland  county,  and  dates  his  birth  from 
February  7,  1868.  He  was  reared  on  the  family  homestead  in  Milton  town- 
ship and  when  old  enough  to  be  of  service  bore  his  share  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  farm  where,  in  close  touch  with  nature,  he  grew  up  a strong  and  rugged 
lad  and  in  due  time  was  well  fitted  for  his  part  in  the  affairs  of  life.  Mean- 
while he  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  such  was  his 
progress  that  at  the  early  age  of  seventeen  he  was  able  to  secure  a license  and 
take  charge  of  a school,  which  he  taught  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  pupils  and  patrons.  He  began  educational  wark  in  the  year  1887 
and  continued  the  same  until  1894,  during  which  time  he  earned  an  honorable 
reputation  as  an  able  and  judicious  instructor  and  had  he  seen  fit  to  devote  his 
life  to  this  line  of  effort  he  doubtless  would  have  risen  to  a place  of  distinc- 
tion among  the  leading  educators  of  the  state.  Not  caring  to  continue  any 
longer  in  a calling  which  promised  so  little  emolument,  the  Doctor,  while  teach- 
ing, yielded  to  a desire  of  long  standing  by  taking  up  the  study  of  medicine 
and  in  1891  entered  the  Cleveland  Medical  College,  which  he  attended  during 
the  greater  part  of  that  and  the  ensuing  year.  Later,  1893,  he  became  a stu- 
dent of  medicine  and  surgery  in  the  same  city  where  he  prosecuted  his  studies 
and  researches  until  1895,  on  March  27th  of  which  year  he  was  graduated 
with  a creditable  record  as  an  industrious  and  enterprising  student,  standing 
among  the  first  of  his  class  and  enjoying  to  a marked  degree  the  confidence  of 
the  professors  of  the  institution  as  well  as  the  students. 

Immediately  after  receiving  his  degree  Doctor  Braden  located  at  the 
town  of  New  Pittsburg,  in  his  native  county,  where  he  initiated  the  practice 
of  his  profession  and  where  during  the  four  years  ensuing  he  built  up  a repre- 
sentative business  and  earned  more  than  local  repute  as  an  enterprising,  wide- 


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awake  and  successful  physician.  At  the  expiration  of  the  period  indicated  he 
transferred  his  practice  to  Shelby,  in  the  same  county,  whither  his  reputation 
had  preceded  him.  but  after  three  years  in  that  town  he  sought  a wider  field 
for  the  exercise  of  his  talents  by  removing  to  W ooster,  where  since  1903  he 
has  devoted  his  attention  very  closely  to  his  chosen  calling  with  the  result  that 
he  now  commands  an  extensive  and  very  lucrative  professional  business 
which  from  the  year  indicated  has  steadily  grown  in  magnitude  and  im- 
portance. 

Doctor  Braden  has  made  commendable  progress  in  the  noble  profession  to 
which  he  is  devoting  his  energies  and  talents  and.  as  already  stated,  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  beautiful  city  which 
he  proposes  to  make  his  permanent  home,  being  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
professional  contemporaries  and  by  the  general  public.  His  financial  success 
has  been  commensurate  with  the  ability  displayed  in  his  chosen  field  of  en- 
deavor and  he  is  now  well  situated  to  enjoy  the  many  material  comforts  which 
have  come  to  him  as  the  reward  of  duty  faithfully  performed.  He  keeps  in 
the  front  rank  in  following  out  the  advances  made  in  the  science  of  medicine 
and  surgery  and  in  addition  to  his  high  professional  attainments  manifests  a 
commendable  interest  in  all  that  makes  for  the  general  good  of  the  community 
along  other  lines  and  is  in  sympathy  with  all  laudable  enterprises  and  measures 
for  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  W oodmen  orders,  and  while  well  informed  on  the  leading  questions 
of  the  day  takes  little  interest  in  party  politics  and  has  no  ambition  to  gratify 
in  the  way  of  public  position.  He  is  first  of  all  a physician,  making  his  pro- 
fession paramount  to  every  other  consideration,  which  accounts  in  a large 
measure  for  the  eminent  position  to  which  he  has  attained  and  the  success  by 
which  his  professional  career  has  ever  been  characterized. 

Doctor  Braden  was  married  in  the  year  1888  to  Minnie  Reed,  of  Ashland 
county,  who  died  in  1898  after  bearing  her  husband  three  children,  namely: 
Carl.  Lloyd  and  Vera,  aged  eighteen,  sixteen  and  twelve  years,  respectivelv. 
In  1899  the  Doctor  contracted  a marriage  with  his  present  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Lucy  Piper,  of  Xew  Pittsburg.  W ayne  county,  daughter  of 
the  late  Henry  Piper,  a well  known  citizen  of  that  town,  the  union  l>eing  with- 
out issue. 


SAMCEL  HARRISOX  MILLER. 

The  biographer  can  see  nothing  but  good  results  flowing  from  the  life 
work  of  the  ancestors  ot  the  gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  introduction 
to  this  sketch,  for  they  were  persons  of  the  highest  respectability  and  of 


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unusual  intelligence,  therefore  were  leaders  in  their  respective  communities 
and  useful  citizens,  their  influence  having  always  been  strong  for  upright  liv- 
ing and  steady  industry.  Many  of  these  traits  seem  to  be  possessed  by 
Samuel  H.  Miller,  a well-known  business  man  of  Doylestown.  Wayne  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Bauer)  Miller  and  was  born  in  Nazareth, 
Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  28.  1839,  and  in  May,  1843.  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Norton  township,  Summit  county.  Ohio.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools,  also  attended  the  high  school  at  Akron,  and, 
being  a close  student,  he  received  a very  serviceable  education.  He  left 
the  home  farm  when  twelve  years  of  age.  and,  having  very  early  in  life 
shown  an  inclination  to  the  mercantile  life,  he  began  clerking  in  the  store 
of  Milton  W.  Henry,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  a period  of 
six  years,  rendering  that  gentleman  very  efficient  service.  In  December, 
1863,  he  came  to  Doylestown  and  engaged  as  bookkeeper  for  Cline,  Seiber- 
ling  & Hower.  manufacturers  of  mowers  and  reapers.  So  faithful  and 
efficient  were  his  services  that  on  September  1,  1865.  he  was  admitted  to 
the  firm  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Cline.  Seiberling  & Company,  and  it 
was  again  changed  on  December  31,  1878,  to  Seiberling,  Miller  & Company, 
composed  of  John  F.  Seil:erling,  of  Akron;  James  H.  Seiberling  and  Samuel 
H.  Miller,  of  Doylestown.  In  March,  1896,  the  firm  was  changed  to  Seiber- 
ling & Miller.  John  F.  Seiberling  having  withdrawn.  This  firm  continued 
with  usual  success  until  March,  1901,  when  the  firm  was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  Ohio  under  the  name  of  Seiberling  & Miller  Company,  and  they 
have  thus  continued  in  business  to  this  date,  manufacturing  mowers,  reap- 
ers and  binders  of  a very  high  grade  and  which  find  a ready  market  owing 
to  their  excellent  qualities,  the  business  rapidly  growing  and  invading  new 
territory  .from  year  to  year.  Their  plant  is  well  equipped  with  modern 
machinery  and  a large  force  of  the  most  skilled  artisans  is  kept  constantly 
employed. 

Samuel  H.  Miller  was  married  on  August  29.  1867,  to  Ella  L.  Schneider, 
daughter  of  Alfred  and  Clarissa  ( Clewell ) Schneider,  who  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  January  27,  1847.  In  1852 
the  family  removed  to  Norton  township.  Summit  county,  Ohio.  Eight 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Fred  J.,  born  December  8.  1868,  is  living  at  Cuyahoga  Falls.  Ohio; 
William  R.,  born  March  6,  1875.  a mechanical  engineer  at  Akron;  Sydney 
L.,  born  April  5,  1885,  is  living  at  Doylestown,  Ohio:  Lucile  M.  (Shinier), 
born  November  3,  1886,  is  residing  at  Nazareth,  Pennsylvania. 


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Mr.  Miller  is  treasurer  and  director  of  the  Indiana  Rubber  and  Insu- 
lated Wire  Company,  of  Jonesboro,  Indiana,  and  he  is  also  interested  in 
farming.  He  has  been  very  successful  as  a business  man  owing  to  his  close 
application  to  individual  affairs  and  his  genteel  demeanor  in  his  relations 
with  his  fellowmen. 

Mr.  Miller  has  always  been  a Republican,  having  voted  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  i860.  He  has  never  held  public  office,  except  having  served  on  the 
local  board  of  education  and  as  village  treasurer.  He  is  a member  of  the 
lodge  and  encampment.  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Masonic  lodge, 
chapter,  council  and  commanderv,  and  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite, 
Valley  of  Cleveland,  also  Alkoran  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


WILLIAM  C.  MYERS. 

On  the  roster  of  Wayne  county's  solid  and  influential  business  men  the 
name  of  William  C.  Myers  stands  out  clear  and  prominent  as  the  head  of  the 
largest  insurance  agencies  of  Wooster  and  one  of  the  most  successful  in  the 
state.  He  has  achieved  a wide  and  honorable  reputation  among  the  progres- 
sive men  of  his  adopted  county  and  no  one  commands  a greater  influence  or 
stands  higher  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  public. 

The  Myers  family,  which  is  of  German  origin  and  originally  pronounced 
Moyer,  came  to  the  United  States  in  a very  early  day  and  settled  near  Phil- 
adelphia, Pennsylvania,  where  in  due  time  the  name  became  identified  with  a 
number  of  important  interests  and  figured  for  a number  of  years  in  local  an- 
nals. Contemporaneous  with  this  family  were  the  Funcks,  who  also  emi- 
grated from  Germany  and  were  among  the  early  comers  to  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  in  the  course  of  a few  years  their  descendants  became  not  only 
quite  numerous  but  prominent  in  building  up  their  respective  communities  and 
developing  the  resources  of  the  country.  From  the  most  reliable  data  obtain- 
able, the  antecedents  of  the  latter  family  in  the  country  appear  to  have  been 
one  Bishop  Henry  Funck,  who  came  from  Germany  some  time  in  the  sev- 
enteenth century  and  settled  not  far  from  Philadelphia,  from  whence  his 
descendants,  as  above  indicated,  moved  to  other  counties  and  localities,  some 
of  them  in  after  years  moving  to  Ohio  and  still  farther  west. 

Capt.  Ralph  Funck,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  in  an  early  day  to 
Wayne  county,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  a number  of 


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years  ago  and  leaving  a family  of  several  children,  among  whom  was  a daugh- 
ter by  the  name  of  Cecelia  Funck,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Northampton  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  February  27,  1832.  On  November  4,  1852,  she  became  the 
wife  of  Isaac  H.  Myers,  son  of  John  O.  and  Elizabeth  (Haldeman)  Myers,  of 
Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  marriage  taking  place  in  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Myers  had  settled  a short  time  previously. 

For  several  years  after  their  marriage,  Isaac  H.  and  Cecelia  Myers  lived 
in  the  town  of  Chester,  but  about  1859  moved  to  Seville,  Medina  county, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1864,  when  they  changed  their  abode 
to  Wooster,  with  the  interests  of  which  city  the  remainder  of  Mr.  Myers’  life 
was  identified.  For  some  years  he  conducted  a grocery  store  and  built  up  a 
lucrative  patronage.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  insurance  business, 
in  which  he  met  with  signal  success,  establishing  an  agency  which,  under 
the  joint  management  of  himself  and  son,  William  C.,  in  due  time  became 
the  largest  enterprise  of  the  kind  in  the  city  and  since  passing  into  the  hands 
of  the  latter  has  become  one  of  the  most  successful  in  the  state. 

Isaac  H.  Myers  took  the  road  as  special  insurance  agent  in  1878,  from 
which  time  until  shortly  before  his  death,  on  June  5,  1907,  he  traveled  quite 
extensively  in  the  interest  of  his  companies  and  achieved  honorable  repute  as 
a capable,  far-seeing  and  thoroughly  reliable  business  man.  His  wife,  who 
suffered  a stroke  of  paralysis  in  1887,  departed  this  life  very  suddenly  on  the 
4th  day  of  April,  1895,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Wooster, 
where  her  husband  now  sleeps  by  her  side  awaiting  the  resurrection  of  the 
just.  The  children  of  this  estimable  couple,  three  in  number,  are  Isadore, 
born  August  1,  1857,  died  January  25,  1882;  Lura,  whose  birth  occurred 
March  8,  1867,  and  who  lives  in  Wooster,  and  William  C,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  was  born  in  Seville,  Medina  county,  Ohio,  on  January  28,  1861. 

William  C.  Myers  was  about  four  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Wooster,  and  since  1865  his  life  has  been  very  closely  interwoven  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  his  adopted  city.  At  the  proper  age  he  entered 
the  public  schools,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  until  graduating  from  the 
high  school,  after  which  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  latter’s  insurance  busi- 
ness, having  been  familiar  with  the  duties  of  the  office  from  his  twelfth  year. 
Engaging  with  his  father  on  a salary,  he  soon  acquired  a practical  knowledge 
of  insurance  and  under  his  able  and  skillful  management  it  was  not  long 
until  the  business  took  on  new  life  and  became  the  largest  and  most  success- 
ful of  the  kind  in  the  city. 

The  insurance  agency  of  which  Mr.  Myers  is  now  the  head  and  which 
for  some  time  has  been  known  under  the  style  of  W.  C.  Myers  & Company, 


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was  established  in  1870  by  the  subject’s  father,  who  continued  as  its  manager 
until  accepting  the  position  of  special  traveling  agent  in  1878,  when  William 
C.  took  charge  of  the  business  and  has  ever  since  conducted  the  same.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  became  his  father’s  partner,  but  within  a short  time 
thereafter  succeeded  to  the  business,  which  since  the  year  1878  he  has  prac- 
tically controlled  and  which  under  his  initiative  and  successful  methods  has 
grown  so  rapidly  that  he  now  leads  all  competition  in  his  own  city  and  county 
and  occupies  a commanding  position  among  the  leading  insurance  men  of 
Ohio. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Myers  affords  a notable  example  of  the  exercise  of 
those  qualities  of  mind  which  overcome  obstacles  and  win  success  and  his  ex- 
ample is  worthy  of  imitation  by  those  who  are  dissatisfied  with  present  attain- 
ments and  who  would  aspire  to  higher  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  A busi- 
ness man  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the  term,  his  integrity  has  ever  been  above 
suspicion,  while  his  methods  will  bear  the  test  of  the  severest  criticism  and 
among  his  fellow  citizens  his  name  has  always  been  synonymous  with  fair 
and  honorable  dealing.  While  subordinating  every  other  consideration  to 
his  business  affairs,  he  has  not  been  unmindful  of  his  obligations  as  a citizen, 
as  is  indicated  by  the  interest  he  manifests  in  the  public  welfare,  nor  is  he 
negligent  of  those  social  ties  which  every  well  ordered  community  requires  of 
those  who  constitute  its  mainstay  and  support.  Aside  from  his  insurance  in- 
terests he  is  identified  with  various  local  enterprises,  including  among  others 
the  Citizens’  National  Bank  of  Wooster,  of  which  he  is  a director  and  one  of 
the  largest  stockholders.  He  is  prominent  in  Odd  Fellowship,  being  an  influ- 
ential worker  in  the  lodge  at  Wooster,  which  he  has  the  honor  to  represent 
in  the  sovereign  grand  lodge  and  to  his  efforts  are  largely  due  the  growth 
and  popularity  of  the  brotherhood  in  the  city  of  his  residence. 

The  domestic  chapter  in  the  life  history  of  Mr.  Myers  bears  date  of  No- 
vember 28,  1888.  at  which  time  was  solemnized  his  marriage  with  Mary  Hay- 
maker, of  Warren,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Abbie  P.  Haymaker,  of  that 
city,  and  a niece  of  Ephraim  Quinby,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  prominent 
residents  of  Wooster.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  have  no  children  of  their  own, 
but  take  great  interest  in  the  young  people  of  the  city  to  whom  the  doors  of 
their  beautiful  home  are  ever  open  and  among  whom  their  bounty  is  freely 
and  lavishly  dispensed.  Alive  to  every  good  work  and  in  touch  with  all 
laudable  measures  and  humanitarian  projects,  this  excellent  couple  fill  a large 
place  in  the  public  life  of  Wooster,  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  they  are  held 
bv  the  people  of  the  city,  irrespective  of  class  or  condition,  bears  eloquent  tes- 
timony to  their  amiable  qualities  of  head  and  heart. 


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THEO.  P.  BOWMAN. 

Success  in  this  life  comes  to  the  deserving.  It  is  an  axiom  demonstrated 
by  all  human  experience,  that  a man  gets  out  of  this  life  what  he  puts  into  it, 
plus  a reasonable  interest  on  the  investment.  The  individual  who  inherits  a 
large  estate  and  adds  nothing  to  his  fortune  can  not  be  callefl  a successful 
man.  He  that  falls  heir  to  a large  fortune  and  increases  its  value  is  success- 
ful in  porportion  to  the  amount  he  adds  to  his  possession.  But  the  man  who 
starts  in  the  world  unaided  and  by  sheer  force  of  will,  controlled  by  correct 
principles,  forges  ahead  and  at  length  reaches  a position  of  honor  among  his 
fellow  citizens  achieves  success  such  as  representatives  of  the  two  former 
classes  can  neither  understand  nor  appreciate.  To  a considerable  extent  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  a creditable  representative  of  the  class  last  named,  a 
class  which  has  furnished  much  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  country  and 
added  to  the  stability  of  the  government  and  its  institutions. 

Theo.  P.  Bo\vman  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1873,  and  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Plank)  Bowman.  He  is  de- 
scended from  German  antecedents  and  inherits  the  sturdy  qualities  which  made 
representatives  of  that  nationality  such  a desirable  element  in  our  great  cos- 
mopolitan population.  Henry  Bowman  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  when 
a young  man  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Richland  county,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  retained  his  residence  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1891,  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-eight  years.  Mary 
Plank  Bowman  was  born  and  reared  in  Wayne  county  and  is  now  living  at 
Butler,  Richland  county.  By  her  union  with  Henry  Bowman  she  became 
the  mother  of  six  children,  named  as  follows : Sherman  E.,  of  Richland 
county;  Theo.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Ira  C,  of  Richland  county;  Anna 
E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  McKowan  and  resides  in  Richland  county; 
LeRoy,  of  Butler,  Ohio,  and  Arthur,  who  resides  with  his  mother  at  Butler. 

Theo.  P.  Bowman  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  fifteen  years 
old  and  secured  a fair  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  men- 
tioned he  went  to  Mifflin,  Ashland  county,  and  entered  the  employ  of  an 
uncle,  who  operated  a flouring  mill,  with  whom  he  remained  three  years.  In 
1894  he  came  to  Wooster  and  went  to  work  for  Plank  & Gray,  millers,  with 
whom  he  remained  twelve  years,  seven  years  as  a miller  and  five  years  in  the 
capacity  of  traveling  salesman.  In  May,  1902,  Mr.  Bowman  established  him- 
self in  the  grocery  business  and  has  from  the  start  met  with  a gratifying  suc- 
cess. 1 1 is  store  is  well  stocked  with  a carefully  selected  line  of  goods,  and 
evervthing  in  the  various  lines  usually  carried  in  a well-equipped  grocery  are 


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to  be  had.  Especial  attention  is  given  to  the  individual  wants  of  his  cus- 
tomers with  the  result  that  his  trade  has  steadily  grown  from  year  to  year. 

In  1896  Mr.  Bowman  married  Flora  B.  Matz,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Wooster,  the  daughter  of  Wellington  Matz.  To  this  union  two  children 
have  been  born,  namely:  Neal  F.,  born  June  3,  1899,  and  Esther  Fay,  born 
in  August,  1901. 

Mr.  Bowman  is  a Republican  in  politics,  though  he  does  not  take  a very 
active  part  in  public  affairs.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowman  are  consistent  members  of 
the  German  Reformed  church,  to  which  they  give  their  earnest  support.  The 
subject  is  a man  of  strong  purpose  and  unfaltering  industry,  a reliable  and 
enterprising  gentleman  and  ever  faithful  to  his  duties  of  citizenship. 


ARCHIBALD  B.  CAMPBELL,  M.  D. 

The  physician  who  would  succeed  in  his  profession  must  possess  many 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  not  included  in  the  curriculum  of  the  schools  and 
colleges  he  may  have  attended.  In  analyzing  the  career  of  the  successful 
practitioner  of  the  healing  art  it  will  invariably  be  found  to  be  true  that  a 
broad-minded  sympathy  with  the  sick  and  suffering  and  an  honest,  earnest 
desire  to  aid  his  afflicted  fellow  men  have  gone  hand  in  hand  with  skill  and 
able  judgment.  The  gentleman  to  whom  this  brief  tribute  is  given  fortu- 
nately embodies  these  necessary  qualifications  in  a marked  degree  and  by 
energy  and  close  application  to  his  professional  duties  he  has  built  up  an 
enviable  reputation  and  drawn  to  himself  a large  and  remunerative  patronage. 

Dr.  Campbell's  paternal  grandfather  was  James  Campbell,  a native  of 
Scotland,  who  emigrated  to  Canada  in  1831.  bringing  with  him  his  family, 
consisting  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  These  children  all  located  in 
Elgin  county,  Ontario,  and  all  reared  large  families.  James  Campbell  was 
a farmer  bv  vocation  and  followed  this  pursuit  during  all  of  his  active  years. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  leaving  several  hundred  descendants. 
The  subject’s  father,  John  Campbell,  who  was  bom  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland, 
came  to  Canada  with  his  parents  in  1831.  locating  in  Elgin  county,  Ontario, 
which  at  that  time  was  a dense  wilderness.  The  family  went  to  work  clearing 
the  land  and  planting  crops  and  in  a few  years  they  had  farms  that  would 
have  done  credit  to  the  more  older  settled  sections  of  the  continent.  John 
Campbell  spent  the  balance  of  his  life  on  this  farm  which  he  cleared  and 


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died  there  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  For  forty  years  he  was 
a prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  his  faith  was  shown  by 
his  works.  He  married  Margaret  McIntyre,  also  a native  of  Argyleshire, 
Scotland,  born  in  1818,  or  seven  years  subsequent  to  the  birth  of  her  husband. 
She  is  now  residing  on  the  Elgin  county  farm,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety- 
two  years.  John  and  Margaret  Campbell  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
five  sons  and  four  daughters. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  on  the  paternal  homestead  during 
his  youth  and  received  a good  education  in  the  common  schools.  As  a means 
to  an  end,  with  the  medical  profession  in  view,  he  engaged  in  teaching,  which 
vocation  he  followed  during  five  years.  In  1869  and  1870  he  attended  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  graduat- 
ing there  in  1871  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Entering  at  once 
on  the  practice  of  his  profession,  he  located  first  at  Western  Star,  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  for  two  years.  In  May,  1873,  he  removed 
to  Canal  Fulton,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until  October, 
1901,  when  he  came  to  Orrville,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  conducts 
a general  practice  in  medicine  and  surgery  and  is  numbered  among  the  most 
successful  practitioners  in  this  section  of  the  county.  He  keeps  in  close 
touch  with  the  advances  continually  being  made  in  his  profession,  and  all 
improvements  of  a practical  nature  he  readily  adopts,  ever  earnestly  desiring 
to  attain  as  high  a degree  of  perfection  as  possible  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
life  work. 

In  1876  Doctor  Campbell  married  Amelia  Upjohn,  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
Uriah  Upjohn,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  where  she  was  born  and  reared. 
She  died  one  and  a half  years  after  their  marriage,  leaving  a son,  Archibald 
Upjohn  Campbell,  who  is  now  a member  of  the  Upjohn  Pharmaceutical 
Company,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  of 
physician’s  supplies  in  the  country,  and  of  which  he  is  a stockholder.  In 
1883  Dr.  Campbell  married  Etta  McMillen,  a daughter  of  John  McMillen, 
of  Stark  county,  this  state,  and  a sister  of  the  late  Dr.  McMillen,  of  Orrville. 

The  Doctor  keeps  in  touch  with  his  professional  brethren  through  his 
membership  in  the  Wayne  County  Medical  Society,  the  Sixth  Congres- 
sional District  Medical  Society  and  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Association.  In 
religion  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Orrville  and  take  a deep  and  abiding  interest  in  its  welfare.  Fraternally,  he 
is  a member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  which  he  joined  as  soon  as 
he  had  reached  his  majority.  In  politics  he  supports  the  Republican  party. 


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He  was  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Canal  Fulton,  Stark  county, 
for  eighteen  years  and  has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  educational 
matters.  He  served  for  eight  years  as  pension  examining  surgeon  in  Stark 
county,  and  is  now  surgeon  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and  the 
Cleveland,  Akron  & Columbus  Railroad  Company. 

Doctor  Campbell  is  descended  from  a remarkable  family  of  self-made 
men  whose  ancestors  settled  in  the  Canadian  wilderness  eighty  years  ago. 
His  progenitors  were  of  a hardy  race,  big,  strong  men,  who  carved  their 
way  to  success  by  sheer  force  of  will.  Twenty-two  descendants  of  the  Scotch 
farmer  who  first  settled  in  the  western  world  are  now  successful  professional 
men,  twenty  of  them  being  physicians,  one  a lawyer  and  one  a dentist. 
Fauquhar  Campbell,  a brother  of  the  subject's  father,  had  nine  sons,  and  of 
these  seven  became  physicians  and  one  a lawyer. 


* EZRA  D.  McINTIRE. 

The  life  history  of  him  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  history  of  Wayne  county.  His  life  has  been  one  of  untiring 
activity  and  has  been  crowned  with  a degree  of  success  attained  by  those  only 
who  devote  themselves  imlefatigably  to  the  work  before  them.  He  is  of  a 
high  type  of  business  man  and  none  more  than  he  deserves  a fitting  recogni- 
tion among  the  men  whose  genius  and  abilities  have  achieved  results  that  are 
most  enviable  and  commendable.  As  a servant  of  the  people  of  his  county 
Mr.  Mclntire  acquitted  himself  with  the  highest  honors  and  that  he  is  now 
in  private  life  is  because  he  no  longer  desired  the  official  position  which  he 
had  filled  satisfactorily  for  so  many  years. 

Ezra  D.  Mclntire,  whose  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  lies  in  Wooster 
and  Franklin  townships,  was  born  in  Franklin  township,  this  county.  Decem- 
l>er  22,  1844.  on  the  farm  which  his  father  had  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment and  which  is  now  owned  by  the  subject.  He  is  a son  of  Cornelius  and 
Nancy  ( Rayl)  Mclntire.  The  subject's  paternal  grandfather  was  John  Mc- 
lntire. who  was  born  in  county  Derry,  Ireland,  in  1755.  He  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1782.  and  settled  at  York.  Pennsylvania.  He  was  there 
engaged  in  farming  for  fifteen  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  moved 
to  near  Steubenville.  Ohio,  on  what  was  then  known  as  the  Mingo  Bottoms. 
In  1820  he  came  to  Franklin  township.  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  remaining  days.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  namely:  John, 


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a 1 - * <i  of  education  of  ( 'Mai  Inin >n.  Stark  count  v, 
1 , ! i'i\\a\^  keen  deeplv  interested  in  educational 

■;  \w:m  a-  pension  examining  >nr^eon  in  Stark 
• •*:  :■•!  the  ! Ypfisx  1\ ania  Railr-  *ad  Cotupanv  and  t lie 

.’■■Tr-dn.^  *•’ -!■!;« »ad  Company 

V *■*  o . — - | Mom  a rem(lrkaMe  family  of  self-ma  * 

• - ^ m*'  ! m the  C 'anadian  wdderness  eitfjrtv  vears  ;o, 
*<•<  ■ **  i , it  d v ra*  e,  kuy,  strong  men.  who  rarer*1  aeir 

- • ••«  mf  will.  i went',  -two  deswatdatn>  ot  tk-  eoteh 
n ! he  weOeni  world  are  now  successful  p*  ^sional 
oemo  | livvie.ans.  one  a lawyer  and  on-  ..  dentist, 
a brother  <*«  the  subject  X fat  hem  had  nin-'  ns.  and  of 
■ p||  <dyjam  a'*o  ■ ‘fie  a law  ver. 


f :ka  i).  Mem  ik is 

. • . whose  name  heads  h -kewh  lias  keen  chicly 

■ \\ ayne  county.  Hi-  ' has  keen  mite  of  untiring 
. t.  d with  a decree  of  cess  attained  hv  those  onlv 
- ie  fat  iyal  ly  to  tile  k before  them,  lie  is  of  a 
4 Vi  and  none  more  * i he  deserves  a tilting  recn^ni- 

: a :■  •:  a ■ • ■'  ko.se  genius  and  a?1  ;s  have  achieved  results  that  are 

i •'?.  emah  . e<  • nmtnd  Jre  As  a : amt  of  ’he  people  of  lu’s  conmv 

Mr.  McJniitt  .omitted  hinwlf  v\  itli  - kigf'iest  imnors  and  that  he  h nov 
in -private  i o is  became  ke  no  lot1-.-  desired  the  ofhctal  position  winch  lie 
had  fillet!  s4.Msfactorih-  for  m>  mam  ears. 

• I .zra  ! M'dnttre.  whose  h * oan  ot  two  hundred  aeres  lies  in  \\ofKtrr 
and  I'rankl’ii  tow  mhins.  was  1 m kranklm  township,  this  eoantv,  1 )e*'em 
her  j_m  iSpp  on  the  him  m his  faiher  had  erueied  bom  the  yew  em- 
inent and  w Inch  is  u<  . w o\  i hy  die  stikjeet.  lie  is  a sou  of  Cornel  ins  and 
\anev  i Khn  1 ) Melmire.  t tie  siilijeet's  paternal  y rand  fat  her  was  |ohn  Me- 
Inti’e.  who  was  horn  1,1  < minty  I h na  , I inland.  m i y ; 5 . lie  emigrated  t * 
d,e  Cirn  d Stan^  ,u  *'j.  and  ^ e 1 1 It  d at  York,  IVunw  1 \ atiia.  lit'  \\(>  there 
eneamM  m larmi;  n»r  fifteen  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  m*>\rd 
to  near  btenkem  ’ : V.  ( huo  on  w 1ml  was  ;hen  kirmn  as  the  Mmwi  l h an.ms 
in  iSnohee.u  < ■ ■ brinkim  'oanshf|..  \\  awue  cbmru  , < >hio.  w ke:  t he  s|,c*m 
h’s  Minawnna  days.  He  w 1 1 - the  lather  of  e 1 nil!  chddren.  nam*  1\'  : |ohep 


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James,  Smith,  William,  Archibald,  Cornelius,  Sarah  and  Catherine,  all  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  Cornelius  Mclntire  was  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Pennsylvania,  July  20,  1800,  and  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Ohio  in  1820.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  task  of  clearing  the  land  for 
cultivation  and  the  same  season  succeeded  in  sowing  four  acres  to  wheat. 
He  was  an  energetic  man  during  all  his  active  life  and  was  widely  known 
because  of  his  enterprising  spirit  and  progressive  methods.  He  followed 
farming  all  his  life  and  was  eminently  successful.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  while  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  denomination. 
He  was  a Democrat  in  politics  and  served  as  trustee  of  Franklin  township. 
H is  death  occurred  in  1881  and  his  wife  died  in  1886.  their  remains  being 
interred  in  the  cemetery  at  their  home.  On  the  24th  of  January,  1828.  Cor- 
nelius Mclntire  married  Nancy  Rayl.  who  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1 8 1 1 , and  who  came  to  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
with  her  parents  in  1819.  To  them  were  bom  the  following  children : Mary 
Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Derringer;  George,  deceased;  Reason, 
deceased;  Hannah,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Greenwald,  of  Wooster;  Sarah,  deceased; 
Sophronia,  deceased;  Cornelius,  who  lives  at  Needles,  California;  William, 
deceased;  Fzra  D..  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John 
Craven,  of  Wooster  township;  Susan,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Cyrus 
Franks;  John  W.,  deceased,  and  Jacob,  who  also  has  died. 

Ezra  D.  Mclntire  received  a good  common  school  education  and  was 
reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer.  He  remained  as  the  assistant  of  his  father  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty- four  years  of  age.  During  the  following 
two  years  he  was  in  various  parts  of  the  West  and  then  engaged  in  the  oil 
business  in  Pennsylvania  for  a number  of  years.  Then  locating  in  Defiance, 
Ohio,  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  milling  business  until  1881,  when  he 
returned  to  Wayne  county  and  in  the  following  spring  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment as  superintendent  of  the  county  infirmary.  This  position  he  held  for 
twenty-three  consecutive  years  and  in  all  this  period  there  was  never  heard 
an  expression  but  that  of  satisfaction  regarding  his  conduct  of  this  respon- 
sible and  ofttimes  trying  position.  In  consecutive  years  he  held  the  office 
longer  than  any  other  man  in  the  history  of  this  state,  certainly  a remarkable 
and  unmistakable  recognition  of  his  eminent  business  qualities.  He  had  in 
his  charge  the  insane,  epileptics  and  poor  wards  of  the  county  and  he  gave  to 
them  and  the  various  other  interests  of  the  home  the  same  careful  and  pains- 
taking attention  that  he  gives  to  his  own  private  affairs.  In  the  spring  of 
1904  Mr.  Mclntire  retired  from  the  superintendency  and  located  on  his  farm 

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in  section  ! 4.  where  he  is  now  living.  He  is  a thorough  and  practical  farmer 
and  is  numbered  among  the  leading  men  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Mclntire  married  Mariah  Sweeney,  and  to  them  have  been  born  the 
following  children:  Eva,  who  died  young;  Walter,  at  home;  Florence,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Oliver  Mock,  of  Franklin  township;  Arthur  Clark,  of  Wooster, 
who  married  Daisy  Dunham.  In  politics  Mr.  Mclntire  has  rendered  a starfch 
allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  at  one  time  he  served  as  assessor  of 
Franklin  township.  He  has  served  as  a delegate  to  county,  state  and  national 
conventions  of  his  party  and  has  always  been  influential  in  the  councils  of  his 
party.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  having 
been  made  a Master  Mason  in  Ebenezer  Lodge,  at  Wooster,  in  1889.  He  has 
also  taken  the  degrees  of  the  council  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  and  the  com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templar,  in  all  of  which  bodies  he  is  active.  No  one 
in  the  community  enjoys  a better  reputation  for  integrity  of  word  and  deed 
than  does  the  subject,  and  when  a man  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  the 
people  who  have  known  him  during  all  the  years  of  his  life  no  greater  testi- 
monial of  his  worth  can  be  given.  He  has  had  the  best  interests  of  his  com- 
munity at  heart,  and  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  having  the  state  agri- 
cultural experiment  station  located  in  Wayne  county. 


JOSEPH  OWEX  FRITZ. 

Although  yet  a young  man,  Joseph  O.  Fritz  has  made  his  influence  felt 
at  the  Wayne  county  bar  and  won  general  recognition  as  an  attorney  of  un- 
usual force  and  ability  and  while  he  has  established  a solid  reputation  in  legal 
affairs  he  has  also  won  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow'  citizens  owing 
to  his  habits  of  industry  and  his  fidelity  to  right  principles  of  action  in  his 
social  intercourse  with  those  with  whom  he  comes  into  contact,  and  to  such 
as  he  future  years  needs  must  be  replete  with  honor  and  abundant  success. 

Mr.  Fritz  was  born  in  Milton  township.  Wayne  county.  Ohio,  on  Novem- 
ber ().  1872.  and  he  is  the  son  of  a farmer,  his  ancestry  being  among  the  sterling 
and  substantial  stock  that  reclaimed  this  country  from  the  wilderness  and 
while  they  may  not  have  produced  leaders  of  men  in  any  of  the  walks  of  life, 
they  formed  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  body  politic,  making  possible  the  great 
development  and  the  wondrous  successes  of  the  present  generation.  He  is  the 
son  of  Elmore  and  Jemima  ( P>artholomew)  Fritz.  His  grandparents  were, 
on  the  paternal  side.  Philip  and  Mary  (Long)  Fritz,  and  on  the  maternal  side. 


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Owen  and  Leah  (Mill)  Bartholomew.  The  subject's  paternal  great-grand- 
father, Martin  Fritz,  was  a member  of  Capt.  Samuel  Cochran’s  company,  the 
Tenth  Battalion  Pennsylvania  Militia,  and  served  five  years  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  In  1771,  when  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  left  France  alone,  and, 
coming  to  America,  first  settled  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Wildt,  who  had  six  sisters,  all  of  whom  settled  in  the  vicinity 
of  Doylestown,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  founded  pioneer  families  in  that  sec- 
tion. In  June,  1814,  Martin  Fritz  settled  in  Milton  township,  Wayne  county, 
being  the  first  white  settler  in  that  township. 

Mr.  Fritz  was  always  a studious  lad  and  when  a mere  boy  he  was  actuated 
by  an  ambition  to  become  an  attorney-at-law,  and  while  living  on  the  farm 
where  he  assisted  with  work  about  the  place  in  the  summer  months,  at- 
tending the  neighboring  schools  in  the  wintertime,  he  began  laying  plans  for  a 
future  career  in  the  legal  profession.  He  later  received  a good  commercial 
and  academic  education,  having  studied  at  the  Western  Reserve  Normal  Col- 
lege, Wadsworth,  Ohio,  and  taken  a full  course  at  the  Massillon  Business  Col- 
lege, in  each  of  which  he  made  splendid  records. 

Mr.  Fritz  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  October  14,  1899, 
having  pursued  a thorough  course  of  law  in  the  office  of  Messrs.  John  and 
Robert  L.  Adair.  He  was  successful  in  the  practice  from  the  first  and  he  now 
enjoys  a very  liberal  patronage.  He  opened  an  office  in  Creston,  Wayne 
county,  about  February,  1900,  and  came  to  Wooster  December  1,  1903.  He 
has  gradually  grown  in  strength  in  the  local  courts  until  he  is  now  fully  abreast 
of  the  times  in  his  chosen  profession.  In  his  trial  of  cases,  his  intercourse, 
argument,  and  competitions  with  the  other  members  of  the  bar,  he  treats  them 
with  respect  and  kindness.  In  disposition  and  temperament  he  is  bland,  ap- 
proachable and  sociable,  liberal  and  accommodating,  high-spirited  and  inde- 
pendent. a natural  man  in  a natural  way,  asserting  himself  and  relying  upon 
himself,  and  accomplishing  his  ends  by  his  own  methods  and  processes. 

Joseph  O.  Fritz  was  married,  on  June  2,  1899,  to  Clementine  Kick,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Wolf)  Kick,  who  was  born  in  Lake  township, 
Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  to  them  were  born  six  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Ward  Anderson,  Myrna  C.  Carl  Joseph  and  Philip.  Mary 
Veda  died  at  the  age  of  six  years  and  Frank  at  one  year  of  age. 

Politically,  the  subject  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  while  his 
fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Re- 
ligiously, he  is  a member  of  the  English  Lutheran  church,  to  which  he  renders 
a hearty  support. 


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ROBERT  CAMERON,  SR. 

For  many  years  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  actively  and  prominent- 
ly identified  with  the  business  and  civic  affairs  of  Wooster,  being  one  of  the 
leading  contractors  and  builders  of  the  county  and  having  been  concerned  in 
the  erection  of  many  of  the  best  buildings  in  the  city  and  vicinity.  A native 
of  bonnie  Scotland,  he  has  evidenced  in  his  life  here  many  of  the  sterling 
qualities  which  characterize  that  virile  race  and  he  is  occupying  an  enviable 
position  in  the  community. 

Robert  Cameron’s  ancestors  for  many  generations  have  been  born  and 
reared  in  Scotland,  his  great-grandfather,  grandfather  and  father,  all  bearing 
the  Christian  name  of  John,  having  been  of  that  sturdy  race.  The  subject’s 
father  was  a farmer  and  contractor,  and  was  a man  of  unquestioned  honor,  it 
having  been  literally  true  that  his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond.  He  was 
born  in  1809,  and  died  in  1893,  at  aSe  °f  eighty-four  years.  His  birth 
was  thus  coincident  with  Lincoln,  Gladstone  and  several  other  men  whose 
names  are  household  words  throughout  the  world.  The  subject's  grand- 
father, John  Cameron,  was  also  a contractor  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  He  was  a presiding  magistrate  for  many  years,  and  several  mem- 
bers of  this  family  in  the  paternal  line  were  burgesses,  an  office  of  distinction, 
carrying  with  it  a number  of  special  privileges.  The  subject's  mother  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Christina  Jackson,  and  she  died  on  New  Year  day,  1876, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Her  father,  Thomas  Jackson,  was  a nail- 
maker,  and  was  descended  from  a long  line  of  Scotch  ancestors.  To  John 
and  Christina  Cameron  were  born  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  their  names  being  as  follows: 

(1)  John  was  a civil  surgeon  at  Lucknow,  India.  On  the  completion 
of  his  service  there,  he  contemplated  a visit  to  the  subject  in  America,  but 
while  en  route,  he  dropped  dead  in  a hotel  at  Sydney,  New  South  Wales. 
His  wife  was  a niece  of  Lord  Mayo  and  is  now  living  in  London. 

(2)  Thomas,  who  died  in  June,  1876,  was  horn  in  Scotland  and  his 
remains  now  lie  in  the  historic  graveyard  at  Cathcart.  He  came  to  America 
in  1856,  locating  in  Canada,  and  in  the  following  year  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  He  was  a stonecutter  by  trade  and  was  employed  in  the  erection  of 
the  Washington  monument  at  Washington.  D.  C.  He  visited  Scotland  in 
i860,  returning  to  the  United  States  in  the  following  year.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  for  the  three  months'  service,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  re-enlisted  for  three  years.  lie  participated  in  the  bat- 


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ties  of  Chancellorsville,  Fredericksburg  and  Gettysburg,  and  was  captured  in 
the  last  named  engagement.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  the  contracting  business,  erecting  most  of 
the  prominent  buildings  of  that  day  here. 

(3)  James,  who  died  in  1884,  was  a marine  engineer  and  was  chief 
engineer  on  the  Dutch  mail  service.  His  death  occurred  in  Glasgow,  and 
there  his  widow  and  her  three  sons  and  a daughter  now  reside. 

(4)  Robert,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  is  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

(5)  Archibald  was  a doctor  in  the  Queen’s  India  service,  but  was  sub- 
sequently retired.  He  had  been  civil  surgeon  of  the  sacred  city  of  Benares, 
the  highest  position  a civil  surgeon  could  occupy  in  India,  he  holding  the  rank 
of  major  in  the  medical  service.  He  was  retired  after  a long  and  faithful 
service,  and  in  1895  started  on  his  return  to  his  home  in  Scotland.  On  the 
way  he  stopped  at  London  and  started  for  the  war  office  to  settle  his  accounts. 
On  the  way  he  was  waylaid  and  murdered  and  robbed. 

(6)  Janet,  who  now  resides  at  Southport,  England,  is  the  widow  of 
John  Miller  and  is  the  mother  of  seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  John  Miller 
was  the  inventor  of  millerain,  a waterproof  cloth  much  used  by  the  British 
government. 

(7)  Christina  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Meikham,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  sons. 

(8)  Agnes  is  the  wife  of  Capt.  William  Burns,  of  the  marine  service. 
He  was  for  many  years  the  captain  of  American  and  Indian  liners  and  for 
some  time  has  been  engaged  in  an  effort  to  find  the  lost  treasure  ship  of  the 
Spanish  Armada,  which  was  sunken  off  the  shore  of  Scotland  in  1588. 

Robert  Cameron,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Lanark,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Clyde,  two  and  a half  miles  south  of  the  city  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  on 
the  5th  day  of  March,  1842.  He  secured  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county,  making  such  rapid  progress  in  his  studies  that  he  was  enabled 
to  complete  his  academic  course  at  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  then  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  and  in  1867  he  came  to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating at  Wooster,  Ohio.  He  first  went  into  a commission  merchant’s  office 
as  junior  bookkeeper.  This  was  immediately  after  leaving  school.  Was 
later  employed  by  the  Rock  Island  & Pacific  Railroad  Company  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  foreman  in  the  erection  of  the  new  shops.  This  was  in  1868.  A 
short  while  later,  however,  he  returned  to  Wooster.  In  1869  he  returned  to 
Scotland,  where  he  was  married,  and  the  following  year  came  back  to 


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Wooster  and  resumed  work  at  his  trade.  In  1871  he  began  general  con- 
tracting on  his  own  account  and  has  followed  that  occupation  since,  with 
the  exception  of  a period  of  seven  years,  during  which  time  he  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business.  In  his  business  affairs  he  has  been  successful,  having 
erected  many  of  the  best  buildings,  both  for  business  and  residence  purposes 
in  this  city  and  vicinity.  His  work  has  always  stood  the  closest  inspection 
and  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  best  workmen  in  the  local  field. 

Robert  Cameron  has  taken  a deep  interest  in  military  matters  and  was 
a member  of  the  Ohio  National  Guard,  being  first  lieutenant  of  Company  D, 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  which  command  was  afterwards  known  as  ‘‘McKin- 
ley's Own."  All  of  his  sons  excepting  the  youngest  were  also  members  of  this 
company.  The  military  spirit  was  strong  in  the  hearts  of  the  boys  and  two 
of  them,  Robert  and  Nathaniel,  saw  service  in  the  Spanish-American  war  in 
1898.  They  were  both  in  the  Santiago  campaign,  Robert  being  invalided 
and  sent  home,  while  Nathaniel  was  sent  to  Bellevue  hospital. 

In  1869,  as  stated  above,  Air.  Cameron  returned  to  the  land  of  hills  and 
heather  and  took  unto  himself  a helpmeet  in  the  person  of  Mary  Jane  Col- 
ledge,  of  North  Shields.  She  was  born  in  Howden-on-the-Tyne,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Colledge,  a prosperous  provision  merchant  of  that 
village.  This  union  was  blessed  in  the  birth  of  nine  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy  unnamed.  Those  who  attained  to  mature  years  are  briefly 
mentioned  as  follows : John  Archibald,  a carpenter  and  joiner  at  Akron, 

Ohio,  is  married  and  the  father  of  two  children;  Christina  Jackson  is  house- 
keeper and  companion  for  her  father;  Robert;  Nathaniel  C. ; James  Ronald; 
the  three  last  named  are  all  occupying  important  positions  with  the  Goodrich 
Rubber  Company  at  Akron,  Ohio;  Walter  Scott  is  a stenographer  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  Martin  Welker,  the  youngest,  is  a student  in  the  University  of 
Wooster.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  on  the  21st  of  August,  1908, 
since  which  time  Christina  has  devoted  herself  to  her  father's  comfort. 

In  politics  Air.  Cameron  is  a stanch  Republican  and  was  formerly  very 
active  in  local  political  matters,  but  of  late  years  he  has  not  taken  a prominent 
part,  though  still  keeping  in  close  touch  with  the  trend  of  current  events 
in  the  political  world.  He,  with  his  entire  family,  are  connected  with  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  they  are  regular  attendants  and  generous 
supporters.  Air.  Cameron  has  taken  a deep  interest  in  the  Sunday  school 
and  for  many  years  prior  to  the  death  of  his  wife  he  was  a teacher  in  that 
school.  He  is  an  appreciative  member  of  the  time-honored  order  of  Free 
and  Accepted  Alasons,  having  been  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of  a Alaster 


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Mason  in  the  same  lodge  in  Scotland  in  which  his  forefathers  for  many 
generations  had  been  raised.  The  members  of  the  Cameron  family  are  noted 
for  their  splendid  physique,  all  the  male  members  of  the  family  standing 
at  least  six  feet  tall,  and  good  health  and  splendid  physical  condition  has 
characterized  them  all.  During  a residence  in  this  community  of  many 
years,  Mr  Cameron  has  constantly  enjoyed  the  absolute  confidence  of  all 
who  have  had  dealings  with  him  and  those  who  know  him  best  are  his  closest 
friends.  He  has  always  been  found  on  the  right  side  of  every  moral  issue 
and  gives  his  support  to  every  movement  that  promises  to  benefit  the  com- 
munity. 


GILBERT  D.  McINTYRE. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  leads  this  sketch  has  long  enjoyed  prestige 
as  a leading  citizen  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides,  and  as  an  official 
against  whose  record  no  word  of  suspicion  was  ever  uttered  he  has  been  an 
important  factor  in  the  life  of  the  city  of  his  residence.  There  flows  in  his 
veins  Scotch  blood,  and  in  him  are  exhibited  those  sterling  qualities  of  char- 
acter which  have  made  his  father  s countrymen  such  desirable  citizens  in 
this  great  republic.  Mr.  McIntyre  himself  is  a native  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
having  been  born  at  Dovlestown,  Wayne  county,  the  date  of  his  birth  having 
been  the  13th  day  of  August,  1849.  His  father  was  A.  A.  McIntyre,  who 
was  a native  of  Edinburgh.  Scotland,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In 
1826  he  came  to  America,  locating  first  in  Canada,  where  lie  remained  for  a 
number  of  years.  About  the  year  1840  he  came  to  the  United  States  and 
made  his  home  in  Ogdensburg,  New  York.  Subsequently  he  removed  to 
Dovlestown,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  there  he  remained  for  a number  of 
years.  He  was  a tailor  bv  trade  and  was  considered  a good  workman.  While 
living  at  Dovlestown  he  was  appointed  postmaster  and  rendered  efficient  serv- 
ice. In  1854  he  again  changed  his  residence,  this  time  locating  at  Marshall- 
ville,  where  he  became  the  local  agent  for  the  railroad,  which  position  he  re- 
tained until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1869,  at  which  time  he  was  seventy- 
two  years  old.  In  religion  he  was  a Presbyterian  and  was  a man  of  good  habits 
and  splendid  standing  among  his  fellow  citizens.  A.  A.  McIntyre  married 
Julia  Plummer,  who  was  born  near  Ogdensburg.  New  York,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated,  and  where  she  met  and  married  Mr.  McIntyre.  She  died 
in  1895  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  This  worthy  couple  became  the 


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parents  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased  excepting  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  and  a sister,  Mrs.  John  Pfunder,  whose  husband  is  now  post- 
master at  Marshallville. 

The  subject  of  this  sketdi  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  home  community  and  at  Marshallville,  to  which  place  the  family  re- 
moved. On  his  father's  death,  in  1869,  the  subject  succeeded  him  in  the 
position  of  railroad  station  agent,  and  this  position  he  continued  to  occupy 
until  1881.  He  then  embarked  in  the  insurance  business,  which  he  continued 
with  success  until  1902,  on  July  10th  of  which  year  he  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Orrville,  to  which  city  he  removed  his  residence  in  March,  1893. 
Mr.  McIntyre’s  conduct  of  the  postoffice  has  been  eminently  satisfactory  to 
the  patrons  of  the  office,  as  he  is  courteous  and  accommodating  and  gives  to 
the  office  the  same  attention  and  the  same  business  methods  he  would  give  to 
a private  business.  On  June  6,  1910,  he  received  his  third  appointment  as 
postmaster,  a testimonial  to  his  efficiency  and  popularity. 

In  July,  1879,  Mr.  McIntyre  was  united  in  mariage  to  Rebecca  Schlutt, 
of  Marshallville,  where  she  had  been  born  and  reared,  the  daughter  of 
Charles  Schlutt.  To  this  union  two  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Charles 
G.,  an  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and 
Dora  O.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  D.  S.  Burns,  of  Bryan,  Ohio. 

Socially  Mr.  McIntyre  is  a member  of  the  time-honored  order  of  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  in  the  workings  of  which  he  takes  a deep  interest. 
In  politics  he  is  a Republican,  but  takes  no  very  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
devoting  his  entire  attention  to  the  performance  of  his  official  duties.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  here  his  characteristics  have  won  him  recognition  as  a man 
of  true  worth  and  he  commands  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


ANDREW  JACKSON  PETERMAN. 

The  march  of  improvement  and  progress  is  accelerated  day  by  day,  and 
each  successive  moment  seems  to  demand  of  men  a broader  intelligence  and  a 
greater  discernment  than  did  the  preceding.  Successful  men  must  be  live 
men  in  this  age.  bristling  with  activity,  and  the  lessons  of  biography  may  be 
far-reaching  to  an  extent  not  superficially  evident.  There  can  be  no  impro- 
priety in  justly  scanning  the  acts  of  any  man  as  they  affect  his  public,  social 
and  business  relations.  If  he  be  honest  and  successful  in  his  chosen  field  of 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


665 


endeavor,  investigations  will  brighten  his  fame  and  point  the  path  along  which 
others  may  follow,  and  thus  his  life  becomes  cumulative  in  its  favorable  in- 
fluence. Among  the  able  and  representative  business  men  of  Fredericksburg, 
Wayne  county,  is  numbered  Mr.  Peterman,  who  has  had  to  do  with  a number 
of  enterprises  of  wide  scope  and  importance  and  whose  executive  capacity  has 
been  such  as  to  enable  him  to  achieve  a definite  success,  while  the  methods 
employed  have  been  such  as  to  gain  and  retain  to  him  the  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  his  fellow  men.  It  is  both  gratifying  and  profitable  to  enter  record 
concerning  the  career  of  such  a man,  and  in  the  following  paragraphs  sufficient 
will  be  said  to  indicate  the  forceful  individuality,  initiative  power  and  sterling 
character  of  a well-known  citizen  of  Fredericksburg. 

Andrew  Jackson  Peterman  is  a native  son  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  hav- 
ing first  seen  the  light  of  day  in  Prairie  township.  Holmes  county.  He  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Sarah  E.  (Cosper)  Peterman,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  James  Peterman  came  to  Ohio  about  1830  and  entered  land 
in  Holmes  county,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  in 
1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His  wife  was  sixty-six  years  old  at 
the  time  of  her  death.  Before  coming  to  Holmes  county  Mr.  Peterman  had 
been  a contractor  on  the  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  canal,  constructing  several 
large  sections  of  that  great  work,  but  after  coming  to  Holmes  county  he  fol- 
lowed the  vocation  of  farming  exclusively.  Politically  he  was  a great  admirer 
of  Andrew  Jackson  and  took  an  active  part  in  local  public  affairs,  having 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  several  terms  and  at  one  time  was  the  candidate 
of  his  party  for  the  Legislature.  He  was  fairly  successful  in  his  business 
affairs  and  was  considered  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  his  part  of  the 
county.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Fredericksburg 
until  the  division  of  that  body,  when  he  went  with  the  congregational  section 
and  was  very  active  in  the  society,  serving  as  trustee  for  a number  of  years. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterman  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  those  living  are 
as  follows:  Mrs.  Margaret  Ridle;  Andrew  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 

Mrs.  Albert  Gailey,  of  Chicago;  Mrs.  Martha  McCormack;  R.  C.,'who  is  presi- 
dent of  a banking  company,  lives  in  Chicago. 

Andrew  J.  Peterman  secured  his  elementary  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Holmes  county,  supplementing  this  by  attendance  at  the  old  Smith 
Academy  at  Fredericksburg,  receiving  a fair  education  for  that  period.  On 
completing  his  education,  he  went  into  the  lumber  business  and  has  continued 
to  be  identified  with  that  line  of  business  to  the  present  time.  He  was  success- 
ful in  the  enterprise  and  soon  afterwards  added  the  flour  business,  in  which 
also  he  met  with  a gratifying  patronage.  In  connection  with  the  lumber  busi- 


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ness  he  owns  a mill,  in  which  are  manufactured  many  articles  for  household 
use,  besides  the  production  of  all  kinds  of  lumber  and  planing-mill  supplies. 
He  has  now  been  in  these  two  lines  about  thirty-five  years  and  has  constantly 
enjoyed  his  full  share  of  the  public  patronage.  One  of  the  most  important 
and  far-reaching  steps  taken  by  Mr.  Peterman  in  the  commercial  world  was  the 
organization  and  establishment  of  the  Bank  of  Fredericksburg.  In  the  prelim- 
inary work  incidental  to  the  establishment  of  this  institution  Mr.  Peterman  was 
foremost  and  on  its  organization  he  was  elected  the  first  president,  holding 
this  office  about  eighteen  months.  The  bank  has  enjoyed  remarkable  success 
from  the  beginning  and  is  now  rated  as  one  of  the  strong  and  prosperous 
monetary  institutions  of  Wayne  county.  It  has  been  an  important  and  in- 
fluential factor  in  the  commercial  prosperity  of  this  part  of  the  county  and  the 
community  is  indebted  to  the  gentleman  who  had  the  prescience  and  foresight 
to  go  ahead  with  the  project.  Mr.  Peterman  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Ohio  Terra  Cotta  Brick  Company  and  is  still  interested  in  the  enter- 
prise. This  company  is  fortunate  in  being  the  possessor  of  clay  beds  of  the 
finest  quality  and  they  are  producing  a line  of  fancy  brick  which  has  found  a 
ready  sale  ever  since  being  first  put  on  the  market.  The  clay  is  found  about 
one  hundred  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  underlies  a bed  of 
splendid  coal.  Besides  the  bed  of  yellow  clav,  from  which  most  of  the  prod- 
uct is  made,  the  company  has  also  discovered  a sixteen-foot  vein  of  brown 
clay,  lying  near  the  surface,  and  from  this  a beautiful  brown-colored  brick  is 
made  that  has  also  caught  the  popular  fancy.  The  company  manufactures 
brick  of  various  kinds,  and  in  fact  makes  most  everything  that  can  be  made 
of  clay  and,  judging  from  their  success  of  the  past,  they  have  a most  promis- 
ing future.  Mr.  Peterman  takes  a deep  interest  in  anything  that  gives  prom- 
ise of  benefiting  the  community  and  lends  his  support  and  encouragement  to 
all  legitimate  enterprises.  He  is  essentially  public-spirited  and  deservedly 
occupies  a high  position  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  the  29th  of  October.  1909,  Mr.  Peterman  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  E.  Berger,  who  was  born  in  Holmes  county.  Ohio,  the  daughter  of 
William  Berger,  who  was  for  thirty  years  a successful  merchant  at  Fredericks- 
burg. but  whose  death  occurred  in  1907. 

In  politics  Mr.  Peterman  Ips  always  been  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  though  he  has  never  taken  a very  active  part  in  political 
affairs.  He  was.  however,  induced  to  accept  the  responsible  position  of  treas- 
urer of  the  township  and  town,  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  twelve  years, 
rendering  most  efficient  and  satisfactorv  service.  In  religion,  he  and  his  wife 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Fredericksburg  and 


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give  to  that  society  an  earnest  and  generous  support.  A man  of  splendid 
personal  qualities,  Mr.  Peterman  has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  representative  citizens  of  Fredericksburg  and  as  such  he  is  eminently 
entitled  to  representation  in  a work  of  this  character.  He  is  a worthy  rep- 
resentative of  an  honored  family,  one  who,  by  reason  of  his  sterling  personal 
worth,  deserves  and  is  generally  accorded  that  esteem  which  comes  to  those 
whose  lives  are  in  close  touch  with  all  that  assists  in  advancing  the  community 
in  which  they  live. 


JOSEPH  S.  SHERRICK. 

That  industry  and  sound  judgment,  combined  with  a wise  economy, 
both  of  time  and  money,  are  the  surest  contributing  elements  to  success, 
is  exemplified  in  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  for  a number  of 
years  was  one  of  the  successful  agriculturists  of  Wayne  county,  but  who 
is  now  living  in  the  city  of  Wooster,  enjoying  that  rest  which  he  has  so 
richly  earned. 

The  subject’s  grandfather  on  the  paternal  side  was  Joseph  Sherrick,  who 
was  a native  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  He  followed  farming  all  the 
years  of  his  mature  life  and  died  some  time  in  the  sixties,  secure  in  the 
esteem  of  all  who  had  known  him.  His  son,  Jacob  B..  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  and  reared  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  he  too  took  up  the  vocation  of  farming,  which  his  ancestors  had  so  suc- 
cessfully followed  for  generations.  In  1882  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  on 
a farm  located  about  two  miles  southwest  of  the  city  of  Wooster,  and  there 
he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  20th  day  of  January,  1890.  He 
married  Sarah  Shupe,  who  was  a native  of  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  it  was  there  she  met  and  married  Mr.  Sherrick.  Her  death  occurred  in 
August,  1882,  soon  after  the  family  arrived  at  their  new  home  in  Ohio.  To 
Jacob  and  Sarah  Sherrick  were  born  four  children,  namely : Kate,  who 

lives  in  Wooster;  Isaac,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Pennsylvania;  Joseph  S.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch ; John,  who  lives  three  miles  west  of  Wooster. 

Joseph  S.  Sherrick  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  nth  of  November,  1845,  ancl  remained  with  his  parents  until  their  re- 
moval to  Ohio  in  1882.  Here  he  farmed  in  partnership  with  his  father, 
following  agricultural  pursuits  until  1907,  when,  on  April  12th,  he  gave 
up  the  labor  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed  for  so  many  years  ancf  came 


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to  Wooster  to  live.  He  was  financially  successful  in  operations  and  was 
wisely  economical,  so  that  noAv  he  is  enjoying  himself,  with  no  cares  or 
burdens  to  annoy  him. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1877,  Mr.  Sherrick  married  Samantha  Myers, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Myers,  who  were  residents  of 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  was 
a faithful  helpmeet  to  him  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  term,  and  five  children 
came  to  bless  their  union.  They  are  briefly  mentioned  as  follows:  Mrs. 

Anna  M.  Ball,  of  Plain  township,  Wayne  county;  Jacob  M.,  who  lives  on 
the  old  home  farm  near  Wooster;  Cora  S.  and  Emma  are  at  home  with  their 
father;  Joseph  B.  lives  in  Wooster.  The  mother  of  these  children  passed 
away  on  October  23,  1894.  She  was  a woman  of  many  splendid  qualities  of 
character  and  during  her  life  she  enjoyed  the  warm  regard  of  all  who  came 
in  contact  with  her.  Mr.  Sherrick  is  a faithful  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  takes  a deep  interest  in  its  welfare.  He  is  also  a director  of  the 
Commercial  Bank,  in  which  he  holds  a block  of  stock.  Though  unostenta- 
tious and  unassuming,  Mr.  Sherrick  is  possessed  of  those  sterling  qualities 
of  manhood  which  commend  him  to  the  regard  of  those  who  know  him. 
His  life  among  his  fellow  men  has  been  without  malice  and  his  friends 
are  in  number  as  his  acquaintances. 


REV.  WILLIAM  E.  FEEMAN. 

A man  who  boldly  faces  the  responsibilities  of  life  and  by  determined 
and  untiring  energy  carves  out  for  himself  an  honorable  success  exerts  a 
powerful  influence  upon  the  lives  of  all  who  follow  him.  Such  men  consti- 
tute the  foundation  of  our  republican  institutions  and  are  the  pride  of 
our  civilization.  To  them  life  is  so  real  that  they  find  no  time  to  plot  either 
mischief  or  vice.  Their  lives  are  bound  up  in  their  duties,  they  feel  the 
weight  of  their  citizenship,  and  take  pleasure  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  upright- 
ness. Such  has  been  the  career  of  the  subject  of  this  brief  notice.  He  was 
born  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  on  the  9th  of  October,  1846.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Peter  Feeman,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  was  an  early  set- 
tler of  Wayne  county.  Ohio.  He  was  a farmer  by  occupation  and  was  num- 
bered among  the  county’s  substantial  citizens.  He  died  about  1877,  at  the 
remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  years.  His  wife  died  a few  years  prior  to 
his  death,  also  at  an  advanced  age.  The  family  is  descended  from  stanch  old 


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German  stock.  The  subject's  father,  John  Feeman,  was  also  a native  of 
the  old  Keystone  state  and  was  about  fifteen  years  old  when  the  family  came 
to  Ohio.  They  located  on  a farm  about  ten  miles  north  of  Wooster,  and 
there  the  father  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1855.  He  not  only 
farmed,  but  was  also  an  expert  stone-cutter  and  performed  much  work  along 
that  line.  He  was  a man  of  exceptional  character,  possessed  of  the  Chris- 
tian virtues  and  was  an  inspiration  to  those  who  came  in  contact  with  him. 
He  married  Catharine  Herman,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
about  1817.  Her  death  occurred  in  1907,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  five 
months  and  fourteen  days.  This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  those  besides  the  subject  being  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Clark  and  Miss  Sarah  Feeman,  both  now  living  at  Kansas  City, 
Missouri. 

William  E.  Feeman  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Wooster,  after  which  he  attended  Denison  University,  at  Gran- 
ville, Ohio,  a Baptist  college,  where  he  studied  five  years.  He  was  then  a 
student  at  the  University  of  Wooster,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1874. 
Mr.  Feeman  was  then  for  a year  engaged  as  a teacher  in  the  Reformatory  at 
Allegheny,  Pennsylvania.  In  1876  he  entered  the  Newton  Theological  In- 
stitute, at  Newton  Center,  Massachusetts,  the  oldest  Baptist  educational  insti- 
tution in  the  United  States,  and  there  he  graduated  in  1879.  In  1880  he 
was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  and 
served  that  congregation  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  church  at  Sharpsville,  Pennsylvania.  At  the  end  of  two 
years  he  was  recalled  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Ashtabula  church,  which  he 
served  for  nearly  six  years  more.  During  the  following  six  years  he  was 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Lima,  Ohio,  followed  by  a two  years'  minis- 
try at  the  church  at  Marquette,  Michigan,  and  then  three  years  with  the 
Baptist  church  at  Hudson,  Massachusetts. 

In  1901,  at  his  own  option,  Reverend  Feeman  retired  from  regular 
ministerial  work  and  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  His  first  office  was 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  but  two  years  later  he  located  at  Lima.  In  1903  he 
returned  to  the  home  of  his  boyhood,  Wooster,  and  conducted  an  insurance 
and  real  estate  office,  and  has  there  done  a large  amount  of  business  in  both 
lines.  He  frequently  engages  in  church  work,  when  called  upon,  and  his 
addresses  are  invariably  listened  to  with  interest.  He  is  a scholarly  man 
and  his  addresses  are  forceful  and  eloquent.  His  work  while  in  the  regular 
ministry  was  marked  by  splendid  results  in  all  the  churches  which  he  served, 


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numbers  being  added  to  the  church  and  the  societies  being  greatly  blessed  and 
strengthened  under  his  ministry. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Feeman  evinced  his  loyalty  for  the  old  flag 
by  enlisting  for  its  defense  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-sixth  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  did  valiant  service  for  his  country. 
His  brother,  L.  B.  Feeman,  was  a member  of  the  Sixteenth  Ohio  Regiment 
and  was  killed  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  eight  days  after  the  surrender  of 
Vicksburg.  The  subject  is,  because  of  this  military  service,  a member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  which  he  takes  a deep  interest.  He  is 
a Republican  in  politics,  as  were  his  ancestors  before  him,  and  he  gives  that 
party  his  active  support.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Wooster  in  1909  and  is 
now  serving  efficiently  in  this  position. 

In  1880  Reverend  Feeman  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  with 
Carrie  V.  Kramer,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  the  daughter  of  Henry  Kramer, 
now  deceased.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  one  child,  John  H.  Feeman, 
of  Hannibal,  Missouri,  where  he  is  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Ashburn 
plant  of  the  DuPont  Powder  Company.  He  married  Estella  Van  Horn,  of 
Camden,  New  Jersey. 

In  every  relation  of  life  the  subject  has  been  found  faithful  to  his  trust, 
and  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  warm  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 


LUCURTIS  P.  SIDLE. 

It  is  a well-authenticated  fact  that  success  comes  as  the  legitimate  result 
of  well-applied  energy,  unflagging  determination  and  perseverance  in  a 
course  of  action.  She  smiles  not  on  the  idler  or  dreamer,  and  only  the  men 
who  have  persistently  sought  her  favor  are. crowned  with  her  blessings.  In 
tracing  the  history  of  Mr.  Sidle  it  is  plainly  seen  that  the  prosperity  which 
he  enjoys  has  been  won  by  commendable  qualities  and  it  is  also  his  personal 
worth  which  has  gained  for  him  the  high  esteem  of  those  who  know  him. 

L.  P.  Sidle  is  descended  from  sturdy  Pennsylvania  Dutch  antecedents. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  William  Sidle,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  a man  of  great  standing  in  his  community.  He  was  a farmer  and  black- 
smith and  also  followed  stockbuying  on  a large  scale.  In  an  earlv  dav  he 
came  to  Wayne  county.  Ohio,  and  entered  two  hundred  acres  of  land  from 
the  government.  Then  John  Sidle  bought  land  amounting  to  eleven  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  and  this  land  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  subject 


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of  this  sketch.  This  worthy  pioneer  built  a full  set  of  farm  buildings,  the 
residence  being  built  in  1838  and  the  barn  in  1848,  and  the  substantial  nature 
of  their  construction  can  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  today  these  buildings 
are  among  the  best  in  the  county.  After  coming  to  Ohio  he  was  largely 
interested  in  stock  buying,  and  drove  many  herds  of  cattle  from  here  through 
to  New  York  markets.  In  1849  he  caught  the  gold  fever  and  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia. He  headed  a party  of  twelve  who  drove  overland,  making  the  trip 
without  special  incident,  and  on  their  arrival  in  the  Golden  state  they  met 
with  fair  success  in  their  search  for  the  precious  metal.  Unfortunately, 
however,  for  Mr.  Sidle,  his  success  was  probably  the  cause  of  his  death,  as 
the  story  of  his  death  is  unknown.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Brant,  was  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  she  married  Mr. 
Sidle  and  in  1818  accompanied  him  to  their  new  western  home.  Her  death 
occurred  some  time  in  the  sixties. 

The  subject’s  father,  John  Sidle,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  August  11, 
1816,  and  in  1818  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  set- 
tling on  land  in  Plain  township  which  his  father  had  entered  from  the 
government.  Here  John  Sidle  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and,  fol- 
lowing in  his  father’s  footsteps,  also  took  a decided  interest  in  livestock, 
buying  cattle  on  an  extensive  scale  and  making  a good  profit  in  these  trans- 
actions. His  death  occurred  on  January  11,  1887,  and  m connection  with 
his  death  the  following  is  a brief  summary  of  an  obituary  notice  which  ap- 
peared in  a local  newspaper  at  that  time:  “Born  August  11,  1816,  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania;  died  near  Blachleyville,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  January 
11,  1887,  aged  seventy  years  and  five  months.  Came  to  Plain  township  with 
his  father  in  1818.  Married  March  30,  1843,  to  Miss  Joanna  Carson.  In 
politics  he  was  a stanch  Republican  and  was  a candidate  for  representative 
in  1873  against  Hon.  E.  B.  Eshelman,  the  Democratic  candidate,  and  was 
defeated  by  only  eighty-one  votes  in  a big  Democratic  county.  The  entire 
community  was  shocked  at  his  death.’’  The  subject’s  mother  was  born  at 
Potter’s  Mills,  Center  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  14,  1819.  When  but 
an  infant  she  suffered  the  loss  of  her  father,  and  her  mother  and  six  children 
then  emigrated  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  the  mother  passed  away  on 
June  28,  1889.  J°hn  and  Joanna  Sidle  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children : Mary  Ellen,  who  married  a Mr.  Burnett,  was  torn  October  8, 

1843,  and  now  liyes  at  Shreve.  this  county;  Lucinda  J.,  born  November  12, 
1847.  married  a Mr.  Aylesworth  and  lives  in  Wooster;  James  C.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1850,  lives  at  Shreve;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  next  in 


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order  of  birth;  Clara  C.,  born  June  30,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Gill,  of 
Wooster;  John  C.,  born  April  25;  1859,  lives  in  Plain  township. 

L.  P.  Sidle  was  born  in  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  March 
14,  1852.  He  spent  his  boyhood  with  his  parents  and  received  a good  com- 
mon school  education.  Pie  was  early  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and 
to  that  labor  he  applied  himself  during  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life. 
He  also  gave  much  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  in  which 
he  was  quite  successful.  He  was  a good  manager  and  hard  worker  and  in 
1895  felt  that  he  had  earned  the  right  to  retire  from  active  labor  and  enjoy 
that  rest  which  he  had  so  richly  earned.  He  is  now  residing  in  Wooster, 
though  he  still  retains  his  farm  land  and  keeps  a general  oversight  of  its 
operations. 

On  October  5,  1876,  Mr.  Sidle  was  united  in  marriage  to  Arelia  M. 
Brown,  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Bird)  Brown,  of  Shreve,  Clinton 
township.  She  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  but  when  ten  years  old  she 
removed  to  Wayne  county  with  her  parents.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidle  have 
been  born  three  children:  Zello  is  the  wife  of  Harvey  L.  Hook,  an  automo- 
bile dealer  at  Muhcie.  Indiana;  Lula  J.  is  the  wife  of  Tracy  C.  Lyda,  cash- 
ier of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  at  Alliance,  Ohio;  Raymond  C.,  twelve  years 
old,  remains  at  home  with  his  parents  and  is  a student  in  the  public  schools. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a Republican  in  politics  and  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  success  of  his  party,  though  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  public  office.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidle  and  all  the  members  of  the  family 
are  connected  with  the  Christian  church  and  give  to  the  society  a consistent 
and  liberal  support.  The  family  is  held  in  high  regard  in  the  community 
and  their  pleasant  home  is  one  in  which  a gracious  and  generous  hospitality 
is  ever  in  evidence. 


DAVID  E.  McILVAINE. 

The  best  history  of  a community  or  state  is  the  one  that  deals  mostly  with 
the  lives  and  activities  of  its  people,  especially  of  those  who,  by  their  own  en- 
deavor and  indomitable  energy,  have  forged  to  the  front  and  placed  them- 
selves where  they  deserve  the  title  of  progressive  men.  In  this  brief  review 
will  be  found  the  record  of  a member  of  an  old  and  highly  honored  family, 
the  members  of  which  since  the  early  days  have  outstripped  many  of  their 
less  ambitious  contemporaries  who  have  been  content  to  live  commonplace 


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lives.  This  family  have  won  a reputation  in  the  agricultural  affairs  of  the 
county  which  they  have  assisted  in  placing  in  the  front  rank  of  the  leading 
farming  sections  of  the  Union. 

David  E.  Mcllvaine,  the  youngest  son  of  George  Mcllvaine,  was  born  in 
this  county.  May  26,  1866.  For  a history  of  his  father  and  ancestry  on  both 
sides  the  reader  is  directed  to  the  sketch  of  Daniel  W.  Mcllvaine,  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  David  E.  Mcllvaine  was  educated  in  the  home  township 
and  the  Ada  Normal,  also  spent  two  years  in  the  University  of  Wooster.  He 
was  a very  studious  lad  and  received  a good  education,  but  upon  the  death  of 
his  father  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  leave  school.  He  then  taught  for  a 
year,  after  which  he  took  up  general  farming,  not  finding  teaching  exactly  to 
his  liking.  He  began  on  a part  of  the  old  home  place  where  he  has  since  lived 
and  made  a success  of  agricultural  pursuits,  being  a very  diligent  worker  and 
a careful  manager.  He  raises  some  good  stock  and  poultry,  and  he  has  a com- 
fortable dwelling  and  such  outbuildings  and  farming  machinery  as  his  needs 
require. 

Mr.  Mcllvaine  was  married  in  1896  to  Belle  Irvin,  daughter  of  Rev. 
George  Irvin,  a popular  minister,  of  Golden  Corners,  and  to  this  union  the 
following  children  have  been  born  : Donald  I.,  Ruth  E..  Mary  K.,  Wallace  J., 
Doris  1.,  Grace  and  Gail  (twins)  and  an  infant,  born  May  19,  1910. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mcllvaine  is  a faithful  Democrat.  He  has  taken  con- 
siderable interest  in  local  affairs,  and  served  one  year  as  township  assessor  and 
as  trustee  for  three  terms;  he  has  held  other  smaller  offices,  all  with  a fidelity 
and  ability  that  has  won  the  approval  of  all  concerned.  In  the  fall  of  1906 
he  was  elected  county  commissioner,  and  so  well  did  he  discharge  the  duties 
of  the  same  that  in  1908  he  was  re-elected  and  is  now  serving  in  that  capacity. 
Religiously,  Air.  Mcllvaine  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Dunkard  church. 

Rev.  George  Irvin,  father  of  Mrs.  Mcllvaine,  was  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1818,  in  which  county  his  parents,  who  were  natives  of  Ire- 
land. settled  in  an  early  day,  following  the  pursuit  of  farming.  George  Irvin 
attended  the  common  schools  and  on  attaining  mature  years  learned  the  trade 
of  a carpenter.  After  following  that  for  a time,  he  went  to  farming,  and 
about  forty  years  ago  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  He  was  a local 
preacher  of  the  Dunkard  church,  holding  membership  with  the  Chippewa  con- 
gregation in  Canaan  township.  Politically,  he  was  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  married  twice,  the  first  time  to  Lydia  Carver,  of 
Canaan  township,  to  which  union  were  born  eleven  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living.  His  second  union  was  to  Isabel  Garver,  a cousin  of  his  first  wife,  and 
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to  them  were  born  four  children.  Flora,  George,  Belle  and  Joseph,  all  of  whom 
are  living  in  Canaan  township  excepting  George,  who  lives  in  Indiana.  George 
Irvin  died  in  April,  1892.  and  his  widow  now  makes  her  home  with  one  of  her 
daughters  in  Milton  township,  this  county. 


HENRY  A.  HALLER. 

A member  of  an  old  and  honored  pioneer  family  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
is  Henry  A.  Haller,  who  has  spent  his  life  in  his  native  community,  where 
he  has  made  a success  by  reason  of  his  close  application  to  his  chosen  line 
of  work  and  has  at  the  same  time  maintained  the  good  reputation  of  his 
ancestors.  His  birth  occurred  in  Wooster  on  June  20,  i860.  His  father  was 
David  Haller,  a native  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  born  December  15,  1829, 
who  came  to  American  when  a young  man  and,  believing  that  the  then  new 
country  of  the  Middle  West  held  the  best  opportunities  for  him,  made  his 
way  to  the  interior,  locating  at  Wooster,  Ohio.  Here  he  engaged  extensively 
in  gardening,  having  learned  that  occupation  in  his  native  land.  He  was  a 
hard  worker  and  made  a good  living  for  his  family,  spending  the  remainder 
of  his  life  here,  dying  October  9,  1889.  In  Germany  he  married  Dora  Ebin- 
ger,  also  a native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with  him  and  here 
did  her  full  share  in  getting  a start  in  a new  country.  She  died  December 
5,  1888.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Charles,  of  Chi- 

cago; Henry  A.,  of  this  review;  Fred  is  in  the  employ  of  John  McSweeny; 
Albert,  deceased;  Robert,  deceased. 

Henry  A.  Haller  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Woos- 
ter, gaining  a very  serviceable  education  in  the  primary  branches.  Early  in 
life,  while  casting  about  for  a profession,  he  decided  upon  the  baker's  trade, 
which  he  accordingly  took  up  and  followed  very  successfully  for  a period 
of  twenty  years.  He  then  launched  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  con- 
ducted at  intervals  for  ten  years.  He  is  now  living  in  retirement,  having 
during  his  years  of  industry  laid  by  a competency  to  insure  his  old  age  free 
from  want,  having  a comfortable  and  neatly  kept  home  on  West  Liberty 
street.  He  gives  some  attention  to  fine  driving  horses,  of  which  he  is  very 
fond  and  in  which  he  deals. 

Mr.  Haller  was  married  in  1889  to  Clara  Brunter,  a native  of  Wooster 
and  the  daughter  of  George  Brunter,  her  people  being  well  known  here. 


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To  this  union  one  son  was  born,  Glen,  now  sixteen  years  old,  who  graduated 
from  the  local  high  school  with  the  class  of  1910.. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haller  belong  to  the  Christ  Evangelical  church.  In  poli- 
tics the  former  is  a Democrat.  He  has  ably  served  his  city  as  assistant  super- 
intendent of  streets  and  paving,  during  which  time  many  important  improve- 
ments were  made.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  been  an 
active  member  of  the  same  for  a period  of  twenty-five  years,  having  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  favorably  known  both  in  lodge  and 
church  circles. 


WILLIAM  E.  HELLER,  D.  D.  S. 

Among  the  esteemed  citizens  of  Orrville,  Ohio,  is  Dr.  William  E.  Heller, 
who  for  several  years  has  been  one  of  the  representative  dental  practitioners 
of  this  city,  and  who,  though  comparatively  young  in  years,  gives  promise 
of  becoming  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  profession  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  Dr.  Heller  was  born  in  Orrville,  Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  W.  O.  and 
Sophia  (Menschung)  Heller,  both  of  whom  were  also  born  at  Orrville.  On 
both  ancestral  lines  the  subject  is  descended  from  sturdy  German  ancestry 
and  in  him  are  evidenced  those  sterling  qualities  which  have  made  the  Ger- 
mans such  a desirable  element  in  our  great  cosmopolitan  population.  W.  O. 
Heller  is  a machinist  by  trade  and  is  a man  who  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  the  father  of  four  children,  all  of  whom 
reside  at  home. 

Doctor  Heller  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Orrville, 
and  on  the  completion  of  his  literary  education  he  determined  to  adopt  the 
practice  of  dentistry  as  his  life  work.  To  prepare  himself  for  his  profession, 
he  entered  the  dental  department  of  the  Western  Reserve  University  in  1902, 
graduating  therefrom  in  1905.  In  1901  he  took  up  the  practice  of  dentistry 
with  Doctor  Yager  at  Orrville,  and  has  since  continued  with  him.  The  con- 
venient and  well-equipped  offices  are  located  in  the  Griffith  block  and  the 
Doctor  is  already  in  command  of  a good  practice.  He  is  eminently  qualified, 
both  by  natural  aptitude  and  professional  training,  for  his  work  and  is  meet- 
ing with  splendid  success. 

Doctor  Heller  is  an  appreciative  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  the  first-named 
order  he  has  taken  all  the  degrees  up  to  and  including  those  of  Knight  Tem- 
plar in  the  York  rite,  while  in  the  Scottish  rite  he  has  attained  to  the  thirtv- 


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second  degree,  being  also  a Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  takes  a healthy 
interest  in  public  affairs,  but  has  no  desire  for  public  office  or  distinction, 
being  of  that  modest  temperament  which  does  not  seek  self-preferment. 


JAMES  A.  HAMILTON. 

It  is  a well-recognized  fact  that  the  most  powerful  influence  in  shaping 
and  controlling  public  life  is  the  press.  It  reaches  a greater  number  of  people 
than  any  other  agency  and  thus  has  always  been  and,  in  the  hands  of  per- 
sons competent  to  direct  it,  always  will  be  a most  important  factor  in  molding 
public  opinion  and  shaping  the  destiny  of  the  nation.  The  gentleman  to 
a brief  review  of  whose  life  these  lines  are  devoted  is  prominently  connected 
with  the  journalism  of  northern  Ohio,  and  at  this  time  is  editor  of  the  Cres- 
cent, published  at  Orrville,  one  of  the  most  popular  papers  in  Wayne  county, 
comparing  favorably  with  the  best  local  sheets  in  this  section  of  the  state  in 
news,  editorial  ability  and  mechanical  execution.  The  county  recognizes  in 
Mr.  Hamilton  not  only  one  of  the  keenest  newspaper  men,  but  also  a repre- 
sentative citizen,  whose  interest  in  all  that  affects  the  general  welfare  has 
been  of  such  a character  as  to  win  for  him  a high  place  in  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  people. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  descended  from  sturdy  old  Pennsylvania  stock,  his 
father,  William  W.  Hamilton,  having  been  born  in  Juniata  county,  that 
state,  in  1817.  For  nearly  fifty  years  he  was  a well-known  resident  of  this 
part  of  Ohio  and  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  in 
Wooster  on  the  8th  of  March,  1875.  In  his  youth  he  went  to  New  Lisbon, 
Ohio,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  wagon-making  and  to  this  line  of  work 
he  applied  himself  for  several  years.  Eventually  he  entered  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  New  Lisbon,  and  for  many  years  was  a well-known  boniface,  his 
hotel  being  a popular  stopping  place  for  the  traveling  public.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  political  faith,  took  an  active  part  in  the  local  councils  of  his 
party  and  for  a num1>er  of  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1862 
he  removed  to  Wooster  and  took  charge  of  the  United  States  hotel,  which 
he  bought.  Here  also  he  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  respon- 
sible position  he  served  for  nine  years.  He  was  elected  county  auditor,  and 
so  satisfactory  were  his  services  that  he  was  renominated  for  the  office,  but 
was  defeated  at  the  polls.  He  was  again  nominated,  and  this  time  was 
elected,  but  died  after  serving  four  months  of  his  last  term,  being  at  that 


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time  fifty-eight  years  old.  He  was  a man  of  strong  character  and  unimpeach- 
able integrity,  and  in  his  community  he  exerted  a wide  influence,  being  con- 
sidered at  the  time  of  his  death  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  county. 
He  married  Isabella  McKnight,  whose  family  were  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Columbiana  county,  Ohio.  She  was  born  near  New  Lisbon, 
on  the  10th  of  September,  1813,  and  died  a few  years  ago  at  Salem,  Ohio. 

James  A.  Hamilton  was  born  at  New  Lisbon,  Columbiana  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  10th  of  September,  1841,  and  is  one  of  a family  of  nine  children.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  a printing  office  for  the  purpose  of  learn- 
ing the  trade  and  soon  became  an  expert  typo.  He  has  been  employed  at 
his  trade  in  various  sections  of  the  Middle  West.  In  1859  he  went  to  Cleve- 
land, thence  to  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati,  back  to  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  Memphis, 
back  to  Chicago,  and  from  the  latter  place  went  to  St.  Louis.  There  he  was 
employed  on  the  Missouri  Republican  at  the  time  of  the  strike  of  the  printers 
of  that  city  in  1864,  and  while  in  that  city  he  enlisted  as  a member  of  the 
Missouri  militia  under  the  call  of  General  Ewing  for  troops  to  defend  St. 
Louis  from  the  raid  of  General  Price,  who  approached  within  thirty  miles 
of  the  city.  After  the  scare  had  disappeared,  Mr.  Hamilton  returned  home 
and  in  February,  1865,  he  enlisted  in  his  country’s  service,  becoming  a mem- 
ber of  the  Fifth  Regiment  Ohio  Cavalry,  which  command  he  joined  at  Dur- 
ham’s Station,  North  Carolina,  just  prior  to  the  surrender  of  General  Johns- 
ton. Mr.  Hamilton  was  subsequently  detailed  as  a clerk  at  General  Scho- 
field’s headquarters,  in  which  capacity  he  served  several  months,  being  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  November,  1865.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of  the  county  auditor  of  Wayne 
county.  In  the  spring  of  1867  Mr.  Hamilton  resumed  work  at  his  trade  on 
the  Wayne  County  Democrat.  Subsequently  going  to  Cleveland,  for  nearly 
a year  he  worked  on  the  Leader , and  on  the  establishment  of  the  Cleveland 
News  he  became  one  of  the  stockholders  and  accepted  the  position  of  fore- 
man. He  continued  to  fill  this  position  until  the  sale  of  the  paper  to  the 
Leader , after  which  he  was  employed  on  the  Cleveland  Herald  until  his 
father  was  elected  auditor  of  Wayne  county.  His  prior  experience  in  the 
auditor’s  office  had  made  him  of  value  to  his  father  now  and  he  was  appointed 
deputy  auditor,  filling  that  position  for  two  years  and  eight  months.  W.  D. 
Morgan,  auditor  of  Licking  county,  then  secured  his  services  in  a similar 
capacity  for  two  years,  after  which,  on  the  re-election  of  his  father  as  auditor 
of  Wayne  county,  he  again  became  the  latter’s  assistant  until  his  death.  He 
then  for  a short  time  was  employed  as  an  assistant  to  J.  J.  Sullivan,  auditor 
of  Holmes  county,  but  on  the  election  of  Thomas  J.  McElhenie  as  auditor 


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of  Wavne  county  he  was  appointed  that  gentleman’s  deputy  and  served  two 
years  as  such.  At  the  end  of  this  period  of  service  he  returned  to  the  news- 
paper business  and  bought  an  interest  in  the  Leetonia  Reporter , and  during 
his  connection  with  that  paper  he  gained  a flattering  reputation  as  an  editor. 
While  residing  at  Leetonia  he  was  a delegate  to  the  first  national  conven- 
tion of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  which  met  at  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1878.  In  this  great  meeting,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  the  second  presiding 
officer.  He  was  still  further  honored  by  being  made  chairman  of  the  ritual 
committee  and  he  drew  the  diagrams  of  signs  and  grips  and  wrote  the  words 
that  accompanied  them.  Selling  his  interest  in  the  Leetonia  Reporter , Mr. 
Hamilton  was  employed  about  two  years  on  the  Cleveland  Plain-Dealer.  In 
October,  1879,  he  purchased  the  Orndlle  Crescent , which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted with  much  editorial  ability  and  gratifying  financial  success. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  served  as  treasurer  of  Greene  township  and  has  fre- 
quently represented  his  party  as  a delegate  in  conventions.  While  residing 
in  Leetonia  he  served  as  village  clerk  and  was  at  one  time  the  joint  nominee 
of  the  Democrats  and  Greenbacks  for  auditor  of  Columbiana  county.  He 
ran  considerably  ahead  of  this  ticket,  though  defeated  by  a small  majority. 
Socially  Mr.  Hamilton  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, having  risen  to  the  degree  of  a Patriarch  Militant,  and  has  served 
as  grand  herald  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  being  a past  officer 
in  each  of  the  organizations.  In  the  fall  of  1908  he  was  elected  infirmary 
director. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  twice  been  married,  first  to  Hattie,  daughter  of  Alan- 
son  Ney,  of  Perrysbutgh,  Ohio,  who  died  leaving  one  child,  Harry  Given. 
In  October,  1878,  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Lucy,  daughter  of 
Christian  Silver,  of  near  Wooster,  who  has  borne  him  three  children,  Gail* 
Georgia  and  James. 

Mr.  Hamilton  takes  a keen  interest  in  the  public  welfare  and  all  move- 
ments of  a beneficent  nature  meet  with  his  warm  approval  and  endorsement. 
He  has  ever  been  fully  alive  to  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  times  and  occu- 
pies an  enviable  standing  in  the  community  where  he  has  spent  so  many 
useful  years. 


A.  A.  BROOKS,  M.  D. 

Not  only  in  Orrville  but  in  the  surrounding  country  Doctor  Brooks  is 
known  as  a successful  and  skilled  physician  and  surgeon,  one  who  has  given 
years  of  thought  and  painstaking  preparation  to  his  profession  and  who  is 


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thoroughly  qualified  for  its  practice.  Nature  endowed  him  with  the  qualities 
necessary  for  success  as  a practitioner,  for  he  is  sympathetic,  patient  and 
thoughtful,  and  in  the  hour  of  extremity  is  cool  and  courageous.  Though  his 
practice  has  always  engrossed  much  of  his  attention,  he  has  always  found 
time  to  keep  posted  upon  the  practical  details  in  the  improvements  in  the  sci- 
ence and  avails  himself  of  every  development  in  remedial  agencies.  For 
many  years  he  has  ministered  to  the  sick  and  suffering  here  and  has  always 
maintained  an  irreproachable  character,  worthy  of  respect  and  emulation. 

Doctor  Brooks  has  in  his  veins  the  blood  of  two  strong  and  virile  peo- 
ples, being  Scotch  through  his  paternal  ancestry  and  Irish  on  the  maternal 
side.  His  father  was  Samuel  Brooks,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  but,  at 
the  age  of  four  years,  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ohio.  They  located 
near  the  city  of  Cleveland,  where  the  father  followed  farming  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  on  the  6th  of  September,  1863,  at  the  com- 
paratively early  age  of  forty-eight  years.  He  was  a man  of  many  splendid 
personal  qualifications  and  enjoyed  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
married  Caroline  Rathburn,  who  was  born  and  reared  near  Cleveland.  Her 
death  occurred  in  January,  1908,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years, 
she  having  survived  her  husband  forty-five  years.  This  worthy  couple  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  of  whom  the  following  survive : Emma  J.  Ham- 
ilton, of  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  John  H.,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Hamilton  J., 
of  Cleveland,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

A.  A.  Brooks  spent  his  boyhood  days  under  the  parental  roof-tree  and 
secured  his  education  in  the  Cleveland  public  schools,  graduating  from  the 
high  school,  and  then  he  was  for  a time  a student  in  the  Brooklyn  Acad- 
emy. Having  decided  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  he 
entered  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Hospital  College,  remaining  there  until 
1882,  when  he  graduated  with  the  coveted  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 
Immediately  after  his  graduation,  Doctor  Brooks  came  to  Orrville  and  en- 
tered upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  continued 
to  the  present  time.  He  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  been  in  the  con- 
tinuous practice  here  longer  than  any  other  physician  and  during  all  these 
years  he  has  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people.  He  has  been 
to  a remarkable  degree  successful  in  his  treatment  of  disease  and  enjoys  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  In  the  line  of  his  profession,  he  is  connected 
with  the  Eastern  Ohio  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  and  the  American  In- 
stitute of  Homeopathy.  Thus,  through  connection  with  other  members  of 
the  profession,  through  the  discussion  of  means  and  methods  of  promoting 


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their  work  and  its  effectiveness,  as  well  as  through  individual  study,  reading 
and  investigation,  Doctor  Brooks  has  kept  steadily  in  touch  with  the  progress 
which  has  made  great  changes  in  medical  practice  since  he  first  located  in 
Orrville,  thus  rendering  his  efforts  much  more  effective  in  producing  the 
desired  result  of  lessening  pain  and  restoring  health.  He  conducts  the  gen- 
eral practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  and  has  handled  successfully  many 
extremely  difficult  cases.  During  the  past  ten  years  Doctor  Brooks  has  served 
faithfully  and  efficiently  as  health  officer  of  Orrville. 

In  1882  Doctor  Brooks  was  united  in  marriage  to  Belle  Worth,  a daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Worth,  she  having  been  born  and  reared  near  Cleveland,  in 
the  public  schools  of  which  city  she  received  her  education.  To  this  union 
was  born  a son,  Robert  A.  On  June  26,  1907,  the  Doctor  married  Blanch 
M.  Steel,  of  Orrville,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Julia  A.  Steel,  both  natives 
of  Ohio.  Socially  and  in  a business  way  the  Doctor  is  a man  to  make  friends, 
and  they  are  legion,  not  confined  to  his  home  in  Orrville,  but  all  over  the 
country  where  bis  professional  labors  have  called  him. 


FRANK  LI  X WARREN  GEORGE. 

Few  men  of  Wayne  county  were  as  widely  and  favorably  known  as  the 
late  Franklin  W.  George,  of  Congress  township,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1900.  He  was  one  of  the  strong  and  influential  citizens  whose  lives  have 
become  an  essential  part  of  the  history  of  this  section  of  the  state  and  for  years 
his  name  was  synonymous  for  all  that  constituted  honorable  and  upright  man- 
hood. Tireless  energy,  keen  perception  and  honesty  of  purpose,  combined 
with  every-day  common  sense,  were  among  his  chief  characteristics  and  while 
advancing  individual  success  he  also  largely  promoted  the  moral  and  material 
welfare  of  his  community.  His  death  was  considered  a distinct  loss  to  the 
community  and  his  memory  is  held  sacred  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Franklin  W.  George  was  a native  son  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having 
been  born  in  Wayne  county  on  the  14th  of  July,  1839,  and  was  the  son  of 
Andrew  and  Maria  (Frazier)  George,  the  former  of  whom  was  a native  of 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania.  Each 
came  to  Wayne  county  single  and  w ere  married  here.  Andrew'  George  was  a 
farmer  by  vocation  and  was  successful  in  his  business  affairs,  owning  about 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  in  Congress  township.  He  was  a stanch 


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Republican  in  his  political  views  and  in  religion  was  affiliated  with  the  United 
Brethren  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  were  the  parents  of  two  sons. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Canaan 
township  and  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer.  In  young  manhood  he  entered 
a store  in  Burbank  in  the  capacity  of  clerk,  but  the  condition  of  his  health  be- 
came so  precarious  that  he  deemed  it  expedient  to  return  to  an  outdoor  life, 
and  resumed  work  on  his  father’s  farm,  in  connection  with  which  he  ran  a 
threshing  machine  a number  of  years.  He  gave  his  attention  to  general  farm- 
ing, raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  country,  and  in  con- 
nection therewith  he  engaged  in  the  raising  of  livestock,  in  both  of  which 
lines  he  was  distinctively  successful.  He  occupied  a prominent  and  influential 
position  in  the  community  and  for  a number  of  years  rendered  signal  service 
to  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  capacity  of  township  trustee,  giving  to  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  the  office  a careful  and  discriminating  administration. 
His  death  occurred  on  the  5th  of  September,  1900.  He  was  a Republican  in 
his  political  views  and  kept  in  close  touch  with  the  current  events  of  the  day. 
He  was  public-spirited  in  his  attitude  toward  all  movements  looking  to  the 
betterment  of  the  community  and  could  be  counted  upon  to  encourage  all 
moral,  educational  or  religious  movements. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1876,  Mr.  George  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Anna  E.  McCoy,  who,  after  her  husband's  death,  removed  to  Burbank,  where 
she  now  resides.  She  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  of 
land,  to  which  she  gives  her  attention,  being  a woman  of  good  business  abil- 
ity and  sound  judgment.  She  was  born  in  New  Pittsburg,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  August  13,  1844,  and  is  a daughter  of  David  and  Nancy  (Reed)  McCoy. 
Her  father  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Wayne  county  in  an  early 
day,  and  there  married,  his  wife  being  a native  of  this  county.  Mrs.  George’s 
maternal  grandparents,  Andrew  and  Sarah  Reed,  were  natives  of  Ireland,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  an  early  day,  their  first  child  being  born  at  sea.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  the  last  of  whom  died  in  June,  1900. 
Mrs.  George  suffered  the  loss  of  both  parents  when  she  was  quite  young  and 
she  was  reared  bv  an  aunt  in  Wayne  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  became 
the  parents  of  one  son,  Charles  F.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  George  is  a woman  of  many  fine  personal  qualities  and  in  her  home 
community  she  enjoys  the  warm  regard  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  her. 
She  is  a woman  of  kindly  ways  and  winning  disposition  and  delights  in  the 
companionship  of  her  friends,  who  are  in  number  as  her  acquaintances. 


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GEORGE  H.  IRVIN,  M.  D. 

Professional  success  results  from  merit.  Frequently  in  commercial  life 
one  may  come  into  possession  of  a lucrative  business  through  inheritance  or 
gift,  but  in  what  are  known  as  the  learned  professions  advancement  is  gained 
only  through  painstaking  and  long-continued  effort.  Prestige  in  the  healing 
art  is  the  outcome  of  strong  mentality,  close  application,  thorough  mastery  of 
its  great  underlying  principles  and  the  ability  to  apply  theory  to  practice 
in  the  treatment  of  diseases.  Good  intellectual . training,  thorough  profes- 
sional knowledge  and  the  possession  ar\d  utilization  of  the  qualities  and  at- 
tributes essential  to  success,  have  made  the  subject  of  this  review  eminent  in 
his  chosen  calling  and  he  stands  today  among  the  front  ranks  of  physicians 
in  a county  noted  for  the  high  order  of  its  medical  talent. 

Dr.  George  H.  Irvin  is  descended  on  the  paternal  side  from  Irish  ante- 
cedents and  on  the  maternal  from  German  stock.  His  maternal  great-grand- 
father, Philip  Hoff,  was  a native  of  Germany  and  came  to  America  in 
young  manhood,  he  having  apprenticed  himself  to  a blacksmith  in  order  to 
secure  his  passage.  He  lived  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  for  awhile 
and  in  1819  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  making  the  trip  from  Penn- 
sylvania in  a covered  Wagon.  This  old  wagon  is  now  the  property  of  the 
subject  and  is  a highly  prized  heirloom.  David  Hoff,  son  of  Philip  and  the 
subject’s  grandfather,  was  born  in  1819  but  a few  weeks  after  his  parents 
had  settled  in  Wayne  county.  He  continued  to  reside  on  his  native  farm 
continuously  until  about  eight  years  ago,  when  he  removed  to  Smithville, 
and  three  years  later  came  to  Orrville,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was 
ninety  years  old  the  17th  of  June,  1909.  He  married  Sarah  Schaffer,  who 
was  a tailoress  and  it  is  a matter  of  fact  that  she  made  her  husband's  wedding 
clothes.  Their  only  child,  Sarah,  was  the  subject’s  mother. 

The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather  was  George  Irvin,  a earnest  and 
faithful  minister  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  who  lived  near  Golden  Cor- 
ners, Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  His 
son,  David  M.,  the  subject’s  father,  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  but  is  now 
a subject  of  Canada,  having  gone  to  Osage,  Canada,  five  years  ago  and  tak- 
ing up  farming  and  the  real  estate  business.  He  married  Sarah  Hoff,  who 
was  born  and  reared  on  the  old  homestead  in  Wayne  county.  Her  death  oc- 
curred when  her  son,  George  H.,  was  but  eighteen  days  old.  She  had  borne 
her  husband  four  children,  namely:  Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  T.  E. 

Steiner,  is  deceased,  leaving  one  child;  John  resides  on  the  old  home  farm; 


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683 


Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Chauncey  J.  King,  of  Orrville,  and  the  subject.  Sub- 
sequently the  father  married  Rebecca  Kurtz,  of  Wooster,  by  whom  he  also 
had  four  children : Augusta,  who  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Joseph  S.  Steiner, 
of  Bluffton,  Ohio;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Elmer  Close,  living  near  Orrville; 
Ira,  of  Iowa;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Isaiah  Close,  of  near  Orrville. 

George  H.  Irvin  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  two  years  in  the  Orrville  schools.  He  then  became  a student  in 
Juniata  College,  at  Huntington,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  graduated  in  the 
English  course  in  1894.  He  was  then  engaged  for  two  years  as  a school 
teacher  at  Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  and  three  years  at  Orrville.  In  the  autumn 
of  1899  he  took  up  the  serious  study  of  medicine,  for  which  he  had  a de- 
cided liking,  entering  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Medical  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1903.  During  his  last  year  in  college  he  was  house  physician  at 
the  Cleveland  Maternity  Hospital  and  then  spent  nine  months  in  the  Huron 
Street  Hospital,  both  of  these  positions  being  gained  by  competitive  examina- 
tion. In  1904  Doctor  Irvin  came  to  Orrville  and  entered  upon  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession.  Thus  far  his  career  has  been  all  and  more  than 
his  most  sanguine  friends  predicted.  His  ability  to  trace  the  devious  paths 
of  disease  through  the  human  system  and  to  remove  its  effects  is  widely  rec- 
ognized and  a mind  well  disciplined  by  severe  professional  training,  together 
with  a natural  aptitude  for  close  investigation  and  critical  research,  have 
peculiarly  fitted  him  for  the  noble  calling  in  which  he  is  engaged.  He  is  a 
careful  reader  of  the  best  professonal  literature  and  keeps  himself  in  touch 
with  the  age  in  the  latest  discoveries  pertaining  to  the  healing  art.  Those 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  that  do  not  pertain  to  the  mere  knowledge  of 
the  medical  .science,  but  greatly  enhance  the  true  worth  of  the  family  phy- 
sician, are  not  wanting  in  him.  He  possesses  the  tact  and  happy  faculty 
of  inspiring  confidence  on  the  part  of  his  patients  and  their  friends  and  in 
the  sick  room  his  genial  presence  and  conscious  ability  to  cope  successfully 
with  disease  under  treatment  are  factors  that  have  contributed  much  to  the 
enviable  standing  which  he  has  attained* 

In  September,  1900,  Doctor  Irvin  was  married  to  Letitia  Bechtel,  of 
Huntington,  Pennsylvania,  who  died  October  31,  1901,  without  issue.  In 
September,  1905,  he  married  Anna  Price,  a daughter  of  W.  H.  Price,  a well- 
known  resident  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  and  reared.  This 
union  was  first  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child,  Catharine  Sarah,  and  on 
November  21,  1909,  Mrs.  Irvin  presented  her  husband  with  a fine  pair  of 
twin  boys,  George  Hoff,  Jr.,  and  Albert  Price,  of  whom  the  Doctor  feels 
justly  proud. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Doctor  Irvin  is  a member  of  the  Eastern  Ohio  Homeopathic  Society,  the 
Ohio  State  Homeopathic  Society  and  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy. 
He  is  a member  of  the  German  Baptist  church  and,  though  his  professional 
work  precludes  a very  regular  attendance  upon  religious  worship,  he  gives 
the  society  a generous  support.  He  is  found  on  the  right  side  of  every 
moral  movement  and  as  a man  is  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know 
him. 


ISAAC  PONTIUS. 

The  record  of  an  honorable,  upright  life  is  always  read  with  interest, 
and  it  better  perpetuates  the  name  of  the  subject  than  does  a monument, 
seen  by  few  and  soon  crumbling  into  dust  beneath  the  relentless  hand  of 
time.  Those  who  have  fought  and  suffered  for  the  country  in  which  their 
lot  is  cast  are  especially  deserving  of  an  honored  place  in  its  annals,  and 
their  posterity  will  turn  w'ith  just  pride  to  these  records  of  the  preservers 
of  a prosperous,  united  nation. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  descended  from  good  old  German  ances- 
try, his  Hessian  forefathers  having  settled  in  the  state  of  New  York  many 
years  prior  to  the  war  for  independence,  and  from  there  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  lived  for  several  generations.  The  subject’s  paternal 
grandfather  was  Nicholas  Pontius,  who  was  born  in  Union  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  a farmer  by  vocation  and  cleared  his  farm  from  the 
primeval  forests.  His  son  Frederick,  father  of  the  subject,  was  also  born 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  the  Keystone  state  and  was  brought  to  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  When  a boy.  He  wras  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  se- 
cured his  education  under  a private  tutor.  In  1852  he  removed  to  Summit 
county,  this  state,  and  remained  there  until  1864,  when  he  came  to  Orrville, 
Wavne  county,  and  engaged  in  the  tanning  business  .for  a short  time.  His 
death  occurred  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  about  seventy  years.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Wise,  a native  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  but  whose  parents 
were  born  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  being  also  of  Pennsylvania-Ger- 
man stock.  Her  death  occurred  in  1877,  when  she  was  fifty-seven  years  old. 
In  religion  the  father  was  a member  of  the  Reformed  church,  while  his  wife 
belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  the  following  now  survive:  Jefferson,  of  Orrville:  Mrs. 
J.  F.  Seas,  of  Orrville;  Mrs.  Hal  Perkins,  of  Moss  Point,  Mississippi,  and 
the  subject. 


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685 


Isaac  Pontius  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  received  a common  school  educa- 
tion and  supplemented  this  by  attendance  at  the  Greensburg  (Ohio)  Sem- 
inary. At  the  age  mentioned  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  enlisted  in  August,  1862, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  during  this  period  he  participated 
in  a number  of  hard-fought  battles,  besides  many  lighter  engagements  and 
skirmishes.  He  saw  much  arduous  service  and  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge. 

After  the  close  of  his  military  service  Mr.  Pontius  returned  to  Orrville 
and  for  a short  time  worked  with  his  father  in  the  latter's  tannery.  In 
1865  he  entered  the  hardware  store  of  J.  F.  Seas  in  the  capacity  of  sales- 
man and  has  been  identified  with  this  house  continuously  since,  a period  of 
forty-four  years.  In  1875  ^r*  Pontius  engaged  in  the  coal  business,  which 
he  still  conducts.  He  has  been  a member  of  the  Orrville  Banking  Company 
since  its  organization  in  May,  1881,  and  on  its  re-organization  as  a national 
bank  he  was  elected  the  vice-president,  which  position  he  still  retains,  being 
also  a member  of  the  board  of  directors.  He  has  also  large  landed  interests 
and  is  identified  as  a stockholder  in  several  local  enterprises,  including  the 
Millersburg  and  Wooster  Telephone  Company.  He  has  given  his  support 
and  encouragement  to  every  enterprise  that  has  promised  to  be  of  definite 
benefit  to  the  community  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
city. 

On  the  1 8th  of  October,  1876,  Mr.  Pontius  married  Martha  E.  Tag- 
gart, the  daughter  of  James  N.  and  Elizabeth  (Kimberlin)  Taggart.  She 
was  born,  reared  and  married  on  a farm  located  about  two  miles  southwest 
of  Orrville.  Her  mother  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  while  her  father 
was  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  Her  grandfather,  who  was  born  in 
Dublin,  Ireland,  came  to  this  country  and  entered  land  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  subsequently  coming  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  ob- 
tained a government  patent  to  three-quarters  of  a section  of  good  land. 
On  this  land  a large  part  of  the  business  and  residence  section  of  Orrville 
now  lies,  including  the  lot  on  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  erected  his 
present  residence  in  1876.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pontius  has  been  born  one 
child,  Howard  Taggart,  born  September  19,  1893. 

In  1896  Mr.  Pontius  was  elected  a member  of  the  Orrville  board  of 
education,  in  which  position  he  served  continuously  six  years,  part  of  the  time 
as  president  of  the  board,  and  in  1907  he  was  again  elected  to  this  position 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  is  now  a member  of  the  board.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil for  six  years,  from  1884  to  1890.  He  is  now  a member  of  the  Board  of 
Industry,  an  organization  for  the  advancement  of  the  commercial  and  indus- 
trial interests  of  the  city,  and  he  is  now  serving  as  a member  of  the  executive 
committee  of  this  organization.  He  exerts  a large  influence  and  is  consid- 
ered a desirable  man  to  have  back  of  any  movement  for  the  betterment  of  the 
community. 

In  politics  Mr.  Pontius  is  a Democrat,  though  he  does  take  a very 
active  part  in  party  politics,  looking  beyond  party  lines  in  local  elections 
and  taking  the  broad-gauge  view  that  the  best  interests  of  the  community 
demand  that  the  very  best  men  shall  be  chosen  for  the  offices.  Mrs.  Pontius 
attends  the  Presbyterian  church  and  takes  a deep  interest  in  its  various  activ- 
ities. His  present  prosperity  is  the  outcome  of  earnest  and  diligent  effort, 
guided  by  sound  judgment,  and  he  occupies  an  enviable  standing  in  the  com- 
munity because  of  his  sterling  qualities  of  character. 


T.  E.  RICE. 

There  is  no  nation  that  has  contributed  to  the  complex  makeup  of  our 
American  social  fabric  an  element  of  more  sterling  worth  and  of  greater  value 
in  supporting  and  fostering  our  national  institutions  than  has  Germany. 
From  this  source  our  republic  has  had  much  to  gain  and  nothing  to  lose. 
Germany  has  given  us  men  of  sturdy  integrity,  indomitable  perseverance, 
higher  intelligence  and  much  business  sagacity, — the  result  being  the  incor- 
poration of  a strong  and  strength-giving  fibre  ramifying  through  Avarp  and 
woof.  A man  who  may  well  look  with  pride  upon  his  German-American 
origin  is  the  subject  of  this  review,  who  is  a representative  of  one  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  Wayne  county,  where  he  has  passed  practically  his  entire 
life,  and  where  he  is  personally  recognized  as  a representative  citizen,  having 
attained  a gratifying  success  in  his  business  operations  and  occupying  an  en- 
viable standing  in  the  community  because  of  his  personal  worth  as  a man. 

T.  E.  Rice  was  born  at  Cedar  Valley,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
26th  of  January,  1874,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Pfeiffer)  Rice. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  though  of  sturdy  German  stock,  his 
parents  having  emigrated  to  America  directly  from  Switzerland,  and  settling 
in  the  Keystone  state.  Thomas  Rice  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1840, 
and  lived  here  during  the  remaining  years  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in 


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1894,  at  which  time  he  was  sixty-three  years  of  age.  He  was  here  engaged 
in  the  saw-mill  business,  in  which  he  was  fairly  successful.  He  was  widely 
known  throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties  and  was  a highly  respected 
citizen.  Susan  Pfeiffer  Rice  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  where  her  parents 
settled  a short  time  prior  to  her  birth.  They  were  farming  folk  and  lived 
at  Cedar  Valley,  Chester  township,  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The 
old  home  is  still  in  the  family,  and  is  occupied  by  the  subject's  mother,  who 
is  now  seventy-five  years  old.  To  Thomas  and  Susan  Rice  were  born  six 
children,  briefly  mentioned  as  follows:  C.  C.,  of  Lonoke,  Arkansas;  Mrs. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Winkle,  of  Apple  Creek,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Emma  Strauss,  of  Wooster, 
Ohio;  Mrs.  William  Craven,  of  Cedar  Valley,  Ohio;  Mrs.  H.  W.  Berry,  of 
Cedar  Valley : the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Rice  was  reared  to  young  manhood  on  the  paternal  homestead,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
he  entered  the  drug  store  of  his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  W.  H.  Winkle,  at  Apple 
Creek,  where  he  remained  seven  and  a half  years.  He  was  a careful  sales- 
man, took  a healthy  interest  in  his  work  and  finally  decided  to  make  that 
his  life  work.  To  this  end,  he  entered  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  at 
Ada,  where  he  pursued  the  pharmaceutical  course,  and  subsequently  took  the 
examination  before  the  state  board  of  pharmacy,  being  granted  a certificate. 
He  then  clerked  in  a drug  store  at  Sherodsville,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
about  a year  and  a half.  He  then  came  to  Orrville  and  purchased  of  C.  D. 
Swan  the  drug  store  which  he  now  owns.  He  has  been  very  successful  in 
this  enterprise  and  has  enjoyed  his  full  share  of  the  public  patronage.  He 
carries  a full  line  of  drugs  and  pharmaceutical  goods,  as  well  as  all  the  lines 
generally  to  be  found  in  an  up-to-date  drug  store.  He  is  accommodating  in 
his  dealings  with  the  public  and  his  honesty  and  fair  dealing  has  won  for 
him  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  who  have  had  dealings  with  him. 
Mr.  Rice  has  also  engaged  in  the  piano  business,  having  a separate  store  room 
devoted  to  this  line,  and  in  this  enterprise,  too,  he  has  achieved  a distinctive 
success.  He  carries  a splendid  line  of  instruments  and  has  placed  a large 
number  of  them  in  the  homes  of  this  city  and  surrounding  country.  He 
has  other  mercantile  interests,  being  a stockholder  in  the  Orrville  National 
Bank  and  the  Cyclone  Drill  Company,  as  well  as  other  investments,  which 
return  to  him  a fair  income.  He  takes  a commendable  interest  in  local  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  has  rendered  valuable  service  to  this  city  as  a member  of  the 
board  of  public  works. 

On  November  8,  1899,  Mr.  Rice  took  unto  himself  a helpmeet  in  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


person  of  Maud  P.  Miller,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  C.  Miller,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  are  now  residing  at 
Orrville,  where  Mrs.  Rice  was  born.  One  son  has  been  born  to  this  union, 
Belmont. 

Socially  Mr.  Rice  is  an  appreciative  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to 
which  they  give  an  earnest  and  generous  support.  Mr.  Rice  and  family  are 
well  known  in  the  community  and  their  home  has  a reputation  for  hospitality. 
He  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity and  is  held  in  the  highest  regard. 


EDMOND  Z.  FLUHART. 

The  biographies  of  enterprising  men,  especially  of  good  men,  are  instruc- 
tive as  guides  and  incentives  to  others.  The  examples  they  furnish  of  stead- 
fast purpose  and  inflexible  integrity  strongly  illustrate  what  is  in  their  power 
to  accomplish.  Some  men  belong  to  no  exclusive  class  in  life;  apparently 
insurmountable  obstacles  have  in  many  instances  awakened  and  developed 
their  faculties  and  served  as  a stimulus  to  carry  them  to  ultimate  success.  The 
instances  of  success  in  the  face  of  adverse  circumstances  would  almost  seem 
to  justify  the  conclusion  that  self-reliance  with  ordinary  opportunities  can 
accomplish  any  reasonable  object.  The  gentleman  whose  life  history  is  here 
briefly  outlined  has  lived  to  good  purpose  and  achieved  a definite  success  in 
life.  By  a straightforward  and  commendable  course  he  has  made  his  way  to 
a respectable  position  in  the  world,  winning  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  his 
fellow  citizens  and  earning  the  reputation  of  an  enterprising  man  of  affairs 
which  the  public  has  not  been  slow  to  recognize  and  appreciate. 

Edmond  Z.  Fluhart  was  born  in  Saltcreek  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  February  9,  1853.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Zacheus  Fluhart.  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  emigrated  from  Meadville,  that  state,  to  Wayne 
county,  in  a very  early  day,  accompanying  his  parents.  The  father  bought  a 
tract  of  land  that  had  just  been  entered  by  a prior  comer  and  he  at  once  en- 
tered upon  the  task  of  clearing  the  land  and  developing  a farm,  in  which  he 
succeeded  with  the  help  of  his  sons.  Zacheus  married  and  reared  a family 
and  here  his  death  occurred.  Among  his  sons  was  James  H.,  the  father  of 
the  subject.  James  H.  was  born  in  1825  in  Saltcreek  township  and  was  reared 
to  the  life  of  a farmer,  which  vocation  he  followed  all  the  days  of  his  life. 


Digitized  by  Uioogie 


Digitized  by  boogie 


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vjACon  fluhart 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


689 


On  reaching  manhood’s  years  he  married  Margaret  Poorman,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  coming  from  that  state  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when  she 
was  but  seven  years  old.  She  experienced  the  novelty  of  walking  almost  the 
entire  distance,  as  did  the  other  members  of  the  family,  their  only  convey- 
ance, a light  one-horse  wagon,  being  used  to  carry  the  household  furniture. 
They  first  located  at  Wooster,  which  at  that  time  consisted  of  but  one  store 
and  a few  houses.  Here  she  met  James  Fluhart  and  they  were  married  on  Jan- 
uary 22,  1849,  the  ceremony  being  celebrated  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Fredericksburg.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  namely:  George,  de- 

ceased ; Albert,  deceased ; Edmond  Z. ; Mary  E.,  who  died  in  infancy ; Thomas 
Willard,  deceased;  James  Finley,  deceased;  Nettie,  who  married  a Mr.  Cris- 
well. James  Fluhart  followed  farming  all  his  life  and  was  numbered  among 
the  successful  men  of  the  township.  He  was  a Republican  in  politics  and  was 
active  in  local  public  affairs,  but  was  never  an  office  seeker.  By  dint  of  much 
hard  work  and  good  management  he  accumulated  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  fine  land,  which  he  cultivated  with  eminent  success.  His  religious  affilia- 
tion was  with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Fredericksburg,  in  which  he  took  a 
prominent  place.  He  was  sixty-eight  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
in  his  passing  away  the  entire  community  felt  that  it  had  suffered  a distinct 
loss. 

Edmond  Z.  Fluhart  has  lived  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  since 
he  was  seven  years  old  and  he  secured  a fair  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  His  youthful  days,  when  out  of  school,  were  required 
in  the  work  on  the  farm,  and  during  all  his  life  he  has  remained  a tiller  of  the 
soil.  He  is  a good  manager  and  a progressive  worker,  keeping  in  close  touch 
with  every  detail  of  his  work,  so  that  everything  he  does  is  characterized  by 
completeness  in  detail.  The  farm  is  nicely  kept  up,  its  general  appearance  in- 
dicating the  owner  to  be  a man  of  excellent  taste  and  sound  judgment.  He 
has  followed  general  farming  and  in  connection  has  raised  considerable  live- 
stock, being  successful  in  everything  he  undertakes. 

In  politics  Mr.  Fluhart  has  been  an  uncompromising  Republican  and  has 
done  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  party  in  this  locality.  He  has  not 
been  a seeker  after  office  or  public  preferment,  but  has  rendered  efficient  ser- 
vice as  school  director.  Religiously  Mrs.  Fluhart  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  at  Fredericksburg.  Mr.  Fluhart  is  not  a member  of  the  church,  but 
gives  liberally  to  its  support. 

Mr.  Fluhart  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lucy  Graber,  of  Maysville,  Salt- 
creek  township,  this  county,  a daughter  of  John  Graber,  who  was  a native  of 
Germany.  She  was  born  February  14,  1868.  To  them  have  been  born  the 
(44) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


following  children : Ida  E.,  James  M.,  Frank  Blaine,  Nettie  Florence,  George 
McKinley,  Margaret  Alice,  William  Foster,  Walter  Lester  and  Joseph  Homer. 

Mr.  Fluhart  is  a man  of  many  splendid  personal  qualities  and  occupies  r 
deservedly  high  position  among  his  fellow  citizens.  Among  his  warmest 
friends  are  those  who  have  known  him  through  many  years. — a fact  which  in- 
dicates that  his  career  has  been  an  honorable  one,  and  upon  the  pages  of 
Wayne  county’s  history  appears  the  name  of  no  man  who  is  more  worthy  of 
public  regard  than  Mr.  Fluhart. 


A.  J.  HELLER. 

1 

The  history  of  the  Buckeye  state  is  not  an  ancient  one.  It  is  the  record 
of  the  steady  growth  of  a community  planted  in  the  wilderness  and  reaching 
its  magnitude  of  today  without  other  aids  than  those  of  continued  industry. 
Each  county  has  its  share  in  the  story  and  every  county  can  lay  claim  to 
some  incident  or  transaction  which  goes  to  make  up  the  history  of  the  com- 
monwealth. After  all,  the  history  of  a state  or  county  is  but  a record  of 
the  doings  of  its  people  among  the  pioneers  and  the  sturdy  descendants  oc- 
cupy  places  of  no  secondary  importance.  The  story  of  the  plain  common 
people  who  constitute  the  moral  bone  and  sinew  of  the  state  should  ever  at- 
tract the  attention  and  prove  of  interest  to  all  true  lovers  of  their  kind.  In 
the  life  story  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  there  are  no  thrilling  chapters  or 
startling  incidents,  but  it  is  merely  the  record  of  a life  true  to  its  highest 
ideals  and  fraught  with  much  that  should  stimulate  the  youth  just  starting  in 
the  world  as  an  independent  factor. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  descended  from  German  stock,  his  great- 
grandfather, Peter  Heller,  having  come  from  Germany  to  America  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  an  aide  on  the.staff  of  Gen.  George  Wash- 
ington at  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine.  His  son,  Joseph  Heller,  came  west 
and  lived  on  a farm  between  Lancaster  and  New  Holland,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  owned  a farm.  He  built,  entirely  at  his  own  expense,  a church 
on  his  farm  and  for  many  years  paid  all  the  running  expenses  of  the  same, 
including  the  minister’s  salary.  The  society  was  known  far  and  wide  as 
Heller’s  Church.  At  his  death  the  property  went  to  a board  of  trustees,  and 
when  they  subsequently  erected  a splendid  new  church  on  the  same  site  it,  too, 
was  known  as  Heller's  Church,  in  honor  of  the  old  pioneer  and  benefactor. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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Heller’s  Station,  on  the  Lancaster  & New  Holland  railroad,  was  also  named 
for  him.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  and  his  death  Was  widely  re- 
gretted. 

The  subject’s  father  was  Adam  B.  Heller,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  but  who  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1840,  set- 
tling about  two  miles  south  of  Orrville.  He  had  followed  farming  pursuits 
prior  to  coming  to  Orrville,  at  which  time  he  became  an  employee  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  He  did  the  first  shifting  for  this  company 
in  Orrville,  the  work  being  performed  with  the  assistance  of  a horse.  His 
death  occurred  here  in  1886,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Signer,  a native  of  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state 
they  were  married.  Mrs.  Heller  died  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 
years.  To  this  union  there  were  born  nine  children,  namely:  Mrs.  Sarah 
Geyer,  of  Huntington,  Ohio;  Joseph,  of  Orrville;  William,  of  Orrville;  Mar- 
garet, deceased;  Kate,  who  makes  her  home  with  the  subject;  A.  J.  is  the 
next  in  order  of  birth;  Mrs.  G.  R.  Burdoyn,  of  Orrville;  Isaac  is  a printer  at 
Spring  Valley,  Illinois,  and  was  at  one  time  the  publisher  of  the  News,  at  that 
place;  Frank  is  night  yardman  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  at  Orrville. 

A.  J.  Heller  was  born  in  the  parental  home  within  a few  miles  of  Orr- 
ville, in  1855,  an<J  has  sPent  his  entire  life  in  Wayne  county.  He  attended 
the  Orrville  public  schools  in  his  youth  and  received  a fair  education.  After 
leaving  school  he  was  employed  as  a clerk  in  a grocery  store,  where  he  re- 
mained several  years.  He  then  entered  the  Orrville  Planing  Mill,  but  a 
short  time  later  he  became  foreman  for  the  Orrville  (Ohio)  Champion 
Thresher  Company,  builders  of  the  Champion  threshers.  In  1885  Mr.  Hel- 
ler went  to  Auburn,  New  York,  and  took  charge  of  the  John  M.  Hurd  Nov- 
elty Works,  and  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Hurd  he  closed  out  the  business  for  the 
estate.  Returning  to  Orrville  in  1887,  he  accepted  a foremanship  with  the 
Champion  Thresher  Company,  in  which  position  he  was  retained  until  1891, 
when  he  became  superintendent  and  vice-president  of  the  company.  In  No- 
vember, 1907,  Mr.  Heller  opened  a real  estate  and  insurance  office  in  Orr- 
ville, wffiich  he  has  since  conducted  and  in  which  he  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful. He  is  considered  a man  of  splendid  business  ability  and  he  possesses 
an  accurate  knowledge  of  real  estate  values.  He  has  handled  a number  of 
large  deals  and  has  done  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  community. 
He  is  at  all  times  and  all  places  a “hustler”  for  Orrville  and  his  support  is 
solicited  for  every  enterprise  for  the  advancement  of  the  town  materially  or 
otherwise. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Heller  has  served  two  terms  as  township  clerk,  having  been  first 
elected  as  soon  as  he  had  attained  his  majority.  He  has  also  served  two 
terms  as  city  clerk,  three  terms  as  water  works  trustee,  during  which  time 
he  served  as  secretary  of  the  board,  having  complete  management  of  the 
water  system.  His  service  in  this  relation  was  extremely  creditable  to  him 
as  during  that  period  he  put  the  water  department  on  a paying  basis,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  improvements  were  made  amounting  to  over  six  thousand 
dollars.  He  is  at  the  present  time  president  of  the  Board  of  Industry,  a local 
organization  composed  of  one  hundred  and  five  business  men  who  have 
banded  together  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  the  commercial  and  industrial 
interests  of  Orrville.  One  of  the  popular  enterprises  projected  by  Mr.  Heller 
is  what  is  known  as  Heller’s  Allotment,  on  Heller  avenue,  a sub-division  of 
the  town. 

Mr.  Heller  has  taken  a very  active  interest  in  the  Knights  of  Honor, 
having  been  a charter  member  of  Orr  Lodge,  at  Orrville.  He  has  passed 
through  all  the  chairs  in  the  subordinate  body  and  for  a number  of  years  was 
a representative  to  the  grand  lodge.  He  was  elected  vice-grand  dictator, 
refusing  the  office  of  grand  dictator,  and  in  1906  he  was  elected  a representa- 
tive to  the  supreme  lodge,  Knights  of  Honor,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  takes  an  active  interest  in  party  affairs,  and  was 
elected  mayor  of  the  city  by  one  hundred  and  sixteen  votes  over  E.  P.  Willi- 
man.  Although  Mr.  Heller  is  one  of  the  solid,  substantial  men  of  his  com- 
munity, he  is  entirely  self-made,  having  had  scarcely  any  assistance  in  estab- 
lishing himself.  He  is  now  occupying  an  enviable  position  among  his  fel- 
low citizens  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN  W.  REHM. 

This  sterling  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Ohio  is  a 
native  son  of  Wayne  county,  where  he  was  reared  to  maturity  upon  a farm, 
early  beginning  to  assume  the  practical  responsibilities  of  life  and  lending  his 
aid  in  connection  with  the  improvement  of  the  old  homestead.  That  he  has 
lived  and  labored  to  goodly  ends  is  clearly  indicated  in  the  position  which  he 
now  holds  in  the  confidence  and  regard  of  his  fellow  men  and  in  the  success 
which  has  crowned  his  efforts  as  an  exponent  of  the  great  basic  art  of  agri- 
culture, which  has  been  his  vocation  throughout  his  business  career. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


693 


Mr.  Rehm  was  born  in  Baughman  township,  Wayne  county,  on  the  18th 
of  October,  1862,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Sickman)  Rehm. 
The  father  was  born  in  1838  in  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Ohio  when  a young 
man,  settling  in  Baughman  township,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years.  Mary  Sickman 
Rehm  was  a native  of  Baughman  township,  born  in  1834,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred in  1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rehm  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  John  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Levina,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Anthony,  of  Baughman  township;  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Henry  Fisher,  of  Hancock  county,  Ohio;  George  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Baughman  township;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Mackey,  of 
Baughman  township;  Jacob  F.,  of  the  same  township;  Catharine  N.  is  the 
wife  of  Charley  Shenk,  of  Baughman  township;  and  Andrew  J.,  also  of  the 
same  township. 

John  W.  Rehm  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  township  and  has 
lived  here  all  his  life  with  the  exception  of  five  years  spent  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  Indiana.  He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  has  never  re- 
linquished that  vocation,  in  which  he  has  achieved  a distinctive  success.  He 
is  the  owner  of  a fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres  located  in  this 
township,  and  the  condition  of  the  place  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a man  of 
good  tastes  and  sound  judgment.  He  follows  a general  line  of  farming, 
raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this  latitude,  and  gives  proper  attention  to 
the  rotation  of  crops  and  other  details  so  essential  to  successful  agriculture. 
His  farm  buildings  are  modern  and  conveniently  arranged  and  all  the  ma- 
chinery usually  found  on  an  up-to-date  farm  are  here  used.  Mr.  Rehm  is 
now  living  in  Orrville,  where  he  has  a fine  modern  home,  though  he  contin- 
ues to  personally  supervise  the  operation  of  his  farm. 

Though  devoted  to  his  own  interests,  Mr.  Rehm  has  been  public-spirited 
enough  to  take  an  interest  in  public  affairs  and  he  is  now  serving  as  the  treas- 
urer of  Baughman  township.  He  is  a Democrat  in  political  faith  and  is  now 
a member  of  the  county  central  committee  from  his  township.  He  rendered 
efficient  service  for  a number  of  years  as  a member  of  the  school  board  of 
Baughman  township  and  continues  to  take  a deep  and  commendable  inter- 
est in  educational  matters.  His  social  relations  are  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  Orrville,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  liberal  support. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1888,  Mr.  Rehm  married  Matilda  Carbiener, 
who  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Indiana,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  a 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


daughter,  Ethel.  Another  child  died  at  the  age  of  five  months.  He  is  a man 
greatly  esteemed  by  all  who  have  his  acquaintance  and  exerts  a wide  influ- 
ence in  this,  his  native  township. 


ADAM  W.  FIKE. 

The  importance  that  attaches  to  the  lives,  character  and  work  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Wayne  county  and  the  influence  they  have  exerted  on  the 
cause  of  humanity  and  civilization  is  one  of  the  most  absorbing  themes  that 
can  possibly  attract  the  attention  of  the  local  chronicler  or  historian.  If 
great  and  beneficent  results — results  that  endure  and  bless  mankind — are  the 
proper  measure  of  the  good  men  do,  then  who  is  there  in  the  world's  history 
that  may  take  their  places  above  the  hardy  pioneers?  To  point  out  the  way 
and  thus  make  possible  our  present  advancing  civilization,  was  the  great 
work  accomplished  by  the  early  settlers  and  it  is  granted  by  all  that  they 
builded  wiser  than  they  knew.  Admit  that  as  a rule,  but  few  realized  the 
transcendent  possibilities  that  rested  upon  their  shoulders;  that  their  lives, 
in  some  instances,  were  somewhat  narrow;  that  they  realized  but  little  the 
great  results  that  ultimately  crowned  their  efforts;  yet  there  follows  the 
supreme  fact  that  they  in  a large  measure  took  their  lives  into  their  own 
hands,  penetrated  the  wilderness,  and  with  a patient  energy,  resolution  and 
self-sacrifice  that  stands  alone  and  unparalleled,  they  worked  out  their  allotted 
tasks,  accomplished  their  destinies  and  today  their  descendants  and  others 
enjoy  undisturbed  the  fruitage  of  their  labors. 

Prominent  among  the  worthy  representatives  of  the  pioneer  element  in 
the  county  of  Wayne  is  the  well-known  gentleman  to  a review  of  whose  life 
the  attention  of  the  reader  is  now  invited.  For  many  years  Adam  W.  Fike 
has  been  a forceful  factor  in  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  Wayne  township 
and  today  he  is  enjoying  the  full  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  who  know 
him.  Mr.  Fike  is  a native  of  Alsace,  France  (now  Germany),  where  he 
was  born  in  1836,  and  he  was  brought  to  America  with  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  four  years.  His  father,  Michael  Fike,  was  a native  of  the  same  coun- 
try, but  was  ambitious  and  the  New  World  offered  him  what  seemed  great 
opportunities  for  the  man  of  energy.  The  family  were  forty-one  days  in 
crossing  the  Atlantic.  They  first  went  to  Cleveland,  but  in  1839  came  to 
Wayne  county,  locating  in  Wayne  township,  near  Wooster.  The  father  pur- 
chased a little  later  a piece  of  land  in  Canaan  township  and  entered  at  once 


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on  the  task  of  clearing  it  and  rendering  it  fit  for  cultivation.  Of  the  eighty 
acres  in  the  tract,  only  twelve  were  cleared  and  thus  there  remained  a vast 
amount  of  work  to  be  done.  Michael  Fike  lived  on  this  place  nearly  all  his 
life,  removing  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  a short  time  before  his  death,  spending 
his  last  days  with  his  youngest  daughter.  He  was  eighty-four  years  old  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Eve  Jacobs,  who  also  was  a native  of 
Alsace,  France,  and  she  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years. 
Michael  and  Eve  Fike  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  one  of  whom  died 
before  leaving  their  home  in  France.  Those  now  living  are  as  follows : Fred- 
erick, of  Canaan  township;  Mrs.  Emeline  Voigt,  also  of  Canaan  township, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Adam  \Y.  Fike  was  the  youngest  of  his  father's  sons  and  he  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  securing  his  education  in  the  schools  of  the  township, 
which  were  in  that  early  day  somewhat  primitive  in  equipment  and  methods. 
In  his  young  manhood  he  began  teaching  school,  and  taught  four  terms  dur- 
ing the  winter  seasons,  devoting  his  attention  to  the  farm  work  in  summers. 
He  possessed  strong  musical  talent  and  did  some  teaching  along  that  line. 
Upon  reaching  manhood’s  years  he  applied  himself  to  farming,  in  connec- 
tion with  which  he  did  considerable  dealing  in  stock,  in  both  vocations  meet- 
ing with  success.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  a farm  he  owned  in  Wayne 
township,  and  remained  there  until  1892,  when  he  removed  to  the  town  of 
Orrville,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  now  permitted  to  enjoy  that  rest 
which  he  has  so  richly  earned,  though  his  is  not  a life  of  idleness,  as  he  con- 
tinues to  keep  a supervision  over  the  various  properties  which  he  owns.  He 
owns  two  splendid  farms  in  Wayne  township,  one  farm  in  East  Union  town- 
ship, ninety  acres  contiguous  to  Orrville,  property  at  Madisonburg  and  Ca- 
naan, several  residence  properties  in  Orrville,  in  addition  to  which  he  owns 
the  largest  and  finest  business  block  in  Orrville,  known  as  the  Fike  Memorial 
block.  He  platted  a tract  of  land  adjacent  to  Orrville,  and  is  now  selling 
lots  from  a second  plat. 

Mr.  Fike  has  twice  been  married,  the  first  time  to  Elizabeth 
May,  who  was  born  January  23,  1839,  in  Wayne  township,  this  county. 
To  this  union  were  born  five  children,  namely:  Herschell  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 26,  1859,  and  now  living  at  Akron,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Kate  Neftzer,  born  Au- 
gust 14,  1865  and  living  in  Canaan  township:  Allie,  born  Au- 

gust 22,  1862,  died  in  1864;  Horatio  W.,  born  March  28,  1868,  lives  at  Mad- 
isonburg, this  county;  Luther,  born  April  21,  1870.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fike  died 
on  May  1,  1870,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-one  years,  and  Mr.  Fike  was  sub- 


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sequently  married  to  Malissa  Landis,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Wayne 
township,  and  to  them  has  been  born  one  child,  Milton  M.,  born  October  7, 
1875,  and  now  living  at  Canton,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Fike  has  taken  a keen  interest  in  public  affairs  and  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Wayne  township  for  six  years.  He  was  for  many  years 
a member  of  the  Wayne  township  school  board  and  held  a number  of  local 
offices,  in  all  of  which  he  performed  his  duties  faithfully  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a man  of  positive  religious  opinions  and 
is  a faithful  member  of  the  old  Lutheran  church  in  Wayne  township.  Mrs. 
Fike  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Orrville.  They  both  give  a 
cordial  support  to  every  movement  that  promises  to  benefit  the  community 
in  any  way  and  they  are  well  liked  by  all  who  know  them. 


ERVIN  W.  THOMPSON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  the  efficient  and  popular  cashier  of  the 
Citizens*  National  Bank  of  Wooster  and  a financier  of  much  more  than  local 
reputation,  is  a native  of  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  and  a representative  of  one 
of  the  oldest  and  best-known  families  in  that  part  of  the  state.  The  Thomp- 
sons are  of  English  stock  and  came  to  America  in  an  early  day,  settling  first 
in  Virginia,  later  emigrating  to  Delaware  county.  Ohio,  where  nearly  all  the 
descendants  of  the  original  immigrants  still  live  and  where  the  subject’s  ante- 
cedents for  three  or  four  generations  have  been  born.  His  grandfather,  James 
C.  Thompson,  a native  of  that  county  and  a farmer  by  occupation,  died  in 
the  year  1906.  Calvin  Thompson,  his  father,  who  was  born  in  the  same  local- 
ity and  is  still  living,  is  an  enterprising  business  man  of  Ostrander,  the  place 
where  the  family  originally  settled.  The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Calvin  Thomp- 
son was  Celesta  Sewell.  She  is  a native  of  Lancaster,  Fairfield  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  also  living,  being  the  mother  of  four  children,  whose  names  are  as  fol- 
lows: Harry  Thompson,  of  Alderson,  West  Virginia;  Calvin,  of  Delaware, 
this  state;  William,  who  lives  in  the  town  of  Alderson.  and  Ervin  W.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch. 

Ervin  W.  Thompson,  whose  birth  occurred  on  November  1.  1871,  was 
reared  in  his  native  town  of  Ostrander,  Delaware  county,  and  received  his 
educational  training  in  the  public  schools.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  began  life  for  himself  as  a teacher, 
which  calling  he  followed  for  a period  of  four  years.  At  the  expiration  of 


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that  time  he  entered  upon  what  has  proved  a remarkably  successful  business 
career,  by  accepting  in  1903  the  position  of  bookkeeper  with  the  Union  Bank- 
ing Company  of  Marysville,  Ohio.  After  serving  four  months  in  that  ca- 
pacity he  was  elected  to  the  more  honorable  and  responsible  post  of  cashier 
of  the  Union  Banking  Company,  West  Mansfield,  Ohio,  which  he  held  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  superiors  until  1900,  when  he 
severed  his  official  connection  with  the  company  to  help  organize  the  Bank 
of  Plain  City,  in  the  town  of  the  same  name,  of  which  he  also  became  cashier. 
Mr.  Thompson  took  a leading  part  in  building  up  the  latter  institution  and 
making  it  one  of  the  most  successful  local  banks  in  Madison  county  and 
during  his  five  years’  service  as  cashier  added  to  his  already  welbestablished 
reputation  as  a capable  and  reliable  business  man  and  forged  to  the  front 
among  the  enterprising  financiers  of  central  Ohio.  In  1905  the  Citizens’  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Wooster  was  organized  and  in  casting  about  for  a proper  person 
for  cashier  the  choice  fell  to  Mr.  Thompson,  who  at  once  resigned  the  post 
with  the  bank  at  Plain  City  and  took  charge  of  the  position  tendered  him  by 
the  officials  of  the  newly  established  institution  at  Wooster. 

Mr.  Thompson  moved  to  the  latter  city  in  March,  1905,  since  which  time 
he  has  devoted  his  attention  very  closely  to  the  interests  of  the  bank,  which 
meanwhile  has  steadily  grown  in  public  favor,  until  it  now  ranks  among  the 
best  managed  and  most  successful  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  His 
long  and  eminently  creditable  experience  as  a banker  has  made  him  familiar 
with  the  business  in  its  every  detail,  and  the  creditable  manner  in  which  he  has 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  several  important  positions  with  which  intrusted 
speaks  well  for  his  ability  and  for  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  bank  offi- 
cials and  the  general  public.  Mr.  Thompson  has  a broad  and  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  monetary  matters  and,  as  already  indicated,  stands  well  to  the 
front  in  financial  circles.  In  addition  to  his  connection  with  the  Citizens’  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Wooster,  of  which  he  is  an  official  stockholder  and  director, 
he  is  also  identified  with  several  other  similar  institutions,  being  a director 
and  stockholder  of  the  Farmers’  Banking  Company  of  Sterling,  Ohio,  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants'  Bank  at  Smithville,  the  Union  Banking  Company  of 
West  Mansfield,  and  the  Bank  of  Plain  City,  Plain  City,  Ohio,  in  all  of  which 
he  is  actively  interested  and  to  the  growth  and  success  of  which  he  has  in  no 
small  degree  contributed.  He  has  also  manifested  commendable  zeal  in  the 
material  advancement  of  his  various  places  of  residence  and  since  becoming  a 
citizen  of  Wooster  has  given  his  aid  and  influence  to  all  worthy  enterprises 
for  the  city's  growth  and  prosperity.  Though  never  entering  the  political 
arena  as  an  aspirant  for  public  honors  or  leadership,  he  keeps  in  close  touch 


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with  the  leading  questions  and  issues  before  the  people  and  as  a Democrat 
has  rendered  efficient  service  to  his  party  in  Wayne  county  and  elsewhere.  He 
has  attained  to  distinguished  standing  in  the  Masonic  brotherhood,  being  a 
thirty-second-degree  Mason  and  as  such  is  widely  and  favorably  known  among 
his  fellow  craftsmen  throughout  Ohio  and  other  states,  besides  being  active 
and  influential  worker  in  Wooster  Commandery  No.  48,  Knights  Templar, 
Wooster  Chapter  No.  13,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  Blue  Lodge  No.  33.  He  is 
also  identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  belonging  to 
Wooster  Lodge  No.  32,  and  while  a resident  of  Plain  City  was  initiated  into 
the  Pythian  fraternity  and  still  holds  membership  with  the  lodge  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Thompson  and  Ella  D.,  daughter  of  S.  T.  Carr,  of  Ostrander,  Ohio, 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock  on  September  5,  1904,  the  mar- 
riage being  without  issue.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  move  in  the  best  society 
circles  of  Wooster  and  are  esteemed  and  faithful  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  this  city.  By  continued  industry  and  careful  management  Mr. 
Thompson  has  acquired  a handsome  competency,  and  not  only  ranks  among 
the  financially  solid  men  of  his  adopted  county  but  also  holds  worthy  pres- 
tige as  one  of  its  representative  citizens.  A highly  respected,  honorable  gen- 
tleman, who  has  won  his  position  in  the  business  and  social  world  by  honesty 
and  integrity  and  whose  native  ability  is  supplemented  by  agreeable  manners 
and  a pleasing  presence,  he  fills  a large  place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  public  and  enjoys  great  popularity  among  the  people  with  whom  his  lot 
has  been  cast. 


AMOS  SANDERSON.  D.  D.  S. 

As  a native  son  of  Wayne  county  and  a representative  of  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneer  families  in  this  section  of  the  Buckeye  state,  Doctor  San- 
derson is  eminently  qualified  to  representation  in  a compilation  which  has 
to  do  with  those  who  have  been  the  founders  and  builders  of  this  common- 
wealth. while  such  is  his  personal  honor  and  integrity  of  character  and  such 
his  standing  as  a professional  man  that  this  consideration  is  all  the  more 
compatible.  Doctor  Sanderson  occupies  an  enviable  position  in  his  profes- 
sion, being  considered  one  of  the  leading  dentists  of  northern  Ohio.  He  is  a 
native  of  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  bom  on 
the  29th  of  March,  1864.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Sanderson,  was 
a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Wayne  county  in  an  early  day,  being 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  county.  Here  he  followed  farming  as  a live- 


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lihood  and  was  a successful  man,  enjoying  the  high  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him.  His  death  occurred  in  about  1865.  The  subject's  father,  also  named 
John,  was  born  in  this  county  in  1817  and  lived  in  Franklin  township  all  his 
life,  a period  of  sixty-six  years,  his  death  occurring  in  1883.  He  also  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  during  the  early  days  he  was  a noted  hunter,  being  a 
good  shot  with  the  rifle.  Doctor  Sanderson  of  this  sketch  is  now  the  pos- 
sessor of  a pair  of  horns  from  a deer  which  his  father  killed  in  this  county 
in  1834.  John  Sanderson  married  Caroline  Shaw,  who  died  on  March  4, 
1904.  She  was  born  in  1833  in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  her  family  remov- 
ing later  to  Wayne  county.  To  John  and  Caroline  Sanderson  were 
born  the  following  children:  Robert,  who  resides  at  Niles,  Ohio;  John,  of 
Franklin  township,  this  county;  James,  a farmer  living  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio;  Mary,  deceased;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Hiram,  of  Saltcreek  township,  Wayne  county;  Edward  and  Ida,  both 
also  of  Saltcreek  township. 

Amos  Sanderson  was  reared  on  the  paternal  homestead,  until  he  was 
nineteen  years  old.  He  received  such  an  education  as  was  afforded  in  the 
common  schools,  and  in  1886  he  took  up  the  study  of  dentistry  under  the 
direction  of  Doctor  Cunningham,  of  Fredericksburg,  this  county,  completing 
his  technical  education  by  attendance  at  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Dental 
Surgery.  Immediately  on  his  graduation,  Doctor  Sanderson  located  at  Dal- 
ton, where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  until  1906,  when  he 
removed  to  Orrville.  From  the  beginning  of  his  professional  work,  Doctor 
Sanderson  has  been  stamped  as  a man  of  unusual  excellence  in  his  line  and 
he  has  almost  continually  commanded  one  of  the  largest  practices  in  this  part 
of  the  state.  During  his  residence  at  Dalton,  Doctor  Sanderson  served  for 
five  years  as  mayor  of  that  town  and  was  also  justice  of  the  peace  for  sev- 
eral years.  The  Doctor  has  practiced  a wise  economy  and  has  made  a number 
of  shrewd  and  safe  investments,  so  that  today  he  is  considered  fairly  well-to- 
do,  owning  valuable  property  in  Orrville  and  elsewhere. 

In  1888  Doctor  Sanderson  married  Jennie  Shrimplin,  now  deceased,  of 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  Ralph 
and  Jennie.  Some  time  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  the  Doctor  married 
Kilah  Jones,  of  Shreve,  this  county,  and  they  had  two  children,  both  of  whom 
died  in  infancy. 

Socially,  Doctor  Sanderson  is  a member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees. In  politics  he  is  a Democrat  and  takes  a deep  interest  in  the  success  of 


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his  party.  Generous  to  a fault  and  social  to  a high  degree,  Doctor  Sanderson 
wins  friends  easily,  and  he  has  the  happy  faculty  of  drawing  them  closer  to 
him  as  the  years  go  by.  Viewed  in  a personal  light,  he  is  a strong  man,  of 
excellent  judgment,  fair  in  his  views  and  highly  honorable  in  his  relations 
with  his  fellow  men. 


FRANK  E.  STEWART,  M.  D. 

Among  the  representative  professional  men  of  Wayne  county  is  he 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  brief  review,  and  who  sustains  an 
enviable  reputation  as  one  of  the  leading  dentists  in  Orrville.  To  such  men 
as  Doctor  Stewart  the  writer  turns  with  particular  satisfaction  as  offering 
in  their  life  histories  justification  for  works  of  this  nature, — not  that  their 
lives  have  been  such  as  to  gain  them  wide  reputation  or  the  admiring  plaudits 
of  men,  but  that  they  have  been  true  to  the  trusts  reposed,  have  shown  such 
attributes  of  character  as.  entitle  them  to  the  regard  of  all,  and  have  been 
useful  in  their  spheres  of  action. 

F.  E.  Stewart  was  born  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  on  the  22d  of  March,  1887, 
and  is  a son  of  John  and  Jennie  (Hutchison)  Stewart.  John  Stewart  was 
also  a native  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  was  a farmer,  following  this  vocation 
practically  all  his  life,  being  at  the  same  time  extensively  engaged  in  the 
selling  of  fertilizers.  He  died  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  The  Stewart 
family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  they  inherit  those  sterling  qualities  of 
character  which  belong  to  those  races.  John  and  Jennie  Stewart  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Mrs.  Effie  Orwig,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio; 
Mrs.  Bertha  Bode,  of  Monroe  county,  this  state;  Mrs.  Grace  Myers,  also  of 
Monroe  county;  F.  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Raymond,  and  Luna,  at 
home. 

Doctor  Stewart  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  Having  de- 
cided to  take  up  the  practice  of  dentistry,  he,  in  1905,  entered  the  Starling 
Medical  College,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1908.  He  first  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Columbus,  but 
in  February,  1909,  he  came  to  Orrville  and  opened  his  office.  He  has  dental 
rooms  on  East  Market  street  and  here  he  is  already  in  command  of  a large 
and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  a young  man  of  great  promise  and  will  no 
doubt  command  his  full  share  of  the  public  patronage.  Possessed  of  those 


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sterling  qualities  of  character  which  commend  any  man,  he  has  already  won 
and  retains  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  all  who  have  formed  his  acquain- 
tance. 


W.  L.  DESVOIGNES. 

The  gentleman  to  a brief  review  of  whose  life  and  characteristics  the 
reader’s  attention  is  directed  is  numbered  among  the  foremost  business  men 
of  Orrville,  Wayne  county,  and  has  by  his  enterprise  and  progressive  meth- 
ods contributed  in  a material  way  to  the  commercial  advancement  of  the  city 
and  county.  He  has  in  the  course  of  an  honorable  career  been  most  success- 
ful in  the  business  enterprise  of  which  he  is  the  head,  and  is  well  deserving 
of  mention  in  the  present  work.  Mr.  DesVoignes  is  descended  from  Swiss 
ancestry  on  the  paternal  side,  his  father,  August  DesVoignes,  having  been 
born  in  that  little  republic  in  1834.  He  came  to  Wayne  county  about  sixty- 
five  years  ago,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  the  county.  He 
first  settled  at  Mount  Eaton,  where  he  began  life  as  a clerk  in  a general  store. 
After  working  in  this  capacity  for  five  years,  he  bought  out  his  employer  and 
continued  the  business  at  that  place  for  twenty  years  or  more.  In  1876  he 
came  to  Orrville  and  established  himself  in  the  grocery  business  and  some 
time  later  he  opened  a hardware  store.  He  was  successful  in  his  enterprises 
and  he  continued  to  run  the  hardware  store  up  to  about  1894,  when  he  re- 
tired from  active  business  pursuits,  and  has  since  been  enjoying  that  rest 
which  he  had  so  richly  earned.  During  his  active  life  he  held  several  local 
offices  and  always  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Now,  in 
the  golden  sunset  of  life,  he  is  able  to  look  back  over  the  vista  of  the  years 
and  can  feel  that  for  him  the  ‘dines  have  indeed  fallen  in  pleasant  places.” 
He  is  a man  whose  sterling  qualities  of  character  commended  him  to  the  high 
regard  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  had  dealings  and  this  feeling  he 
reciprocated  by  ever  holding  his  word  inviolate  and  treating  his  fellows  ac- 
cording to  his  highest  conception  of  the  right.  He  is  a member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  the  moral,  intel- 
lectual and  material  development  of  his  community. 

August  DesVoignes  was  united  in  marriage  to  Hannah  Lucas,  who  was 
a native  of  Wayne  county,  born  near  Mount  Eaton.  To  this  union  two  chil- 
dren were  born,  a girl  who  died  in  early  life,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

W.  L.  DesVoignes  was  born  at  Mount  Eaton.  Wayne  county,  in  1865 


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and  removed  to  Orrville  with  his  parents  in  1876.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Orrville,  and  supplemented  this  by  attendance 
at  the  Poughkeepsie  Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  gradu- 
ating from  the  latter  institution.  Eighteen  years  ago  he  established  himself 
in  the  dry  goods  business  at  Orrville  and  has  been  very  successful  in  this 
enterprise.  About  twelve  years  ago  he  moved  into  his  present  commodious 
and  well  arranged  store,  which  is  located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
public  square.  He  carries  a large,  complete  and  well-selected  line  of  dry 
goods,  comprising  all  the  lines  usually  carried  in  a first-class  and  up-to-date 
store,  and  here  he  has  received  a full  share  of  the  public  patronage.  He 
employs  a large  force  of  accommodating  clerks  and  every  effort  is  made  to 
please  every  customer  who  enters  the  store. 

Socially  Mr.  DesVoignes  is  affiliated  with  the  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  His  many  admirable 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  have  gained  for  him  a large  circle  of  friends, 
and  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  Wayne  county. 


J.  F.  SEAS. 

In  the  death  of  the  honored  subject  of  this  memoir,  June  15,  1902,  at 
his  home  in  Orrville.  there  passed  away  another  member  of  that  group  of 
distinctively  representative  business  men  who  were  the  leaders  in  inaugurat- 
ing and  building  up  the  industrial  and  commercial  interests  of  Wayne  and 
other  counties  of  northeastern  Ohio.  His  name  is  familiar  to  all  who  have 
been  informed  in  regard  to  the  history  of  this  particular  section  of  the  Buck- 
eye state.  He  was  identified  with  the  growth  of  Wayne  county  for  many 
years  and  contributed  to  its  material  progress  and  prosperity  to  an  extent 
equalled  by  few.  He  early  had  the  sagacity  and  prescience  to  discern  the 
eminence  which  the  future  had  in  store  for  this  great  and  growing  section  of 
the  commonwealth,  and  acting  in  accordance  with  the  dictates  of  faith  and 
judgment,  he  reaped,  in  the  fullness  of  time,  the  generous  benefits  which  are 
the  just  recompense  of  indomitable  energy,  spotless  integrity  and  marvelous 
enterprise.  Prominently  connected  with  the  business  history  of  Orrville, 
the  career  of  J.  F.  Seas  is  one  eminently  worthy  of  permanent  record.  Great- 
er fortunes  have  been  accumulated  by  others,  but  few  lives  furnish  so  striking 
an  example  of  the  wide  application  of  sound  business  principles  and  safe  con- 
servatism as  does  his.  The  story  of  his  success  is  not  long  nor  does  it  contain 


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any  exciting  chapters,  but  in  it  lies  one  of  the  most  valuable  secrets  of  the 
prosperity  which  it  records  ; his  business  and  private  life  are  replete  with  inter- 
est <?nd  incentive,  no  matter  how  lacking  in  dramatic  action — the  record  of 
a noble  life,  consistent  with  itself  and  its  possibilities  in  every  direction. 

J.  F.  Seas  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  on  the  9th  of  March,  1831, 
and  was  a son  of  Henry  and  Gertrude  Seas.  These  worthy  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Germany  and  the  father  followed  the  vocation  of  a stone- 
mason, in  which  he  was  an  expert  workman.  Mr.  Seas  secured  a fair  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  near  his  boyhood  home.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war 
Mr.  Seas,  believing  that  Orrville  had  a promising  commercial  future,  went 
into  the  hardware  business  in  that  town.  His  judgment  was  sound  and  he 
met  with  gratifying  success  in  the  venture,  remaining  identified  With  this 
business  uninterruptedly  until  the  date  of  his  death,  which  occurred,  as  stated 
in  the  first  lines  of  this  memoir,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1902.  Mr.  Seas’s  suc- 
cess was  remarkable  and  was  mainly  attributable  to  the  principles  on  which 
the  business  was  conducted.  Honesty  was  one  of  Mr.  Seas’s  strong  char- 
acteristics and  this  alone  gained  for  him  the  confidence  of  the  public.  And. 
too,  Mr.  Seas  possessed  to  a remarkable  degree  that  intuition  which  guides 
the  successful  merchant  in  anticipating  the  wants  of  the  people.  He  made 
every  effort  to  accommodate  those  who  came  to  deal  with  him  and  he  made 
a friend  of  every  customer.  Courteous  in  manner  and  obliging  in  disposition, 
it  was  no  wonder  he  succeeded  in  building  up  a trade  remarkable  in  its  size 
and  which  remained  loyal  to  him  during  the  more  than  forty  years  in 
which  he  was  in  active  business. 

Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Seas  the  business  has  been  conducted  by  his  sons, 
J.  Fred  Seas  and  D.  Edward  Seas.  Mr.  Seas’s  death  was  caused  by  cancer, 
the  end  coming  when  he  was  in  his  seventy-second  year.  He  was  married  on 
the  3d  of  January,  1865,  to  Mary  A.  Pontius,  who  was  born  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  September  12,  1848.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely: 
Proctor  E.,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Almeda  died  in  infancy;  Victoria  died  in 
young  womanhood;  J.  Fred  and  D.  Edward,  who  are  now  conducting  the 
business  founded  by  their  father;  Mrs.  Gertrude  Baker,  of  Orrville.  Of 
these,  J.  Fred  Seas  married  Margaret  Santche;  D.  Edward  married  Martha 
Geyer;  Proctor  married  Margaret  Altman,  and  they  have  one  son,  Vincent. 
Mrs.  Mary  Pontius  Seas  resides  on  North  Main  street,  Orrville,  in  the  beau- 
tiful and  commodious  home  built  by  Mr.  Seas  a number  of  years  ago.  She 
is  a woman  of  gracious  personality,  possessing  many  of  those  pleasing  qual- 
ities which  have  endeared  her  to  all  who  are  acquainted  with  her. 


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Coming  to  Wayne  county  in  young  manhood,  Mr.  Seas  started  in  busi- 
ness unostentatiously  and  without  the  blare  of  trumpet,  but  through  his 
steady  and  persistent  application  of  sound  business  principles  he  succeeded  in 
winning,  not  only  financial  independence,  but,  better  still,  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  men.  His  long  and  honorable  career  as  a citizen,  neighbor  and  friend 
is  a precious  heirloom  not  only  to  those  immediately  left  to  mourn  his  de- 
parture, but  a priceless  legacy  to  the  community  at  large.  It  is  a true  and 
comforting  fact  that  life  is  measured,  not  by  years  alone,  but  rather  by  a pur- 
pose achieved,  by  noble  deeds  accredited  to  it.  If  this  be  true,  few  lives  in 
this  community  have  been  entitled  to  greater  honor  than  that  of  Mr.  Seas. 


LYMAN  R.  CRITCHFIELD,  JR. 

Lyman  R.  Critchfield,  Jr.,  one  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  Wooster 
county  bar,  is  a native  of  Millersburg,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  on  April  17, 
1868.  He  is  a son  of  Hon.  L.  R.  Critchfield.  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in 
Ohio,  who  was  at  one  time  attorney-general  of  Ohio;  also  state  senator,  judge, 
etc.  His  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Lyman  R.  Critchfield’s 
mother  was  Adelaide  M.  Shaffer,  daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  Shaffer,  a man  of 
great  force  of  character  and  high  moral  and  physical  courage.  He  was  espe- 
cially successful  as  a medical  practitioner  at  Wooster  and  was  known  for  his 
great  skill  as  a surgeon.  Mr.  Critchfield  graduated  from  the  high  school  of 
Millersburg  in  1886  and  attended  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  LTniversity  at  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  studied  law  under  the  instruction  of  his  father,  and  was  associated 
with  him  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  before  the  supreme 
court  of  Ohio  at  Columbus,  June  4,  1891,  and  has  followed  his  profession  ever 
since,  both  in  Wayne  and  Holmes  counties,  having  located  at  Wooster  in 
1892.  As  a lawyer,  he  is  thorough  and  conscientious  in  all  cases.  Among  one 
of  his  important  cases  was  that  of  defending  Harry  White,  charged  with  the 
murder  of  Thomas  Dye,  pf  Orrville,  a case  that  presented  but  little  hope  of 
success.  Politically,  Mr.  Critchfield  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  is  a great 
admirer  of  William  Jennings  Bryan.  He  served  as  solicitor  of  the  city  of 
Wooster  and  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  the  things  in  which  his  party 
was  most  interested. 

Mr.  Critchfield  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Eighth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  during  the  war  with  Spain,  and  served  from  April  26,  1898,  to  No- 
vember 2 1 st  of  that  year,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment.  He 


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Sack  nioial  and  ; >1 1 ^ i < a!  v oi-ira^c.  lie  wa- 
rn! pi  aw  n ioner  at  Wonder  aial  \\;c-  known  . 
Mr.  ( Vitchheld  emanated  from  the  Inch  m:  • 

’’  • ow  and  attended  1 1 u Oka*  \\  cdov;in  l imersjtv  a*  ’ ' 

•'  a *•  ■ . wndied  hav  under  the*  nwli;netio|.i  of  Ida  father,  and  was  a - ■ 

« • ! • • tor  v phtecn  vears.  lie  irr  admit  n*d  to  practice*  1/eOre  tl *o  - •• 

k - ' **l  i » *]  ■ m > at  t \ *HmtVns.  June  4.  i S<di , and  has  followed  his  ji&#fosN;»  - 
-in-o.  It  *h  in  \\  av  ne  and  lid#  coiiPw  haxirp-  located  at  \\\  *.  a 

.vs  a lawman  he  > tivirouah  and  c<  n^eieHtr ms  in  all  caws.  Ana  • *.  * 
of  his  ’dijionan:  ea-.e<  was  tli.it  of  ih  fendlnp*  I lari  y \\  1 ut <*.  charged  w *' 
pnrdi  r •■»!  I k *nia - Own  t4  < irn  tile,  a cave  that  presented  knt  little  la  • 
v.;c»'c>s  P*  -In  ic-VH.  Mr.  (YnTiUtkl  A an  ardent  1 kin*  mat . a,.d  is  a 
a ;mir*  r of  Wnhtm  Jewimps  I’-w  1.1.  lie  wr\a  d as  solicitor  of  die  c*\ 
\\  o,  -;er  and  has  ah\cy-  taken  an  aetiw  part  in  the  thww  m w !r>  h Ir-  n- 
was  ir,(is;  inOrwwd, 

Mr.  t hknrk  kfld  eMAp-t  1 in  (k*umanc  I).  TApwh  -Aepii’n  nt  ( Mm  \ Aia 
Infantr'  , dn:n  a dat  ’ear  u tli  ^nain.  a 'd  ^f\\  r]  from  \inil  jk.,  1S0M  to  ' 
veink-.n'  1 - o',  dad  war.  w hi  n Iu1  OjCWered  on  w rli  ’iw  "ep nuenf. 


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served  in  the  expedition  of  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and  took  part  in  the  surrender 
of  that  city.  He  somewhat  impaired  his  health  as  a result  of  his  service. 
When  in  the  service,  he  won  more  than  ordinary  distinction  as  a war  cor- 
respondent, several  newspapers  having  issued  special  editions  on  account  of 
his  letters  home.  He  is  a member  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  Santiago  de 
Cuba.  He  was  elected  commander  of  Buckeye  Camp,  No.  51,  United  Spanish- 
American  War  Veterans,  Wooster,  Ohio.  He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen  and 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  all  of  Wooster. 

September  28,  1898,  Mr.  Critchfield  married  Rose  Brown,  youngest 
daughter  of  Allen  Brown,  of  Saltcreek  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and 
they  have  three  interesting  children  : Lyman  Robert,  born  1903  ; Henry  Brown, 
born  1905 ; and  Dorothy  Emily,  born  1907.  Mr.  Critchfield  is  an  exemplary 
member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Wooster,  and  resides  at 
No.  64  North  Buckeye  street,  while  his  office  is  located  on  the  public  square. 

Mr.  Douglas,  in  his  “Lawyers  of  Wayne  County,*'  published  in  the  year 
1900,  says  of  him : “Although  but  a young  man  in  years,  and  in  his  profes- 
sion, he  is  foreshadowing  qualities  that  insure  a successful  professional  career. 
He  has  the  bearing  of  one  who  has  worthy  aspirations,  and  who  will  move 
steadily,  and,  as  experience  comes,  strongly,  on  along  the  lines  he  has  marked. 
His  natural  ability,  aided  by  opportunity,  reinforced  by  industry  and  study, 
justify  this  expectation.  He  is  unaffectedly  kind,  accommodating  and  genial, 
and  as  a consequence  his  personal  popularity  is  as  extensive  as  his  acquain- 
tances. His  frankness  and  courtesy  to  his  colleagues  of  the  bar  cause  all  his 
professional  relations  to  be  of  a most  pleasant  character.”  This  prophecy  has 
been  realized. 

In  1908,  after  a spirited  contest  with  able  competitors,  Mr.  Critchfield 
was  nominated  for  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county,  and  was  elected 
to  that  office,  running  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  has  a very  remarkable  faculty 
for  making  friends  and  has  more  devoted  personal  friends  than  many  of  his 
age  in  Wayne  county.  As  prosecuting  attorney  he  has  distinguished  himself 
by  his  industry  and  ability  in  managing  and  increasing  volume  of  public  busi- 
ness. Both  in  public  and  private  practice,  he  has  displayed  superior  qualities 
that  characterize  the  good  lawyer.  For  close  and  discriminating  analysis  of 
legal  questions,  he  has  but  few  superiors;  for  that  labor  necessary  for  the 
preparation  of  evidence  and  the  study  of  legal  principles  he  is  untiring,  and 
the  result  is,  the  usual  result  of  success.  He  brings  to  bear  in  his  legal  prac- 
tice an  hereditary  courage  and  perseverance.  For  many  years  he  has  answered 

( 45 ) 


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the  call  for  public  addresses,  literary  and  political,  and  has  gained  excellence 
in  public  speaking  and  very  often  manifests  a genius  for  admirable  expression. 
He  is  rapidly  gaining  a high  standing  at  the  bar,  and  as  a citizen  of  Wayne 
county,  for  his  ability  and  accommodating  spirit  in  his  office  and  practice,  and 
but  few  enjoy  as  great  popularity.  In  the  study  of  political  questions,  but  few 
young  men  took  such  interest.  Measures  of  administration,  as  well  as  con- 
stitutional questions,  were  familiar  topics  with  him  in  early  life,  and  when 
William  Jennings  Bryan  arose  as  the  great  luminary  of  Democratic  ideas, 
he  became  attracted  to  him  by  a strong  political  affection.  This  interest  in 
politics  had  the  preconception  of  patriotic  emotion.  One  of  his  ancestors  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  enlisted  under  Washington.  Of  the  same  family,  many 
were  in  the  war  of  1812  and  the  Mexican  war.  Of  both  lines  of  his  descent, 
many  served  and  some  died  in  the  Civil  war,  and  when  the  United  States 
went  to  the  rescue  of  the  oppressed  people  of  Cuba,  he  enlisted  in  the  Cuban 
war  and  served  until  the  people  were  free.  He  is  especially  to  be  recognized 
as  a citizen  of  Wayne  county.  Jacob  Shaffer,  his  great-grandfather,  lived  and 
died  in  and  near  Doylestown,  in  Chippewa  township,  after  holding  many  local 
offices  in  its  early  organization.  His  grandfather,  or  Moses  Shaffer,  practised 
medicine  for  fifty  years  in  Wooster;  in  skill,  moral  courage  and  benevolence 
one  of  the  pre-eminent  men  of  Wayne  county.  His  grandmother,  Margaret 
McClure  Shaffer,  was  of  a numerous,  influential,  and  intelligent  family  of 
McClures,  early  settlers  of  the  county.  His  three  uncles,  Hiram,  James  and 
Horace  Shaffer,  were  in  the  Civil  war,  and  Hiram  was  a great  physician.  His 
intense  affection  for  his  mother,  Adelaide,  a daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  Shaffer, 
attaches  itself  to  the  soil  upon  which  she  was  reared.  Married  into  the  Brown 
and  Musser  families,  in  the  southeast  part  of  Wayne  county,  he  is  identified 
with  those  honorable  families.  In  the  meshes  of  metaphysics,  the  foregoing 
are  involved  in  character,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  rightfully  is  entitled  to 
the  respect  of  the  people,  and  it  may  be  reasonably  hoped  that  as  the  lapse  of 
time  creates  a demand  for  able  and  honest  public  men,  there  are  lines  of  pre- 
ferment for  his  increasing  ability  and  usefulness. 


SAMUEL  M.  TAGGART. 

It  is  proper  to  judge  of  the  success  of  a man’s  life  by  the  estimation  m 
which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens.  They  see  him  at  his  work,  in  his 
family  circle,  hear  his  views  on  public  questions,  observe  the  operations  of 


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his  code  of  morals,  witness  how  he  conducts  himself  in  all  the  relations  of 
society  and  civilization,  and  are  therefore  competent  to  judge  of  his  merits 
and  his  demerits.  After  a long  course  of  years  of  such  observation,  it  would 
be  out  of  the  question  for  his  neighbors  not  to  know  of  his  worth,  for,  as 
has  been  said,  “actions  speak  louder  than  words.”  In  this  connection  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  a life  of  unusual 
honor,  that  he  was  industrious  and  had  the  confidence  of  all  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  He  was  born  on  a farm  that  is  now  a part  of 
Orrville,  his  natal  day  having  been  the  14th  of  July,  1828,  and  he  died  on 
the  17th  of  August,  1907,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  James  Taggart,  was  a native  of  county  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  em- 
igrated to  America  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  subject’s  father, 
Samuel  Taggart,  was  born  December  17,  1790,  and  died  April  24,  1853. 
He  came  to  Wayne  county  in  April,  1815,  and  settled  on  a quarter  section 
of  land  near  Orrville,  where  he  reared  his  family  of  twelve  children. 

Samuel  M.  Taggart  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his 
education  in  the  primitive  schools  of  that  early  day.  He  was  early  inured 
to  the  labors  of  farming,  which  in  those  pioneer  days  meant  the  clearing  of 
the  land  and  the  cultivation  of  the  same  under  conditions  which  would  in  the 
present  day  be  considered  almost  impossible.  He  continued  to  carry  on  farm- 
ing operations  until  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  when,  feeling  the  weight  of 
years  and  being  in  a financial  condition  which  justified  him  in  throwing  off 
the  active  duties  of  the  farm,  he  retired  to  the  beautiful  town  of  Orrville, 
where  he  had  erected  a comfortable  home  and  there  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  was  practical  and  methodical  in  his  farming  operations,  giving 
his  personal  attention  to  every  detail  of  the  work,  and  was  considered  a very 
successful  man. 

Mr.  Taggart  married,  on  October  31,  1854,  Sarah  Jane  Slusser,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Maria  (Ilgenfritz)  Slusser,  her  birth  having 
occurred  on  March  15,  1835,  at  Wooster,  Wayne  county.  She  was  reared  in 
York,  Pennsylvania.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  her  father  was 
a very  successful  tobacconist,  coming  to  Wayne  county  in  an  early  day.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  only  survivor,  besides  Mrs. 
Taggart,  is  Mrs.  Harrison  Wertz,  of  Dalton,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Taggart’s  family 
is  of  German  origin,  her  great-grandfather  having  been  a resident  of  Baden, 
Germany,  where  a principal  street  was  named  in  his  honor.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Taggart  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  brief  mention  is  as  follows: 
(1)  Laura  Ellen,  who  was  born  November  25,  1855,  died  in  infancy.  (2) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Francis  Darwin,  born  January  16,  1857,  is  a graduate  of  Wooster  Univer- 
sity and  now  resides  at  Denver,  Colorado.  (3)  Major  Elmore  Finley,  who 
was  born  October  6,  1858,  was  educated  at  Wooster  University  and  at  the 
West  Point  Military  Academy,  having  graduated  from  the  latter  institution. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  academy  by  the  late  President  McKinley,  of  whom 
he  was  a special  favorite.  Major  Taggart  is  now  stationed  at  Fort  Ontario, 
New  York.  (4)  One  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  (5)  Mrs.  Alice  Amelia 
Kimberlin,  who  is  a widow  and  now  lives  with  her  five  children  near  Orr- 
ville.  (6)  David  S.,  born  May  10,  1865,  is  now  deceased.  (7)  Howard, 
bom  April  21,  1875,  lives  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  Mr.  Taggart  gave  unmistakable  evi- 
dence of  his  patriotism  by  enlisting  for  military  service,  but  because  of  ill 
health  he  was  discharged  before  being  mustered  into  the  service.  He  was  a 
faithful  member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  Mrs. 
Taggart  has  held  membership  in  this  body  since  her  young  girlhood.  She 
is  deeply  interested  in  the  society  and  is  generous  in  her  support  of  its  various 
interests.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Taggart  was  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Hon- 
or and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  A man  of  many  splendid  qualities  of  character, 
he  made  friends  of  all  who  knew  him  and  his  death  was  deeply  regretted 
throughout  the  community.  Mrs.  Taggart  now  resides  in  the  family  home- 
stead on  South  Main  street,  which  was  erected  by  her  late  husband  on  ground 
that  had  formerly  been  a part  of  his  farm.  She  is  a woman  of  culture  and 
learning  and  takes  an  abiding  interest  in  all  moral  and  educational  subjects, 
being  especially  opposed  to  the  liquor  traffic.  She  is  a delightful  conversa- 
tionalist and  a Christian  woman  of  high  and  noble  ideals. 


RAYMOND  F.  CHRISTY. 

The  life  history  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  review  was  for 
many  years  identified  with  the  history  of  Wayne  county,  of  which  he  was  a 
native  son  and  honored  citizen.  His  business  career  was  begun  in  this  county, 
and  throughout  the  years  in  which  he  was  identified  with  her  commercial  inter- 
ests he  was  closely  allied  with  her  growth  and  upbuilding.  His  life  was  one 
of  untiring  activity  and  was  crowned  with  a degree  of  success  attained  by 
comparatively  few.  He  was  of  the  highest  type  of  business  man.  and  none 
more  than  he  deserves  representation  in  a work  of  this  nature.  His  business 
career  furnishes  a splendid  example  of  what  may  he  accomplished  through 


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determined  purpose,  laudable  ambition  and  well-directed  effort,  for  the  posi- 
tion that  he  attained  in  life  was  won  entirely  through  his  own  efforts. 

Raymond  F.  Christy  was  a native  son  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having 
been  born  in  Canaan  township.  Wayne  county,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1852, 
and  his  death  occurred  on  the  9th  of  April,  1909,  in  the  fifty-eighth  year  of 
his  age.  In  his  veins  flowed  Irish  and  Norwegian  blood,  his  father,  James 
Christy,  having  been  a native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  while  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Roxanna  Severcool,  was  born  in  Norway.  The  subject 
was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  attended  the  common  schools.  This 
education  he  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Smithville  Academy  and  the  old 
Canaan  Academy.  He  engaged  in  teaching  school,  which  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed about  four  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  in  1874,  he  engaged 
in  the  clothing  business  at  Orrville,  and  in  this  enterprise  he  met  with  suc- 
cess from  the  start,  and  for  many  years  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
the  leading  clothier  in  that  city.  He  also  had  stores  at  Wooster,  Dovlestown 
and  Cleveland,  his  store  on  Euclid  avenue,  in  the  latter  city,  being  one  of  the 
fine  stores  of  that  city.  He  took  a keen  interest  in  his  home  town  and  erected 
the  Christy  block,  one  of  the  best  business  blocks  in  the  city.  He  was  also 
a valued  member  of  the  Board  of  Industry  of  Orrville,  a very  practical  and 
efficient  organization  of  the  business  men  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  com- 
mercial and  industrial  development  of  the  city.  He  also  for  seven  years  con- 
ducted a very  successful  shoe  business  in  connection  with  his  clothing  store 
in  Orrville.  He  sold  the  shoe  business,  however,  in  1907,  and  in  1908  he 
disposed  of  the  clothing  business.  Mr.  Christy,  during  his  commercial  life, 
suffered  a number  of  severe  losses,  through  fire,  robbery  and  other  causes, 
but  in  spite  of  these  reverses,  he  forged  ahead  and  acquired  a comfortable 
competency.  Though  highly  regarded  because  of  his  business  ability  and  suc- 
cess, his  high  standing  in  the  community  was  attained  because  of  higher 
qualities  than  mere  commercial  ability.  He  possessed  those  sterling  quali- 
ties of  character  which  enabled  him  to  exercise  a sympathy  and  generosity 
of  spirit  which  endeared  him  to  all  who  enjoyed  his  acquaintance.  Broad- 
minded and  straightforward,  he  allowed  nothing  to  swerve  him  from  what 
he  considered  the  right  and  he  occupied  a high  position  in  the  hearts  and 
minds  of  those  who  knew  him  best.  His  death  was  considered  a distinct  loss 
to  the  city  in  which  so  many  of  the  best  years  of  his  life  were  spent. 

Mr.  Christy  was  thrice  married,  first  to  Anna  Hoy,  of  Wooster  town- 
ship, of  a well-known  family  in  Wayne  county.  Her  death  occurred  two 
years  after  their  marriage,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Christy  married  Elizabeth 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Gavner,  who  died  five  years  later.  On  June  4,  1900,  he  .wedded  Florence 
May  Geyer,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lydia*  (Lehman)  Geyer,  of  Woos- 
ter, where  she  was  born  and  reared.  A sister  is  Mrs.  William  Caskey,  of 
Wooster,  where  other  relatives  also  reside.  Mrs.  Christy  was  a successful 
teacher  for  six  years  prior  to  her  marriage.  She  is  well  educated,  having 
supplemented  her  public  school  education  by  attendance  at  Smithville  Acad- 
emy, Wadsworth  Academy,  Wooster  University  and  Bixler’s  Business  Col- 
lege at  Wooster.  She  is  a lady  of  rare  culture  and  attainments  and  pos- 
sesses a business  ability  above  that  of  the  average  woman. 

Mr.  Christy  was  a valued  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
he  was  an  active  and  generous  supporter.  He  readily  gave  his  endorsement 
and  support  to  every  movement  having  for  its  object  the  moral,  educational 
or  material  advancement  of  the  community  and  because  of  his  faultless  honor, 
fearless  conduct  and  stainless  integrity  he  commanded  uniform  regard  and 
the  love  and  esteem  of  his  friends. 


MAX  J.  LEICKHEIM 

History  generally  treats  of  those  who  have  attained  eminence  in  poli- 
tics or  statecraft,  in  military  circles  and  to  some  extent  in  the  field  of  letters 
and  art,  but  has  little  to  do  with  that  sturdy  class  of  citizens  upon  whom  the 
real  prosperity  and  progress  of  the  nation  depends.  It  is  left  to  specific  biog- 
raphy to  perpetuate  the  record  of  the  law-abiding  citizens  who,  in  the  midst 
of  the  active  affairs  of  the  work-a-day  world,  stand  forth  in  integrity  of  pur- 
pose, loyalty  to  friends  and  native  land,  and  in  that  enterprise  and  industry 
which  make  for  the  well-being  of  their  respective  communities.  To  this  class 
belongs  Mr.  Leickheim,  who  is  of  stanch  old  German  lineage  and  who  is 
one  of  the  progressive  and  successful  business  men  of  Orrville,  where  he 
has  gained  prosperity  through  his  own  well-directed  effort,  the  while  com- 
manding the  unequivocal  esteem  of  the  community. 

Max  J.  Leickheim  was  born  in  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
2d  of  July,  1865,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Swigert)  Leickheim. 
The  father,  who  is  now  an  honored  and  respected  citizen  of  Orrville,  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1827,  and  received  a fair  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  land.  In  1852  he  came  to  the  United  States,  landing  at  the  port  of 
New  Orleans,  from  wlr'ch  place  he  traveled  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  Cin- 
cinnati. He  was  a cooper  by  trade  and  during  the  next  three  years  he  fol- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lowed  the  cooperage  business  at  Cincinnati.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he 
removed  to  New  Bedford,  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  a like  manner  for  six  years,  following  which  he  spent  seven  years  in  busi- 
ness at  Millersburg,  this  state.  In  1870  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  locating 
at  Apple  Creek,  but  three  years  later  he  came  to  Orrville,  where  he  followed 
the  cooperage  business  until  his  retirement  from  active  labor,  about  twenty- 
five  years  ago.  He  married  Elizabeth  Swigert,  who  also  was  a native  of 
the  Fatherland,  where  she  was  born  in  1825.  She  was  reared,  educated  and 
married  in  her  native  land,  and  her  death  occurred  at  Orrville  in  1890.  To 
John  and  Elizabeth  Leickheim  were  born  the  following  children:  Mary  was 
the  wife  of  John  Althen,  of  Elgin,  Illinois,  where  her  death  occurred  in  1907; 
the  next  four  children  in  order  of  birth  died  in  their  infancy ; D.  J.,  of  Orr- 
ville; Anna,  of  Orrville;  Henry  P.,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Max  Leickheim  was  eight  years  old  'when  the  family  removed  from  Mil- 
lersburg to  Orrville,  and  in  the  schools  of  the  latter  place  he  secured  his 
education.  After  completing  his  education  he  was  employed  about  a year  in 
the  cooperage  department  of  the  Orrville  Milling  Company,  where  his  father 
was  also  employed.  In  1881  Mr.  Leickheim  accepted  a position  as  clerk  in 
the  grocery  store  of  Barrett  & Leickheim,  and  has  been  connected  with  the 
grocery  business  continually  since,  including  one  year  spent  as  a clerk  in  a 
grocery  store  at  Larned,  Kansas.  He  went  west  in  1887  and  returned  to 
Orrville  in  1889,  resuming  work  in  his  brother's  store.  On  March  20,  1901, 
he  and  W.  H.  Krieter  purchased  the  store  of  his  brother,  this  business  rela- 
tionship continuing  about  a year,  when  John  Groher  purchased  Mr.  Krieter’s 
interest.  Two  years  later  the  subject  bought  out  his  partner  and  has  since 
continued  the  business  alone.  He  has  been  governed  by  correct  business 
principles  and  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a large  and  lucrative  trade.  He 
makes  a special  effort  at  all  times  to  please  his  customers  and  carries  a large 
and  well-selected  line  of  groceries  and  the  side  lines  usually  found  with  a stock 
of  groceries. 

In  July,  1891,  Mr.  Leickheim  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  E.  Krick, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Sophia  (Whitmyre)  Krick,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Germany  and  the  latter  in  Fulton,  Stark  county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Leick- 
heim was  born  and  reared  in  Orrville  and  in  the  schools  of  that  city  she  se- 
cured a good  education.  To  this  union  has  been  born  one  daughter,  Helen 
A.,  who  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leickheim  are  faithful  members  of  Christ 
Reformed  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  generous  support.  Da- 


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vid  Swigert,  father  of  Mrs.  Leickheim,  was  a carriage  builder  and  veterinary 
surgeon  to  the  King  of  Bavaria  and  lived  in  the  palace  of  the  king.  His 
wife  was  a woman  of  superior  attainments,  having  received  exceptional  edu- 
cational advantages  in  her  native  land.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a man 
of  many  fine  personal  qualities  of  character  and  occupies  a deservedly  high 
position  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


HIRAM  B.  SWARTZ. 


Wayne  county.  Ohio,  has  been  especially  honored  in  the  character  and 
career  of  her  public  and  professional  men.  In  every  township  there  are  to  be 
found,  rising  above  their  fellows,  individuals  born  to  leadership,  men  who 
dominate  not  alone  by  superior  intelligence  and  natural  endowment,  but  also 
by  force  of  character  which  minimizes  discouragements  and  dares  great 
undertakings.  Such  men  are  by  no  means  rare  in  this  section  of  the  great 
Buckeye  state,  and  it  is  always  profitable  to  study  their  lives,  weigh  their  mo- 
tives and  hold  up  their  achievements  as  incentives  to  greater  activity  and  higher 
excellence  on  the  part  of  others  just  entering  upon  their  struggles  with  the 
world.  Such  thoughts  are  prompted  by  a study  of  the  life  record  of  Hiram 
B.  Swartz,  attorney  at  law  and  ex-probate  judge,  living  at  Wooster.  He  has 
long  been  one  of  the  prominent  figures  of  Wayne  county  whose  interests  he 
has  ever  had  at  heart  and  sought  to  promulgate.  His  career  has  been  char- 
acterized by  untiring  energy,  uncompromising  fidelity,  and  devotion  to  a “sim- 
ple life/*  He  is  quick  of  perception,  forms  his  plans  readily  and  executes 
them  with  alacrity,  at  the  same  time  winning  and  retaining  the  high  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  comes  into  contact  by  the  honorable  course  which  he  has 
pursued. 

Judge  Hiram  B.  Swartz  is  a Wayne  county  product,  having  been  born  in 
Milton  township.  May  27.  1846.  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  M.  (Miller) 
Swartz,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  respectively.  A complete  record 
of  the  subject’s  parents  and  immediate  relatives  will  be  found  on  another  page 
of  this  work  under  the  caption.  “The  Swartz  Family.’* 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Swartz  twelve  children  were  born,  an  equal 
number  of  boys  and  girls,  of  whom  Hiram  B.  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  reared  on  the  home  place  and  when  he  reached  the  proper  age  he  began 
work  in  the  fields,  alternating  farming  with  schooling  in  the  district  schools. 
His  parents  were  sturdy  pioneer  stock,  plain,  honest  and  kindly  disposed,  and 


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■ .»  upon  rheir  Mm^Aes  w 
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■'  '‘Mi  wui-  a > • • nr  time  winning  and  irt  uminp  the  hhfh  e-’ 

•i  : itli  \ '■  ■'  mio  iOivMu  t h y the  home-able  course  v hid 

i ■ i m ued. 

!irle“  !*',.•  ■ Swa.!/  is  a Who  nc  o'liiuv  product,  haymp'  Feu-  i 

' 1 iln  -li  l*j\%  n4r  p War  jf.  i S_j6..  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Mar\  M.  - 1 
<w.\r\/,  Jg,,to  e>  ' • ! l’enn  hama  and  ( >]u«  respect  i\  ely.  A com;  A * 

<>f  thr  siilii'  ci's  na’ent^  and  immediate  relatives  w ill  he  found  on  an-  A ■ 
A f ho  u • iif<  u Vu  r tin-  wipn’on.  “ I lu  Swartz  Fannie.’* 

To  Mr.  not  M rs*.  Samuel  Swartz  twehe  children  wrre  h*  >rn. 

1'in  hr]*  o t F . \ " an- ! ^ -Is.  of  w hom  T Fra m ] h was  the  f<  -urth  in  nrd-e  - 

' h*  .i-  r<  ; 1 ' - -i*  'A  I i-v  e place  and  w !»<n.  lie  i\  acitrd  the  po>pn*  ape  1 

• - eh;  in  th--  ,,vV‘  'r  aiwap  fanning  w;;h  M-]n  •< -buy  m the  d:>M*  1 
1 * k ha  • eiu  - '■  i * ' r-<’\  pa  -tvrr  slock,  plain,  honest  ami  kmdh  dop-- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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the  wholesome  environment  of  their  home  is  clearly  reflected  in  the  lives  of 
their  children.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  left  the  common  school  and, 
being  actuated  by  a laudable  ambition  to  gain  a higher  education,  he  entered 
the  academy  at  Seville,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  school  years.  He  was  a 
close  student  and  made  rapid  progress.  In  the  winter  of  1864-5  he  was  the 
teacher  in  the  old  home  school,  known  as  Oakgrove.  and  gave  eminent  satisfac- 
tion. In  December,  1865,  he  went  to  Granville.  Ohio,  entering  upon  the 
preparatory  course  of  Denison  University,  where  he  completed  the  freshman 
year  of  the  classical  course.  His  health  then  requiring  a change  and  rest,  he 
gave  up  study  for  a time,  but  in  the  fall  of  1868  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  having  decided  to  devote  his 
talents  to  the  legal  profession,  and  he  there  pursued  his  studies  for  one  year, 
when  he  determined  to  complete  his  original  course  in  the  classics,  and  in 
January,  1869.  entered  the  literary  department  of  that  University.  By  his 
untiring  zeal  and  close  application,  he  successfully  carried  the  work  of  both 
departments  within  the  period  of  four  years,  and  so  graduated  from  both  in 
1872,  by  special  permission  of  the  faculty,  as  such  a thing  as  graduating  from 
two  departments  the  same  year  was,  up  to  that  time,  without  a precedent  in 
that  institution. 

Thus  well  fortified  for  the  duties  of  his  profession,  Mr.  Swartz,  in  the 
fall  of  1872,  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Newark,  Ohio,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  John  M.,  then  also  a beginner  at  the  bar,  but  who  afterwards  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Licking  county,  and  later,  circuit  judge  of  the 
fifth  judicial  circuit.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he  removed  from  Newark  to  Woos- 
ter, opening  his  office  with  Hon.  H.  K.  McBride,  and  subsequently  with  Hon. 
T.  Y.  McCray. 

Taking  an  active  interest  in  politics,  Mr.  Swartz,  in  the  spring  of  1877, 
was  elected  mayor  of  Wooster,  and  was  re-elected  in  1879,  serving  four  years 
with  great  popularity  and  acceptance.  During  this  period  he  codified  the 
criminal  ordinances  of  the  city,  from  the  original  record,  was  successful  in 
establishing  the  fifth  ward,  so  as  to  secure  better  school  facilities  in  that  part 
of  the  city,  secured  the  regulation  of  hacks  for  passengers  at  the  depot  and 
began  the  work  of  cleaning  up  the  public  square,  which  had  long  been  used  as 
a place  for  unhitching  and  feeding,  thereby  enhancing  the  beauty  of  the  city. 
During  his  first  term  the  water  works  of  the  city  were  completed  and  the 
systematic  sewerage  of  the  city  was  commenced.  He  also  succeeded  in  break- 
ing up  the  tramp  nuisance  by  applying  the  “Ball  and  Chain’’  under  the  super- 
vision of  Marshal  Dice,  and  established  the  city  prison  system  on  a better  basis 
than  formerly,  and  successfully  enforced  the  first  saloon-closing  ordinance. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


H is  administration  of  the  mayoralty  was  noted  for  its  dignified  trials  of 
misdemeanors,  its  efficient  public  service  and  high  moral  tone,  and  marks  the 
beginning  of  the  public  improvements  for  which  the  city  is  now  distinguished. 

When  his  last  term  as  mayor  closed  in  1881,  he  resumed  the  exclusive 
practice  of  law,  which  he  followed  very  successfully  until  1888,  when  he  was 
elected  probate  judge  of  Wayne  county,  and  was  re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1891, 
serving  two  terms  with  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  all  concerned  and  having 
thoroughly  exemplified  the  doctrine  that  “Public  office  is  a public  trust/'  At 
the  close  of  his  second  term  in  this  office  he  once  more  resumed  the  practice  of 
law  and  has  continued  with  unabated  success  to  the  present  time. 

An  interesting  chapter  in  the  life  history  of  Judge  Swartz  is  that  bearing 
on  his  domestic  life,  which  dates  from  October  8,  1872,  when  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Martha  J.  Davies,  of  Granville,  Ohio,  in  which  community 
her  father  and  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  A.  Davies,  were  long  influential  and 
highly  respected  citizens.  Mrs.  Swartz  is  a woman  of  pleasing  personality, 
wherein  good  housekeeping,  culture  and  refinement  are  harmoniously  blended. 
She  and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  four,  two  boys 
and  two  girls,  are  living,  all  noted  for  their  high  attainments  and  integrity. 
They  are  graduates  of  the  various  educational  institutions  of  Wooster.  The 
oldest  daughter,  Mary  D.,  taught  several  years  in  the  Wooster  high  school. 
She  then  took  a graduate  course  at  Granville,  Ohio,  and  another  at  Mechanics' 
Institute  at  Rochester,  New  York,  in  domestic  science,  and  then  spent  three 
years  in  teaching  the  same  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin.  She  then  took  a 
post-graduate  course  and  graduated  at  Yale  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Philosophy  in  1909,  and  is  now  in  the  faculty  of  Teachers  College,  Columbus 
LTniversity,  New  York  City,  having  charge  of  the  department  of  nutrition. 
Wayne  graduated  in  the  regular  classical  course  of  Wooster  University,  and 
during  the  past  nine  years  has  been  engaged  as  teacher  of  English  and  history 
in  the  high  schools  of  Coshocton  and  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  later  of  Bridg- 
port,  Connecticut,  where  he  now  resides.  Paul  and  Esther  L.  are  also  gradu- 
ates of  Wooster  University.  The  former  was  distinguished  for  his  rapid 
advancement  in  the  natural  sciences,  and  the  latter  for  her  genius  in  mathe- 
matics and  her  love  of  the  modern  languages.  Paul,  who  was  assistant  at  the 
chemical  laboratory  for  two  years  under  Doctor  Bennitt,  took  a post-graduate 
course  at  Boston  Technical  Institute,  from  which  he  was  taken  into  the  active 
service  by  the  Boston  city  commission  and  spent  two  years  in  the  construction 
of  the  sub-ways  of  that  city.  He  then  had  charge  of  the  construction  of  an 
electric  line  from  Annapolis  to  Washington,  and  afterwards  served  as  one  of 


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the  constructing  engineers  of  the  new  tunnel  under  the  Detroit  river  at  De- 
troit. From  there  he  was  called  into  the  United  States  government  service 
as  engineer  of  construction  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  is  now  assistant 
engineer  in  the  department  of  maintenance  of  way  of  the  Missouri  Pacific 
railroad,  with  headquarters  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Esther  has  been  a teacher 
of  mathematics  and  the  modern  languages  at  Plano,  Illinois,  and  is  now  lo- 
cated and  engaged  in  that  work  in  the  high  school  at  Wakefield,  near  Narra- 
gansett  Pier,  Rhode  Island.  All  these  children,  though  still  young,  are  occupy- 
ing positions  of  responsibility,  and  are  doing  credit  to  their  parental  home  and 
training  and  to  the  beautiful  city  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  her  educational  and 
religious  institutions.  Mrs.  Swartz  has  also  contributed  much  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  religious  and  missionary  interests  and  towards  uplifting  the 
general  social  tone  of  the  city,  being  greatly  interested  in  public  improvements, 
cleanliness  and  thrift,  and  a woman  who  numbers  her  friends  only  by  the  large 
circle  of  her  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Swartz  is  a man  of  intense  energy  and  application.  He  goes  into 
court  w ith  his  case  completely  in  hand.  The  labor  of  preparation  is  not  con- 
sidered. Everything  depends  on  wrork  and  study — the  study  of  men,  as  well 
as  books.  In  counsel  he  is  inquisitive,  exacting  and  exhaustive,  wanting  to 
know  the  truth  and  the  facts.  As  an  advocate  he  is  earnest,  honest,  resolute 
and  persuasive,  seldom  drawing  upon  his  powers  of  forensic  flights  when  the 
plain  facts  are  of  greater  value  in  presenting  his  argument.  He  is  a peace- 
maker by  instinct,  and  settles  many  controversies.  He  is  industrious  and  un- 
tiring in  his  profession,  and  it  is  a rare  thing  to  find  him  when  not  busy  and 
in  action.  He  is  regarded  by  all  classes  as  one  of  the  county’s  enterprising, 
progressive,  public-spirited  citizens,  quick  to  see,  to  seize,  to  act  and  aid  in  any 
project  that  means  prosperity  and  growth  to  Wooster,  and  cherishing  a deep 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  churches  and  Sunday  schools  and  in  educational 
advancement.  Pleasant  and  impressive  in  address,  he  is  kind,  generous,  con- 
genial and  companionable.  He  is  also  the  author  of  a valuable  law’  book  en- 
titled “How  to  Settle  an  Estate  in  Ohio,"  published  by  Waring  Company  at 
Xorwalk.  Ohio,  and  has  in  preparation  another  work  on  “Magistrate’s  Prac- 
tice," and  has  invented  and  patented  a number  of  useful  articles,  among  the 
most  important  of  which  is  an  Australian  ballot  voting  machine,  which  prom- 
ises to  do  away  with  election  frauds  and  the  long  and  wearisome  counting  of 
ballots  at  elections.  He  has  achieved  an  honorable  record  in  his  profession, 
and,  in  fret,  all  other  circles,  and  he  is  esteemed  for  the  many  qualities  that 
go  to  make  up  the  inherent  and  finer  qualities  of  a refined  gentleman. 


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THE  SWARTZ  FAMILY. 

From  the  days  of  the  wilderness  and  wild  beast  to  the  opulent  present, 
the  name  Swartz  has  been  a familiar  and  highly  esteemed  one  in  Wayne 
county  and  without  exception  they  have  played  well  their  parts  in  the  county's 
affairs  and  have  always  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  her  citizenship.  One  of 
the  worthiest  of  this  name  was  Samuel  Swartz,  who  was  born  in  Union 
county,  Pennsylvania,  June  3,  1816,  and  when  three  years  of  age  his  parents 
brought  him  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1819,  his  father,  John  Swartz,  set- 
tling in  Canaan  township,  and  his  wife,  nee  Blocher,  and  their  seven  children 
starting  life  in  a log  cabin  in  true  pioneer  fashion.  In  1834,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  Samuel  Swartz  first  came  to  his  homestead  and  hired  out  to 
John  Miller,  who  recently  had  bought  the  tract  from  the  government.  He 
continued  thus  to  work  as  a hired  hand  at  clearing  the  then  almost  unbroken 
wilderness  in  company  with  his  brother  John  until  1839,  when  he  was 
married  to  Mary  M.  Miller,  the  daughter  of  his  employer,  then  scarcely 
sixteen  years  of  age,  who  had  lived  upon  that  farm  from  the  age  of  six 
years,  and  whose  happy  companionship  he  there  enjoyed  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  July  1,  1824.  In  1830 
she  came  with  her  parents,  John  and  Mary  (Welday)  Miller,  to  find  a new 
home  among  the  then  dense  forests  and  bushy  swamps  of  Milton  township, 
and  located  upon  a quarter  section  of  land  near  the  center  of  the  township 
upon  the  beautiful  spot  where  she  continued  to  reside  for  nearly  sixty  con- 
secutive years.  Here,  in  their  small  cabin  home,  surrounded  by  almost 
impenetrable  woods,  her  young  life  found  happiness  in  the  open  clearings 
and  in  the  horseback  riding  and  neighborhood  gatherings,  until,  to  this  wil- 
derness home,  in  1834,  came  one,  Samuel  Swartz,  whose  youthful  life,  unit- 
ing with  her  own,  turned  both  into  that  new  channel  which  widened  as  the 
years  gradually  ripened  them  for  the  better  land.  He  was  then  a clean, 
stalwart  woodsman,  always  strong  and  robust,  a hard  and  indefatigable 
.worker.  After  the  death  of  John  Miller  in  1840  Mr.  Swartz  purchased  the 
farm  and  began  the  erection  of  new  and  larger  buildings.  Under  the 
ringing  blows  of  his  ax,  which  he  could  wield  with  marvelous  skill,  the  dense 
forest  on  his  land  was  swept  away  and  by  the  careful  culture  of  later  years 
his  farm  became  noted  as  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county.  He  was  a model 
farmer,  taking  the  lead  in  husbandry  of  every  kind.  He  was  enterprising 
and  thrifty,  and  prosperity  constantly  waited  upon  him  and  crowned  his 
honest  toil.  His  young  wife  shared  with  him  in  all  his  enterprises,  often 
assisting  him  in  the  fields  and  clearings  when  household  cares  permitted, 
and  was  no  less  distinguished  than  he  for  her  many  virtues.  Samuel  Swartz 


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was  a man  of  strong  will  and  determined  convictions  of  right  and  duty 
and  while  these  traits  sometimes  produced  some  friction  in  his  dealings 
with  others,  his  honesty  and  integrity  no  one  could  question.  He  was  a 
generous  and  helpful  neighbor  and  true  friend,  and  was  remarkably  free 
from  every  vice  and  had  but  little  charity  for  any  form  of  it  in  others.  Of 
pure  thought,  he  never  uttered  a profane  word  or  indulged  in  slang  or  vul- 
gar speech  of  any  kind.  He  was  plain  in  dress  and  living  and  strictly  tem- 
perate in  all  his  habits;  tobacco  and  strong  drink  of  every  kind  he  held  in 
special  abhorrence,  and  forbade  the  use  of  them  upon  his  premises.  Under 
the  daily  inspiration  of  such  an  example  it  is  quite  consistent  that  every 
member  of  his  large  family  grew  to  maturity  free  from  every  one  of  these 
common  vices.  He  was  public  spirited  and  was  at  different  times  elected 
to  offices  of  public  trust,  which  he  filled  very  creditably.  By  industry  and 
economy,  at  the  age  of  forty  years  he  was  free  from  debt,  and  most  of  his 
subsequent  earnings  he  expended  in  the  education  and  culture  of  his  chil- 
dren, to  every  one  of  whom  he  gave  every  opportunity  in  his  power  to  ob- 
tain a good  education.  He  was  greatly  assisted  in  this  through  the  care 
and  self-denial  of  his  faithful  wife,  as  her  warm  heart  and  active  hands 
were  unceasingly  engaged  in  making  provision  for  their  support  and  clothing, 
at  home  and  at  school,  and  her  gentle  enthusiasm  thus  gave  purpose  and 
direction  to  their  young  lives.  Their  family  consisted  of  twelve  children, 
an  equal  number  of  boys  and  girls,  of  whom  all  the  sons  and  four  daughters 
grew  to  maturity  and  are  living  at  this  writing.  All  of  the  sons  and  sev- 
eral of  the  daughters  obtained  an  academic  education,  and  all  of  the  former 
pursued  graduate  courses  in  universities  of  their  choice.  John  M.,  the 
eldest  son.  graduated  at  Granville.  Ohio,  in  1869,  and  became  a prominent 
lawyer  at  Newark,  Ohio,  and  was  at  one  time  prosecuting  attorney  of 
Licking  county,  and  afterward  circuit  judge  in  the  fifth  judicial  district  of 
Ohio.  Hiram  B.,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work,  graduated 
from  the  literary  and  law  departments  of  Michigan  University  in  1872  and 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Wooster  bar,  having  been  mayor 
of  the  city  from  1877  to  1881  and  later  probate  judge  of  Wayne  county. 
Franklin  P.  graduated  from  Denison  University  at  Granville.  Ohio,  in  1876, 
and  from  Rochester  Theological  Seminary  in  1878,  and  for  many  vears 
was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Loudonville,  and  later  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Kings  Mills.  Ohio.  Samuel  E.  graduated  at  Granville  in  1879 
and  for  many  years  was  principal  of  the  Newark  schools,  and  is  now  pro- 
fessor of  chemistry  and  principal  of  the  academy  at  Fairmount  College. 
Wichita,  Kansas.  Dr.  Douglas  A.  was  graduated  from  Adelbert  College. 
Cleveland,  in  1884,  and  after  a year  or  two  of  service  as  steward  in  the 


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Cleveland  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  he  began  practicing  medicine  at  Canton, 
Ohio,  and  is  now  in  successful  practice  at  South  Whitley,  Indiana.  Ulysses 
G.,  the  youngest  son,  graduated  from  Adelbert  College  in  1886  and  is  now 
in  active  business  in  the  oil  industries  at  Whiting,  Indiana.  Of  the  daugh- 
ters, Adeline  married  Henry  G.  Ziegler,  now  deceased;  she  is  the  mother  of 
a large  family,  one  of  her  sons,  Harley  H.,  being  for  many  years  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  American  House  at  Wooster,  Ohio.  Isabella  married  M.  H. 
Murdock,  now  deceased,  late  of  Rittman,  Ohio;  she  is  now  living  at  Barber- 
ton, this  state.  Ellen  S.  married  C.  Blankenhorn,  an  educated  and  thrifty 
farmer  living  near  Creston,  Ohio,  in  whose  home  “Grandma”  Swartz  re- 
ceived the  kindest  of  care  during  the  last  years  of  her  life,  after  several 
years  spent  in  Wooster  and  elsewhere  in  the  homes  of  her  children.  Sarah 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  L.  B.  Harris,  of  Belton,  Missouri.  She  completed  her 
education  at  Granville,  Ohio. 

Samuel  Swartz  lived  to  see  all  his  children  converted  and  members 
of  Baptist  churches,  and  took  great  comfort  in  their  progress.  The  mother 
lived  to  see  thirty-six  grandchildren  and  thirty-nine  great-grandchildren. 

In  politics  Samuel  Swartz  was  a life-long  Democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian 
school  and  impressed  his  political  faith  upon  every  one  of  his  children.  He 
had  no  taste  for  the  follies  of  life,  and  having  never  sown  any  “wild  oats,” 
he  had  no  bitter  crop  to  reap,  and  thus  handed  down  in  the  very  lives  of  all 
his  children  the  happy  fruits  of  a well-spent  life.  He  was  converted  at  an 
early  age  and  united  with  the  Dunkard  church,  the  cardinal  doctrines  of 
which  faith  he  ever  stoutly  defended.  He  differed  from  his  brethren  upon 
some  matters  of  dress  and  education  and  so  drifted  from  them,  but  not  from 
the  hope  of  the  gospel,  and  as  his  children  grew  up  and  united  with  the 
Baptist  church,  he  with  his  good  wife  united  with  this  denomination  at 
Sterling,  Ohio,  in  1870,  and  he  was  chosen  deacon.  It  w as  his  custom  to  close 
every  day  with  family  prayer,  and  he  was  a truly  devout  and  consecrated 
man.  He  was  impatient  that  sin  in  any  form  should  enter  the  household 
of  faith.  He  forgave  and  forgot  all  personal  wrongs,  and  died  at  peace 
with  all  the  world,  his  serene  and  gentle  spirit  passing  to  its  rest,  after  a 
lingering  illness  of  three  years,  which  he  bore  with  great  patience  and  forti- 
tude, on  October  15,  1885,  in  his  seventieth  year. 

Thus  lived  and  died  one  of  that  noble  band  of  pioneers  whose  strong 
and  brave  hearts  “made  the  wilderness  to  blossom  as  the  rose.”  All  who 
knew  him  remember  him  as  one  who  loved  integrity  and  hated  iniquity;  a 
good-natured,  cordial,  honest  man,  whose  worthy  career  should  be  emulated 
by  the  youth  who  desire  to  leave  behind  them  successful  records  and  win 


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the  hearty  approbation  of  all  with  whom  they  come  into  contact.  His 
faithful  helpmeet  survived  him  nearly  a quarter  of  a century,  answering 
the  summons  that  all  that  is  mortal  on  earth  must  answer,  February  5,  1909, 
after  a brief  illness,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years,  seven  months 
and  four  days.  She  was  ever  a most  devout  and  active  Christian  and  the 
memory  of  her  long  and  beautiful  life  will  rest  like  a loving  benediction  upon 
all  who  came  within  the  large  circle  of  her  personal  influence,  and  her 
good  works  will  follow  her,  a precious  heritage  to  her  large  family  of  one 
hundred  and  eleven  children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren,  includ- 
ing their  husbands  and  wives  now  living,  and  to  the  generations  following. 


DEWITT  HOWARD  McMILLEN.  M.  D. 

Rising  above  the  heads  of  the  masses  are  many  men  of  sterling  worth 
and  value,  Who  by  sheer  perseverance  and  pluck  have  conquered  fortune  and 
by  their  own  unaided  efforts  have  risen  from  the  ranks  of  the  commonplace 
to  positions  of  eminence  in  the  professional  world,  and  at  the  same  time  have 
commanded  the  trust  and  respect  of  those  with  whom  they  have  in  any  way 
been  thrown  in  contact.  Among  the  earnest  men  whose  depth  of  character 
and  strict  adherence  to  principle  excited  the  admiration  of  his  contemporaries 
Dr.  D.  H.  McMillen  was  prominent.  He  was  widely  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  of  Wayne  county  and  in  his  death  the  community 
suffered  a distinct  loss. 

DeWitt  H.  McMillen  was  born  at  East  Greenville,  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
on  October  12,  1848,  and  was  the  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Nappenberger) 
McMillen.  Both  h:s  ancestral  families  were  prominent  and  well  known  in 
Stark  county.  The  Doctor  was  reared  under  the  paternal  roof  and  secured 
his  elementary  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  afterwards  attended 
the  Smithville  Academy  and  then,  deciding  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine 
his  life  work,  he  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  Alexander  McMillen, 
under  whose  direction  he  studied  awhile.  Subsequently  he  matriculated  in 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Cincinnati  and  after  his  gradua- 
tion there  he  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  at  West  Leb- 
anon with  his  uncle,  Dr.  Alexander  McMillen.  He  remained  in  the  practice 
there  a number  of  years,  gaining  a wide-spread  reputation  as  an  able  and 
successful  physician,  and  in  1890  he  removed  to  Orrville,  with  a view  of  se- 
curing a broader  field  for  his  practice.  Here  he  immediately  took  a fore- 


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most  place  in  his  profession  and  for  many  years  was  considered  the  leading- 
physician  in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  enjoyed  a large  and  remunerative 
practice  and  handled  successfully  many  difficult  and  apparently  hopeless  cases 
of  disease.  In  private  life  he  was  a man  whom  to  know  was  to  admire. 
Genial  in  disposition,  courteous  in  manner  and  generous  in  his  attitude  to- 
ward others,  he  won  and  retained  a host  of  warm  personal  friends. 

In  his  religious  belief,  Dr.  McMillen  was  affiliated  with  the  Orrville 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  was  a stanch  and  liberal  supporter, 
being  a member  of  the  official  board  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  fraternal 
relations  were  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  of  both  of  which  bodies  he  was  an  appreciative  member.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  15th  of  December,  1901,  and  at  his  funeral  the  remark- 
ably large  attendance  was  a notable  tribute  to  the  standing  he  occupied  in 
the  community. 

On  January  1,  1876,  Doctor  McMillen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Alma 
J.  Braden,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Braden,  of  Sugarcreek  town- 
ship, this  county,  where  she  was  born  and  reared.  This  union  was  a most 
happy  and  congenial  one  and  was  blessed  in  the  birth  of  a son,  Clyde  Braden 
McMillen,  who  is  now  married  and  residing  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 


JOHN  McSWEENEY,  JR. 

For  the  high  rank  of  her  bench  and  bar  Ohio  has  ever  been  distinguished, 
and  it  is  gratifying  to  note  that  in  no  section  of  the  commonwealth  has  the 
standard  been  lowered  in  any  epoch  of  its  history.  To  John  McSweeney,  Jr., 
one  of  the  representative  attorneys  of  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  we  may 
refer  with  propriety  and  satisfaction,  for  his  record  has  been  one  of  which 
any  community  might  well  be  proucl.  He  prepared  himself  most  carefully 
for  the  work  of  his  exacting  profession  and  has  ever  been  ambitious  and  self- 
reliant,  gaining  success  and  securing  his  technical  training  largely  through  his 
own  determination  and  well-directed  efforts.  He  not  only  stands  high  in  his 
profession,  but  is  a potent  factor  in  state  and  national  politics,  his  advice  being 
often  relied  upon  in  the  selection  of  candidates  and  party  policy,  and  he  has 
led  such  a career,  one  on  which  not  the  shadow  or  suspicion  of  evil  rests, 
that  his  counsel  is  often  sought  and  heeded  in  important  movements  in  the 
county  and  state.  By  reason  of  numerous  innate  qualities,  together  with  his 
pleasing  address,  his  honesty  of  purpose  and  loyalty  to  his  native  community. 


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W\  h iol'XTY,  (Mill). 


mid  for  many  wars  was  considered  the  leading 
cf  >tint\ , lit*  e h wed  a large  and  remunerative 
- - •*  '<  ' - ? ti !1  \ UK* * ) \ • ‘ nenit  and  apparently  hope!*  s>  ra^s 
, . me  be  w <■>  a " • i whom  to  know  was  to  admire 
* >w  .nm  tt;ous  * t .*•  and  .genet  «ais  in  his  attutide  ' 

: .wd  reiain*  d . • of  warm  personal  friends. 

••  s 1 eh  m (|i  ‘ v \ leu  was  aft  ilia  ted  with  the  ( )•  \ die 

■ wd  i hmvb  ■ ■ ii  he  \ \ a>  a stanch  and  hheiat  sup,  • >nei , 

• t,\  the  ard  at  the  lane*  of  his  death.  Ills  natron 

■ v ,t!i  f"c  !,  i-uf  - < >t  dei  : ( )<id  Fellows  and  tl  e Knr.  is 

• F hm!*  i / Rudies  III*  ...a-  an  appreciative  na\ niter,  ins 

1 on  ’!  . ; - • r Ikaetnh-"  rol,  and  al  Ills  funeral  the  . maik- 
O; t • i , i 1 .v  1 - i uotal<;<'  * mu  t«  > the  standing  he  oceupied  ;n 

* . l)oet*T  M die!-  was  united  in  man*';;  ,t‘  to  \lma 

; a*  ot  J ■ . md  ' 1 ar\  1 iraden.  fit  Sugr  w reek  t<»wi 

she  ' ''Hi  and  reared.  ibis  urn  mi  \\;r  an  \ 

• • ' V-  a ! in  the  birth  of  a s u,  (.'l\de  F n 

. ; :,g  it  Chicago,  Ikmois. 


n.veC  LaXKY.  JR. 

1 -*!  . i : ’Ltd  ’ . bench  an  1 bar  ( >1uo  has  e\  er  been  distinguished 

an  1 u e'Xdiniun  < n ae  !hat  in  no  section  of  the  c<  »mmomveabh  1ms  1 1 
Mand-rd  been  k'wnni  in  am  epoch  ot  its  hMotv.  T<  > Join)  MeS  \ eenc\ . Jr., 
one  < - f the  represents t:\ e attonuw  - of  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  w e may 
refer  with  propriety  and  satisfaction,  for  his  record  has  been  one  of  winch 
any  community  might  well  he  proud.  lie  prepared  himself  most  careful'-, 
for  the  work  of  his  enacting*  profe^iwi  and  has  e\cr  been  ambitious  and  -»■  1 
reliant,  gaining  and  -ecming  his  technical  training  largelv  thnc'ig1*  * - 

own  itetermh  a1  ion  and  w ell-di  tectr  d efforts,  lie  not  o.bv  stands  high  m 
pn  n'ession  hut  is  a potent  (actor  m state  an<!  national  politics,  his  ad'iw-  1 
often  reds,1  urnm  in  the  selection  of  candidates  and  parl\  policy.  ;e  R : 
ltd  mu  a •• . : ecu  < <ue  on  whuh  (tot  f lie  -had'  av  or  mu  picio  , o»  e\  :f  w 
tl;at  k i - • « ’.*  -•!  is  otlen  sought  and  Ceded  in  important  timcueie  ; 
t'oi;rt\  a*  * ‘*'Ue.  1 *\  reason  of  ounKimis  i nr. ale  qualities.  togi-d-y 

oic  isuig  a<  > 1 ■ - . !m  lamimg  of  pm p-  »-e  and  lo waits  to  iris  natn  e rrtFo 


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Mr.  McSweeney  has  reached  a conspicuous  elevation  in  his  chosen  field  of 
endeavor,  and  justly  merits  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  all  who 
know  him. 

John  McSweeney,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  August  1,  1854,  the 
son  of  John  and  Kate  (Rex)  McSweeney,  each  representatives  of  fine  old 
pioneer  families.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
were  John  and  Jennie  (O’Connel)  McSweeney,  who  came  from  Cork,  Ire- 
land, in  1824,  and  settled  at  Blackrock,  New  York,  later  moved  to  Navarre, 
Stark  county,  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children.  The  entire 
family,  with  the  exception  of  one  child,  died  of  cholera  at  Navarre,  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  in  1828,  John,  the  youngest,  being  the  sole  survivor.  He  was 
taken  by  Mrs.  Grimes,  attended  school,  and  was  sent  to  St.  Xavier  College  at 
Cincinnati.  When  about  fifteen  years  of  age  he  selected  John  Harris,  of  Can- 
ton, Ohio,  as  his  guardian,  who  removed  him  to  the  college  at  Hudson,  Ohio. 
John’s  father  left  him  about  eighteen  hundred  dollars  in  money,  with  which 
he  was  educated  and  became  the  great  orator  and  lawyer.  In  1849  John  mar- 
ried Kate  Rex.  The  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  on  the 
mother’s  side,  was  Jacob  Rex,  and  his  great-grandmother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Phillips,  were  born  in  England  but  with  an  admixture  of  German  blood. 
They  came  to  America  and  settled  at  Phillipsburg,  Pennsylvania,  the  town 
being  named  after  the  great-grandmother,  Phillips.  The  maternal  grandpar- 
ents of  John  McSweeney,  Jr.,  were  Jacob  and  Cathrene  (Witton)  Rex,  and 
were  born  in  Phillipsburg.  Their  children  were  George,  Jacob,  John  and 
Cathrene  (or  Kate),  who  married  John  McSweeney  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  George 
and  Kate  living  here  at  that  time. 

Six  children  were  born  to  John  and  Kate  (Rex)  McSweeney,  namely: 
Two  died  in  infancy,  and  Mary,  aged  nine  years,  died  in  Wooster;  John,  of 
this  review,  and  Kate  and  Jennie  survive. 

John  McSweeney,  Jr.,  while  yet  a boy  decided  to  follow  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father  in  the  legal  profession,  and  he  succeeded  to  his  office,  his 
library  and  his  practice,  and  he  has  been  assiduous  in  his  business,  animated 
by  the  spirit  and  lingering  presence  of  a distinguished  and  able  sire,  a man 
who  needs  no  Tuscan  urn  to  contain  his  ashes  as  a reminder  of  what  pro- 
found learning  and  forensic  eloquence  may  achieve.  He  assiduously  prose- 
cuted his  studies  in  the  local  common  and  high  schools,  graduating  among 
the  first  from  the  latter,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  a time  when  most 
young  men  are  only  getting  well  launched  in  their  school  work,  he  was  grad- 
uated from  the  University  of  Wooster,  where  he  had  made  a brilliant  record. 

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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


He  then  began  studying  law  very  earnestly  in  his  father  s office  and  later 
took  a course  in  the  Boston  Law  School,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1879,  and  ever  since  that  date  his  practice  has  been  growing  until  he  now  has 
a clientele  second  to  none  in  Wayne  county.  He  was  soon  singled  out  by 
party  leaders  for  public  positions  owing  to  his  general  popularity  and  recog- 
nized ability,  and  from  1879  t0  I883,  and  immediately  upon  his  admission  to 
the  bar,  he  was  city  solicitor  of  Wooster,  and  from  1883  to  1889  he  very  cred- 
itably filled  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county,  both  respon- 
sible positions  having  illustrated  the  vigilance  and  prudence  of  a conscientious 
public  official. 

The  harmonious  domestic  life  of  Mr.  McSweeney  began  in  the  spring  of 
1884,  when  he  formed  a matrimonial  alliance  with  Ada  Mullins,  in  education, 
refinement  and  temperament  and  in  Irish  descent,  like  himself,  and  in  this  old 
homestead  of  his  parents,  with  their  boys,  this  congenial  association  illustrates 
the  sanctity  and  perpetual  serenity  of  a beautiful  domestic  life.  This  union 
has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children : Rex,  James,  John,  and 
Averil,  the  last  named  dying  in  1894.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  these 
children  were  James  and  Hannah  (White)  Mullins,  Mr.  Mullins  being  a 
native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  in  an  early  day  and  was  suc- 
cessful here  in  his  life  work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McSweeney  made  an  extensive  tour  of  Europe  in  1895, 
viewing,  at  Dublin,  the  ancient  seats  of  the  Mullins  and  McSweeneys,  where 
Sween,  the  Norwegian  king,  guided  his  leaking  hulk  and  tattered  sails,  in 
the  storms  of  the  northern  seas,  to  found  a race  of  immortal  genius;  they 
later  visited  England,  then  to  Germany,  France  and  other  interesting  places 
on  the  continent. 

John  McSweeney,  Jr.,  was  born,  educated  and  reared  to  manhood  under 
the  most  propitious  environment,  and  his  parentage  was  prophetic  of  the  per- 
sonal graces  and  mental  versatility  which  characterizes  his  manhood.  In  his 
father  he  enjoyed  as  brilliant  an  example  as  any  Greek  pupil  ever  found  in  his 
great  master,  and  he  carried  in  his  blood  the  eloquent  suggestiveness,  critical 
wit,  and  conversational  eloquence  of  the  most  perfect  life  of  his  time  in  these 
respects.  But  a German  realism  and  common  conservativeness  predominated 
and  moulded  the  Irish  and  elegant  effusiveness  of  his  father  into  the  more 
steady  illumination  and  persistent  rationality  of  the  German  mind.  A strange 
combination  to  produce  an  infrequent  genuineness  of  characteristics  of  which 
he  is  the  residuary  legatee.  Inheriting  this  genius  of  one  unsurpassed  in  the 
accomplishments  of  eloquence,  wit  and  logical  endurance  of  mental  power,  as 


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was  his  father,  so  may  he  rejoice  in  the  sanctification  of  virtue,  prudence  and 
good  sense  which  marked  the  Rexes  and  which  were  possessed  by  his  mother 
and  illustrated  by  his  uncle,  Hon.  George  Rex. 

Mr.  McSweeney  is  a scholarly  man  and  has  a fine  library  of  choice  and 
standard  literature,  of  which  he  is  an  appreciative  student;  however,  his  legal 
work  necessarily  requires  the  major  part  of  his  attention,  owing  to  its  increas- 
ing volume  of  recent  years.  As  his  industry  and  vigilance  as  city  solicitor 
and  as  public  prosecutor  elicited  the  hearty  commendation  of  every  one.  so 
the  evolution  of  greater  qualities  obtained  him  the  nomination  for  judge,  and, 
though  a Democrat,  the  appointment  by  two  Republican  governors  of  trustee 
of  a state  institution  is  a criterion  of  his  high  standing  in  public  life;  and  be- 
cause of  his  public  spirit,  his  honesty  in  all  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men, 
his  generous  and  kindly  nature,  he  has  won  and  retained  a host  of  warm  per- 
sonal friends  throughout  northern  Ohio.  , 

As  members  of  the  Episcopal  church,  John  McSweeney  and  his  wife, 
also  their  children,  early  attracted  by  the  literary  beauty  of  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  and  the  elegant  and  ancient  form  of  worship,  are  consistent 
in  the  observance  of  the  general  principles  of  religious  ethics.  Without  pro- 
fanity, severity  of  piety  or  intrusive  appearance  of  devotion,  they  are  amiable 
citizens.  The  criterion  of  loving  our  neighbors  is  finely  illustrated  in  John 
McSweeney.  He  has  the  dignity  of  a commoner.  He  is  a kind,  generous 
laborer  in  the  pursuits  of  men;  possessed  of  a liberal  ancestral  estate,  he  is 
loyal  to  it;  he  labors  for  a living,  and  in  his  office  as  at  the  bar  his  nervous 
forces  play  in  the  dramatic  anxieties  of  legal  analytics  and  in  the  forensic 
and  flowery  combinations  of  logic  and  art  and  rhetoric.  He  displays  an  intel- 
lectual avidity  among  the  occult  themes  of  his  profession.  He  contests  his 
own  thoughts  with  the  interrogation  of  an  inquisition.  He  is  an  orator  in 
his  high  moments  of  rationalistic  imagination  and  eloquent  self-forgetfulness. 
Born  and  cradled  among  the  leaves  of  the  classic  and  the  philosophic,  he 
suckled  the  thoughts  and  the  poesy  and  the  spiritual  enthusiasm  of  immortal 
authors,  and  his  memory  is  a sarcophagus  of  the  living  images,  and  musical 
cadences,  and  fantasies,  of  every  genius.  Thus  in  the  evolution  the  drama  of 
the  books  was  to  play  among  the  hereditary  fibers,  and  attune  the  strings, 
with  orphean  melody.  Presupposing  that  the  inheritance  of  wealth  is  an 
enervating  element  in  the  life  of  a genius, — a disease  called  aristocracy, — the 
younger  McSweeney  is  not  more  aristocratic  than  the  elder  who  coined  this 
competency  out  of  his  genius,  or  than  the  mother  Whose  prudential  ability 
saved  it.  The  honor  of  it  all  is  in  the  benevolent  proprieties,  in  its  appropri- 
ation to  taste  and  learning  and  in  many  generous  alleviations  of  necessity, 


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one  of  the  crowning  virtues  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  To  him  belongs  a 
democratic  simplicity  in  hereditary  purity,  the  tact  of  meeting  mankind  with 
an  open  face,  and  a sparkling  eye,  and  a shining  cascade  of  glittering  thoughts 
— beatitudes  of  providence.  Of  hospitality,  the  monopoly  is  his;  of  invited 
guests,  and  public  men,  the  club-house  is  his  home,  and  lunch  and  social  chat 
and  entertainment  wear  away  to  the  meridian  of  night.  Perfectly  temperate, 
the  life  of  intellectual  anniversaries,  the  toastmaster  at  banquets,  scattering 
his  classical  quotations  and  allusions  in  the  abandon  of  crowding  imagery  and 
reckless  phantasy,  he  stands  immaculate  as  his  own  original.  To  the  critic  of 
occasional  dramaticism  in  his  mental  manifestation,  it  yet  remains  that  John 
McSweeney  in  general  magnificence  of  mind,  in  demonstrative,  conversa- 
tional enthusiasm,  in  the  light  of  his  expression,  in  the  spontaneity  of  his  man- 
ner and  gesticulation,  in  the  appositeness  of  his  quotations,  in  the  memory  of 
quaint  oddities  of  literary  life  and  illustrative  biography,  all  accompanied  with 
good  sense,  philanthropy,  and  the  power  of  analyzing  occult  distinctions,  has 
no  counterpart  in  the  writer’s  knowledge  of  contemporaries. 


ROBERT  L.  LUPOLD. 

Back  to  stanch  old  German  stock  does  Robert  L.  Lupoid  trace  his  line- 
age and  that  in  his  character  abide  those  sterling  qualities  which  have  ever 
marked  the  true  type  of  the  German  nation,  is  manifest  when  we  come  to 
consider  the  more  salient  points  in  his  life  history,  \vhich  has  been  marked  by 
consecutive  industry  and  invincible  spirit,  eventuating  in  his  securing  a high 
place  in  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellowmen.  The  subject’s  paternal 
great-grandfather  was  a native  of  Germany,  but  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  Samuel  Lupoid,  the  subject’s 
grandfather,  was  born  and  reared.  His  son,  Samuel,  the  subject’s  father, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  when  a mere  boy  came  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Holmes  county.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a carpenter,  at 
which  he  became  a proficient  workman,  and  he  built  many  of  the  best  homes 
and  business  houses  in  Holmes  county.  He  lived  in  that  county  continuously 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  He  married  Susan  Wheaton,  who  was  born  in  Millersburg.  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  and  her  death  occurred  about  thirty-five  years  ago,  at  the  age 
of  forty- four  years.  To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  six  children,  namely: 
Lenora,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Mitten,  of  Millersburg,  Ohio:  Robert  L.  was 


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the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  Howard  Mast,  of  Millers- 
burg;  Joseph  is  deceased;  Samuel  Henry,  who  has  been  in  the  regular  army 
for  more  than  twenty  years  and  is  now  stationed  at  Washington,  D.  C. ; Vic- 
tor, who  resides  at  Mishawaka,  Indiana. 

Robert  L.  Lupoid  Was  reared  and  educated  in  Holmes  county,  residing 
there  until  about  1889,  when  he  removed  to  Orrville.  He  was  at  that  time  a 
farmer,  which  vocation  he  followed  up  to  about  1904,  when  he  came  to  Orr- 
ville to  live,  since  which  time  he  has  followed  the  contracting  business.  He 
was  a progressive,  enterprising  and  successful  farmer  and  the  general  condi- 
tion of  his  property  indicated  him  to  be  a man  of  good  taste  and  sound  judg- 
ment. For  thirteen  years  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  in  con- 
nection with  his  agricultural  work.  He  is  equally  successful  in  the  contract- 
ing business  and  has  performed  many  contracts  in  and  about  Orrville,  as 
well  as  other  parts  of  Wayne  county.  He  is  a careful  and  painstaking  super- 
visor of  his  Work  and  employs  none  but  responsible  workmen,  so  that  his 
name  to  a contract  is  a sufficient  guarantee  of  its  faithful  performance. 

In  December,  1880,  Mr.  Lupoid  married  Mary  Imhoof,  a daughter  of 
John  M.  Imhoof,  of  Mount  Eaton,  where  she  was  born  and  reared.  To  this 
union  four  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Howard  Allen,  of  Orrville; 

Ida  May,  who  died  in  infancy;  Harry  G.,  of  Orrville,  Ohio;  Jessie  Bell,  who 
is  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  the  Orrville  Courier. 

In  matters  political  Mr.  Lupoid  gives  an  earnest  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  served  two  years  as  assessor  of  Greene  township.  So- 
cially he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees. In  religion,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lupoid  give  their  support  to  the  Lutheran 
church,  of  which  they  are  both  members  and  in  the  activities  of  which  they 
are  both  interested.  As  a public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen  he  has  ever 
given  his  influence  in  the  furtherance  of  good  government,  educational  and 
religious  interests,  and  all  that  conserves  the  general  welfare,  while  to  him- 
self is  accorded  the  fullest  measure  of  confidence  and  esteem.  The  family 
occupy  a position  of  prominence  in  the  social  life  of  the  community  and  the 
attractive  home  is  a center  of  cordial  hospitality. 


JOSEPH  WILLIAM  HOOKE. 

In  one  of  the  most  exacting  of  all  callings,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
attained  distinction,  having  been  recognized  for  a number  of  years  as  one 
of  the  most  successful  educators  in  the  county  of  Wayne,  and  his  success 


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in  the  business  circles  of  the  city  since  then  has  been  no  less  gratifying.  He 
is  a well-educated,  symmetrically  developed  man,  and  his  sterling  qualities 
of  character,  as  well  as  his  versatile  ability,  gained  for  him  an  enviable  stand- 
ing among  those  who  know  him. 

Joseph  W.  Hooke  is  a native  son  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having  first 
seen  the  light  of  day  on  a farm  in  Logan  county,  August  6,  1868.  His  par- 
ents were  Lewis  J.  and  Lucy  A.  (Moomaw)  Hooke,  the  former  a native 
of  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Botetourt  county,  the 
same  state.  Lewis  J.  Hooke  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state, 
and  when  old  enough  he  learned  the  trade  of  miller,  in  which  line  he  was 
engaged  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Though  at  that  time  a sympa- 
thizer with  the  Union,  and  being  also  exempt  from  military  service  because 
of  his  occupation  as  a miller,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  as  a sub- 
stitute for  his  employer,  who  was  a married  man.  He  served  a short  time 
as  a private,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  was  captured  by  the  Union 
soldiers  and  soon  afterwards  was  released  on  parole. 

Joseph  W.  Hooke  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  public 
schools,  supplementing  this  by  three  years’  attendance  at  Mount  Morris  Col- 
lege, Illinois.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  district  schools  until  1892,  when 
he  went  to  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  commercial  branches, 
and  as  supervisor  of  drawing  and  writing  in  the  public  schools,  until  1894. 
He  then  had  seven  years  of  business  college  work,  in  which  he  met  with  uni- 
form success,  and  in  1902  he  joined  the  faculty  of  the  Wooster  high  school 
as  principal  of  the  commercial  department  and  supervisor  of  writing  and 
drawing,  which  departments  he  established.  He  demonstrated  in  no  uncer- 
tain manner  his  ability  as  an  educator  and  his  thorough  familiarity  with 
the  subjects  under  his  charge,  and  he  occupied  a high  position  in  the  esteem 
of  faculty  and  pupils.  After  giving  three  years’  faithful  service  in  this 
capacity,  he  resigned  his  position  in  order  to  accept  that  of  secretary  of  the 
Peoples  Savings  and  Loan  Company,  which  position  he  still  holds.  In  this 
responsible  position  Mr.  Hooke  demonstrated  the  possession  of  business 
abilities  of  a high  order,  and  his  relations  with  the  public  were  always  of 
the  most  agreeable  and  pleasant  nature. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hooke  is  a stanch  Democrat,  but  is  in  no  sense  an 
aspirant  for  public  office  of  any  character.  Religiously,  he  is  a member 
of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  which  he  has  taken  a most  active  part,  having 
been  honored  with  all  the  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  church.  His  support 


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and  influence  are  always  given  unreservedly  to  all  movements  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  highest  interests  of  the  community,  and  he  is  numbered 
among  the  city’s  best  citizens. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  1894,  Mr.  Hooke  was  united  in  marriage  to  Bertha 
E.  Morrison,  the  daughter  of  William  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Chambers)  Mor- 
rison, of  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children,  namely: 
Delia  E.,  born  December  23,  1895,  and  Mildred  A.,  bom  June  30,  1905. 
Mrs.  Hooke  is  a lady  of  culture  and  refinement  and  their  attractive  home 
is  the  center  of  a large  social  circle.  Mr.  Hooke  is  a man  of  strong  social 
instincts,  and  holds  fraternal  relations  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  exem- 
plifying in  his  life  the  beneficent  principles  of  this  order. 


MICAJAH  MILO  MORLAN. 

There  is  little  that  interests  one  more  than  to  observe  how  different  men 
begin  and  continue  the  duties  of  life.  Some  commence  in  hesitation  and 
seem  to  hesitate  at  every  obstacle  they  encounter.  Others  begin  boldly,  but 
after  a time  they  show  by  some  defect  in  execution  that  they  have  not  prop- 
erly mastered  their  tasks.  Still  others  commence  with  steady  grasp  of  the 
situation,  and  show  by  their  subsequent  accomplishments  that  they  have 
compassed  the  problem  of  life : to  the  last  class  success  always  comes,  and  they 
are  the  men  to  leave  behind  them  good  names  and  large  properties  honorably 
won  in  life’s  struggle.  Their  children  are  left  to  reap  the  harvests  of  good 
actions.  Among  such  talented  and  enterprising  men  is  Micajah  Milo  Morlan, 
who  has  for  many  years  shown  himself  to  be  a master  of  at  least  two  lines 
of  endeavor,  winning  much  more  than  local  reputation  both  as  an  artist  and 
an  oculist,  and  at  the  same  time  establishing  an  enviable  record  as  a high- 
minded,  whole-souled  citizen  whom  to  know  is  to  admire  and  respect  because 
of  his  genuine  worth,  his  integrity  and  his  courteous  demeanor.  He  is  well 
known  to  the  people  of  Wooster,  where  he  maintains  his  office  and  his  resi- 
dence. 

Doctor  Morlan  was  born  in  Salem,  Ohio,  July  29,  1833,  the  seventh 
child  of  Mordica  and  Eliza  Ann  (Dean)  Morlan,  a fine  old  family  of  that 
city,  plain,  honest,  unassuming  Quakers,  the  father  a woolen  goods  manu- 
facturer, who  was  fairly  successful  in  that  line  and  reared  his  family  in  com- 
fort and  respectability.  He  was  summoned  “to  the  immortal  dead  who  live 
again”  in  the  year  1879.  ar»d  ,n  the  same  year  his  faithful  helpmeet,  who  had 
long  traversed  “life’s  royal  path”  with  him,  joined  him  in  the  silent  land. 


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Doctor  Morlan  received  his  education  in  Greenville,  Pennsylvania. 
Having,  early  in  youth,  decided  to  become  an  oculist,  he  took  a thorough 
course  leading  thereto  in  the  Indiana  Ophthalmic  College,  in  Indianapolis, 
where  he  made  an  excellent  record,  and  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1890,  thus  being  able  in  his  mature  manhood  to  gratify  an  am- 
.bition  of  long  standing.  After  he  left  school  in  Greenville  he  exercised  his 
rare  natural  talents  in  painting,  and  he  soon  attracted  considerable  atten- 
tion in  this  line,  and  after  taking  up  the  work  of  oculist  he  has  continued  to 
paint  when  he  could  find  the  time,  thus  being  a very  busy  man,  being  re- 
garded by  all  familiar  with  his  work  as  easily  one  of  the  foremost  artists  of 
Wayne  and  adjoining  counties,  showing  a delicate  touch  and  a rare  skill, 
even  now  at  his  advanced  age,  that  would  discount  the  work  of  most  young 
men.  As  an  optician  his  unbroken  success  of  twenty  years  has  gained  for 
him  a prestige  second  to  none  in  this  section  of  the  state,  eighteen  years 
of  that  time  having  been  spent  in  the  practice  at  Canton,  and  his  office  in 
Wooster  has  been  a busy  place  since  it  was  opened. 

Doctor  Morlan  married  Anna  Mary  Watson,  September  27,  1859,  a 
woman  whose  esthetic  taste  harmonized  with  that  of  the  Doctor,  and  was 
always  of  much  assistance  to  him.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Theodore  and 
Rachael  Watson,  an  influential  family  of  Hartsville,  Pennsylvania.  This 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children : Caroline  H.,  bom  May 
5,  1862;  Watson  D.,  born  February  17,  1864;  Elwood  D.,  born  August  14, 
1867;  Irene  R.,  born  February  8,  1874,  and  Ida  E.,  bom  November  23,  1875. 

Doctor  Morlan  was  reared  a Quaker,  and  he  still  adheres  to  the  sturdy 
principles  inculcated  by  that  denomination.  Personally  he  is  a pleasant 
man  to  know,  an  excellent  and  learned  conversationalist,  hospitable  in  his 
home  and  a genteel  gentleman  in  every  respect. 


JOHN  W.  CUTTER. 

After  a residence  of  many  years  in  the  same  locality,  his  daily  life  char- 
acterized by  qualities  of  sterling  integrity,  indefatigable  industry  and  sound 
business  judgment,  John  W.  Cutter  has  risen  to  an  enviable  position  among  his 
fellow  men  and  is  today  numbered  among  the  representative  men  of  his  com- 
munity and  is  eminently  worthy  of  representation  in  a work  of  this  character. 

John  W.  Cutter,  of  Franklin  township.  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  a son  of 


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( >H  U ’. 


i i>h;  \iivu  in  Oovm  die.  J 'etc; y,  ] , , 

. • o-d  ’ .>  h°(*»!}je  an  oc*a‘hstf  he  took  a tin  -r 

■■  !:•  .mu  ( >] .! ; l h;il i m ic  (Allege.  m Indian;.;, 
i ro-oid,  ;md  lroin  winch  unlitupMU  t 
c d s m i • manla.H »d  to  ^'rarf\ 

* ' > ' 1 1 A't  s,  • « d m OreenOnc  he  e\crcd 

i '*  * f < *n  -;iM root o<1  ci  cnidci  aide  a- 
■ . p : • a * > * k oi  oculist  lie  ha>  cont’v.n 
• Hf  k "‘m  i ■.  a \ or  \ hm\  ni  an.  hem. 

- ' k a*"  c::sil\  one  of  the  foremost  aru  ' 

• ' v»w  a delicate  touch  and  a rap  ■ 

a*  would  di  the  work  of  most  ^ . 

’« o.*v!  oi  twenty  years  lias  ^;iinv*" 

to*  i ; i tilts  Action  of  the  state,  eighteen  , 

• • ' t in  the  practice  at  Canton,  and  his  o!iv 

p wv  since  it  was  * >pened. 
iV,  \n:u  Mam  \\  am-  »n,  September  jy.  iNs  . 

■ * -‘an  a-  ' *h  that  of  the  1 e ku  *r.  and 

* Cm  datyo’nter  of  Theodore  « 
' * vr-Olle,  1 Vnmyl\  anfa.  d 
A a , r ■ n : t a r o 1 m e 1 1 . , 1 x * r n \ 

, (>  i.  kawood  1).,  horn  Aiipno 

v , ,*  'J  I.  *'  ! !'la  L..  bnrn  Xovmnher  23,  * : 

!:  • • V . d t.Si<d  cr.  and  he  still  adhere^  to  the  >:e 

pruiciph*^  wcuv.c  ••  it  denomination.  Pcrsonallv  he  is  a pkv 

man  to  kr.aw,  an  * •enl  and  learned  (amversationalist,  hospitable  n 
Inane  and  a Renter  1 ntleman  in  e\ety  rmpeet. 


JOT  IX  W.  CUTTF.R. 

A fit  r a led  deuce  of  many  wars  in  the  same  locality.  Ins  daily  life  * 
acteii/ed  he  pualitio-  of  sterling  integrity.  iivVfat yt*ahle  industry  and  s 
husit;cc-  hehyuent  John  W.  Cutter  has  non  to  an  em  iahle  position  ana  11 
felkav  n|  r tcid  ’<  todav  numbered  ain<  the  reprwt  utat  ive  men  of  lw 
mnuit  v and  is  emmrnily  wofthy  « »f  ivprwema;  ion  in  a woik  of  dm*  ‘dial , 
John  %\\  km.  ei . fit  Franklin  township.  Wayne  c<  aintv.  Ohio.  C i%  - 


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John  Cutter,  who  was  bom  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey.  Subsequently,  he  lived 
for  a number  of  years  in  Pennsylvania,  and  then  in  1818  came  to  Holmes 
county,  Ohio.  In  1831  he  moved  to  Wayne  county,  where  he  lived  the  remain- 
ing years  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  about  the  year  1886.  The  first  re- 
corded member  of  the  Cutter  family  to  come  to  America  was  a widow  of 
Samuel  Cutter,  Elizabeth  by  name,  who  emigrated  from  England  to  the  New 
England  states  of  America  about  1640. 

Among  the  descendants  of  this  couple  was  Samuel,  who  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years  desired  to  enlist  for  service  in  behalf  of  the  colonists  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  not  permitted  to  do  so  because  of  his  youth. 
He  was  ardently  patriotic  in  his  attitude  and  during  a long  life  he  took  a deep 
interest  in  the  trend  of  public  events  and  he  retained  even  in  his  old  age  a 
remarkably  retentive  memory  of  the  scenes  and  events  of  the  early  days.  He 
married  a Miss  Cole  and  they  became  the  parents  of  several  children,  namely : 
Mrs.  Susan  Robbins,  Mrs.  Lena  McHenry,  Ephraim,  Sallie  McHenry,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Brown,  Mrs.  Agnes  Cole,  Mrs.  Charity  Schamp,  Samuel,  Richard, 
Ezekiel,  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Munson,  Mercy,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Charlton. 
The  father  of  these  children  was  a stanch  Democrat  in  politics.  He  was  a car- 
penter by  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed  in  Pennsylvania,  but  after  remov- 
ing to  Ohio  he  lived  a retired  life. 

Ephraim  Cutter  came  to  Ohio  in  1814.  and  here  followed  his  trade,  that 
of  a shoemaker;  subsequently  he  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming,  locating 
at  North  Moorland  a number  of  years  and  later  for  some  time  living  north  of 
Wooster.  Later  he  located  in  Huntington  county,  Indiana. 

John  Cutter  followed  farming  all  the  days  of  his  active  life  and  on  com- 
ing to  Ohio  he  entered  a large  tract  of  land,  the  patent  for  which  bore  the 
signature  of  President  Jackson.  He  proceeded  to  clear  this  land  of  the  dense 
timber  which  covered  it  and  developed  a fine  farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  there  in  1886.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the  un- 
seen land,  dying  in  1868.  Their  remains  lie  buried  in  the  graveyard  which 
lies  near  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Moorland.  John  Cutter  was  noted 
because  of  his  many  acts  of  charity,  his  benevolence  being  much  appreciated 
during  those  early  pioneer  days.  He  was  a stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  but  never  accepted  public  office  of  any  nature.  He  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  children  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  unmarried;  Ephrain,  James, 

Brown,  Mrs.  Peter  Wicker,  Mrs.  William  Scott. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  W.  Cutter,  was  born  on  January  19, 
1843,  and  spent  his  early  days  with  his  parents.  He  secured  a limited  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  his  vacation  periods  being  devoted  to  work  on  the 
farm.  He  has  always  followed  agricultural  pursuits  and  has  been  fairly  sue* 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


cessfnl,  being  accounted  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  his  section.  His  farm 
is  characterized  by  splendid  buildings,  well  kept  fences,  modern  machinery 
and  other  accessories  of  an  up-to-date  farm.  Mr.  Cutter  shows  sound  judg- 
ment in  his  operations,  keeping  in  touch  with  the  most  advanced  methods  relat- 
ing to  the  service  of  agriculture  and  has  consequently  been  enabled  to  realize 
handsome  returns  for  the  labor  he  has  bestowed. 

On  June  6,  1872,  Mr.  Cutter  was  married  to  Margaret  A.  Cellar,  who 
was  born  March  1,  1846,  in  Holmes  county,  this  state,  a daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Phoebe  (Corn)  Cellar.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  were  married,  and  they  came  to  Holmes  county  in  1824,  making  their 
home  there  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Cutter's  paternal  grand- 
father, Ephraim  Cellar,  was  a veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  after  the  conclusion 
of  which  he  went  to  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Indiana,  where  he 
died.  Mrs.  Cutter's  maternal  grandfather  was  William  Corn,  who  was  bom 
near  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  but  later  came  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  years  and  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cutter  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Morris  E.,  who  died  young;  Joseph  C.,  of 
Franklin  township,  married  Della  Scott,  and  they  have  seven  children: 
Blanche,  Maud,  Mildred,  Norma,  Susan,  William  and  Mabel.  William  L.,  of 
Lorain.  Ohio,  married  Bertha  Scott,  and  they  have  had  five  children : Marcella, 
Helen,  Ruth,  Catherine  and  one  that  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  Ira  C.  is  the 
wife  of  John  Wirt,  of  Franklin  township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Kenneth ; 
Mabel  and  Myrtle,  twins.  Myrtle  married  LeRoy  Sparr,  of  Franklin  town- 
ship; two  children,  Francis  and  Robert.  Martha  V.  is  still  under  the  parental 
roof. 

Mr.  Cutter  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and  has  ever  taken  an  intelligent 
interest  in  local  public  affairs,  though  he  has  been  in  no  sense  an  office  seeker. 
His  many  splendid  qualities  of  character  have  won  for  him  the  unbounded 
confidence  and  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has  associated.  He  was  elected 
county  commissioner  in  1898.  took  the  office  in  1899  and  held  it  until  1902. 
He  was  also  for  thirty  years  a member  of  the  school  board,  and  served  effi- 
ciently as  township  trustee.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  National  Con- 
gress and  the  Masons.  The  family  all  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


BENJAMIN  S.  BEVINGTON. 

A worthy  descendant  of  prominent  and  influential  pioneers  is  Benjamin 
S.  Bevington,  a progressive  man  of  affairs  whose  residence  is  at  Orrville, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio.  His  birth  occurred  in  Richland  township,  Holmes 


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county,  this  state,  on  August  26,  1841.  His  father,  Benjamin  Bevington, 
was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  moved  to  Ohio  when  a boy,  accompanying 
his  parents,  who  settled  in  Holmes  county,  where,  amid  primitive  conditions, 
they  developed  a farm  and  became  one  of  the  leading  families  of  the  com- 
munity, where  the  name  Bevington  has  ever  since  been  well  known.  The 
father  of  Benjamin  S.  was  the  youngest  of  a large  family.  He  received  a 
meager  education  in  the  rude  log  school  houses  of  those  early  times,  and, 
after  having  been  taught  farming  by  his  father,  quite  naturally  took  up 
that  line  of  work  for  a livelihood.  In  1855  moved  to  Mount  Vernon, 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  but  after  securing  a good  foothold  there  he  returned  to 
Holmes  county  in  1861,  and  in  1868  moved  to  Maysville,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  buying  a farm  near  the  edge  of  that  town,  which  in  time  became  very 
valuable.  Here  he  lived  and  prospered,  and  here  his  death  occurred  in  1882, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  married  Sarah  Wolgamott,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Salt  Creek  township,  Holmes  county.  She  survived  her 
husband  one  year,  dying  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  boys  and  four  girls.  Those  living  are:  Levi 
J.,  a farmer  in  Knox  county,  this  state;  Jacob,  a carpenter  of  Akron,  this 
state;  Benjamin  S.,  of  this  review,  and  Clara,  wife  of  William  Beeler,  of 
Orrville.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  these  children  came  from  England 
and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  in  an  early  day. 

Benjamin  S.  Bevington  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  assisting  with  the  work  about  the 
place  during  the  summer  months  and  attending  the  district  schools  in  the 
winter  time.  When  he  reached  the  age  just  indicated  he  manifested  his 
patriotism  by  enlisting  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry 
early  in  the  great  war  between  the  states,  and  he  served  one  year  with  a 
very  creditable  record,  having  fought  at  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  Arkansas  Post; 
Thompson’s  Hill  and  Champion’s  Hill,  both  in  Mississippi ; Black  River 
Bridge,  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  in  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Mississippi.  Dur- 
ing his  career  in  the  army  he  was  never  off  duty. 

After  returning  home  from  the  army  Mr.  Bevington  managed  a farm 
for  Henry  Pomeream,  of  Salt  Creek  township.  Holmes  county,  for  a period 
of  six  years,  after  which  he  rented  the  farm  for  four  years.  During  these 
ten  years  he  prospered  by  reason  of  his  close  attention  to  farming,  which  he 
understood  thoroughly.  Desiring  to  manage  a place  of  his  own,  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  Mr.  Pomeream  and  lived  on  the  same  for  four  years, 
greatly  improving  the  place.  He  sold  it  and  went  to  Fredericksburg,  Wayne 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


county,  and  there  engaged  in  the  livery  business  for  two  years  and  was  build- 
ing up  a good  patronage  when  he  was  induced  to  enter  the  employ  of  Charles 
and  Edgar  Snow  & Company,  of  Boston,  as  a buyer  of  horses,  at  a salary. 
This  was  in  1883,  and  he  was  in  their  employ  ever  since  until  recently,  a period 
of  twenty-six  years,  during  which  time  he  purchased  thousands  of  horses  in 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Ohio,  having  become  a well-known 
figure  to  the  horsemen  of  those  states  and  being  regarded  as  an  excellent 
judge  of  livestock  of  all  classes  and  grades,  an  expert,  in  fact,  in  the  matter 
of  purchasing  horses.  A criterion  of  his  unexcelled  judgment  and  excellent 
business  ability  is  found  in  the  fact  that  the  Snow  Brothers,  a large  and  im- 
portant firm,  retained  him  in  their  employ  so  long.  His  easy  manner,  con- 
geniality and  general  pleasing  demeanor  were  of  great  assistance, — in  fact, 
invaluable  assets  to  him  in  this  line  of  work.  Having  resigned  this  position, 
he  is  now  practically  retired  from  active  business. 

Mr.  Bevington  was  married  on  February  24,  1881,  to  Valeria  Wehrly, 
a native  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and  Eugenia 
(Chatelain)  Wehrly,  a well-known  and  highly  respected  family  of  that 
locality.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bevington  three  children  have  been  born,  namely, 
Bertha,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months ; Stella  and  Zella  are  twins. 

Mr.  Bevington  is  the  owner  of  a fine  farm  in  Greene  township,  which  is 
highly  improved  and  managed  in  such  a manner  as  to  yield  rich  results. 
He  moved  to  Orrville  in  1896  and  he  has  a beautiful  home  on  North  Main 
street.  Mrs.  Bevington  and  her  two  daughters  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
church.  This  family  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  the  vicinity  of  Orrville  or 
wherever  its  members  are  known. 

Mr.  Bevington  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Post  No. 
296,  of  Orrville,  Ohio. 


ADAM  FOGEL. 

The  little  republic  of  Switzerland  has  sent  a large  number  of  her  best 
citizens  to  the  Buckeye  state,  many  of  whom  have  located  in  Wayne  county, 
where  they  have  become  identified  with  the  leading  agricultural  and  business 
interests.  Of  this  class  of  highly  honored  citizens,  Adam  Fogel  is  a worthy 
representative.  He  was  born  in  Switzerland,  October  18.  1844,  the  son  of 
George  Fogel,  also  a native  of  Switzerland,  who  came  to  America  in  1852, 
locating  at  Massillon.  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
wagonmaker  and  carriage  builder  until  his  death,  in  1862.  He  married  Susan 


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Hanna,  of  Switzerland.  She  is  also  deceased.  Five  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely:  Frederick,  who  was  in  the  Thirteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  who  is  now  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Sandusky ; Henry 
lives  at  Mansfield.  Ohio;  Adam  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth;  Elizabeth 
married  Mr.  Andregg,  of  Mansfield;  Mary  married  Mr.  Eshie  and  they 
live  at  Mansfield. 

Adam  Fogel  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1852.  He  received 
a meager  education  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  tender  age  of  eight  years 
began  working  on  the  home  farm,  and  when  ten  years  of  age  he  went  among 
strangers,  working  for  two  seasons  on  a farm  at  Sonneberg,  Sugar  Creek 
township,  this  county.  During  the  years  1857  and  1858  he  drove  mules  on 
the  old  Ohio  canal  from  Cleveland  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  being  thus  employed 
at  the  time  James  A.  Garfield  was  working  in  a like  capacity.  Mr.  Fogel 
worked  two  seasons  for  the  meager  wages  of  six  dollars  per  month.  He  then 
began  work  for  Russell  & Company,  a large  manufacturing  firm  of  Massillon, 
Ohio,  first  taking  care  of  their  horses,  and  later,  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  began  learning  the  machinist's  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  and  seven  years  as  a journeyman,  ten  years  in  all. 

In  1863  Mr.  Fogel,  believing  that  it  was  his  duty  to  prove  his  loyalty 
to  the  flag  of  his  adopted  country,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  a member  of 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, in  which  he  Served  very  creditably  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In 
1868  he  located  in  Orrville,  since  which  time  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  this  city.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  but,  after  building  up  an  extensive  patronage,  he  retired  from 
active  business  eleven  years  ago,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  looking  after  his  extensive  property  interests.  He  has  a fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  besides  much  valu- 
able property  in  Orrville.  Considering  the  fact  that  he  started  in  life  in 
such  on  humble  way  and  so  many  obstacles  had  to  be  overcome,  he  is  deserv- 
ing of  praise  for  what  he  has  accomplished  and  the  manner  in  which  he  has 
achieved  success,  for  he  has  been  honorable  in  all  his  business  dealings  with 
his  fellow  men. 

Mr.  Fogel  was  married  in  1865  to  Elizabeth  Bair,  a native  of  Switzer- 
land, who  proved  to  be  a very  faithful  helpmeet,  her  encouragement  and 
sound  counsel  often  assisting  Mr.  Fogel  in  his  business  enterprises.  This 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  six  children,  namely : Mrs.  Emma  Baugh,  of 

Orrville;  Ella,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father;  Frank  is  deceased;  Mrs. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cora  Huntsberger,  of  Chicago;  Mrs.  Ida  Reamer,  of  Greensburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Howard  is  living  in  Orrville  and  is  telegraph  operator  for  the  Penn- 
sylvania railroad,  also  the  Cleveland,  Akron  & Columbus  railroad;  he  is  an 
accomplished  musician. 

The  mother  of  these  children  passed  to  her  rest  in  1901. 

Mr.  Fogel  very  ably  served  for  a period  of  ten  years  in  the  city  council, 
and  in  1909  was  again  elected  councilman.  He  was  a member  of  the  council 
when  the  city  hall  was  built.  He  was  chief  of  the  fire  department  for  eight 
years.  He  is  a thirty-second-degree  Mason,  having  been  a Mason  since  1875, 
belonging  to  the  commandery  at  Wooster;  also  the  Lodge  of  Perfection  at 
Canton,  and  the  Scottish  rite  at  Cleveland;  he  has  been  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  since  1874,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Uniform  Rank. 
He  takes  much  interest  in  lodge  work  and  is  popular  in  the  above-named 
orders  throughout  northern  Ohio.  He  is  a member  of  the  Reformed  church 
at  Orrville.  Although  he  is  now  a Democrat,  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Lin- 
coln. 

Mr.  Fogel  has  the  original  land  grant  issued  by  President  Andrew  Jack- 
son,  September  15,  1835,  and  made  to  Joseph  Arnold,  from  whom  Mr.  Fogel 
bought  his  farm  in  Sugar  Creek  township. 

Mr.  Fogel  is  one  of  those  self-made  men  who  has  won  success  by  hard 
work  and  persistent  endeavor.  When  a small  boy  he  sawed  wood  after 
school  for  his  neighbors  in  order  to  earn  a little  money.  Always  of  frugal 
and  industrious  habits,  he  has  gained  a substantial  competency  for  his  declin- 
ing years  some  time  ago.  He  has  the  highest  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN  BECHTEL. 

The  Bechtel  family  is  one  of  the  old  and  well-known  ones  of  Wayne 
county,  and  is  of  German  ancestry.  Jacob  Bechtel,  grandfather  of  John  of 
this  review,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  the  early  members 
of  this  family  settled  when  they  came  to  America.  The  father  of  John 
Bechtel  also  bore  the  name  of  Jacob,  and  he  was  born  in  Somerset  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1802.  He  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  about  1829,  set- 
tling in  Greene  township.  He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  to  Sarah  Rhoades, 
a native  of  that  state,  bo rn  in  Somerset  county;  her  death  occurred  in  1845, 
when  about  forty-two  years  of  age.  She  and  her  husband  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  the  register  of  whose  births  follows:  Mary,  born  in  Penn- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


735 


sylvania  in  1827;  Elizabeth,  born  in  that  state  in  1828;  Harriett,  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1830;  Sarah,  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1831 ; John,  of  this 
review;  Jacob,  born  in  Wayne  county  in  1836  and  died  in  1898;  Samuel, 
born  in  1837  and  died  in  1852. 

In  April,  Jacob  Bechtel,  father  of  John  of  this  review,  suffered  one  of 
the  greatest  misfortunes  that  ever  befell  a citizen  of  Wayne  county,  his  home 
having  been  burned  and  his  four  daughters  perishing,  Mr.  Bechtel  sustain- 
ing serious  injuries  in  trying  to  rescue  his  children,  and  he  died  from  the 
effects  of  the  wounds  he  received  the  following  December.  John,  of  this 
review,  then  four  years  of  age,  and  his  brother  Jacob  were  sleeping  with 
their  parents  at  the  time  of  the  fire. 

John  Bechtel  was  born  October  12,  1833,  on  the  home  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eight  years,  when  he  began  life  for 
himself,  working  out  on  a farm,  doing  such  chores  as  he  could  at  that  tender 
age.  In  1855  he  married  Harriet  Mowner,  who  was  born  in  East  Union 
township,  and  they  moved  on  the  old  farm,  which  he  and  his  brother  divided, 
and  for  forty-three  years  Mr.  Bechtel  remained  on  the  place  where  he  was 
born,  carrying  on  general  farming  in  a successful  manner  and  becoming  well 
situated.  In  the  spring  of  1898  he  removed  to  Orrville,  where  he  has  a fine 
home,  and  he  still  looks  after  his  farming  interests,  owning  two  good  farms. 
One  of  his  farms  is  probably  the  oldest  in  Greene  township,  but  the  soil  has 
retained  its  original  strength,  owing  to  its  skillful  management.  The  first 
cabin  built  in  the  township  was  erected  on  this  farm.  The  place  was  entered 
from  the  government  by  Michael  Thomas,  and  Jacob  Bechtel,  father  of  the 
subject,  purchased  it  from  him,  John  Bechtel  being  the  third  man  to  own 
the  place. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bechtel  five  children  have  been  born,  named  as 
follows:  Sarilla,  wife  of  A.  W.  Brennerman,  of  Greene  township;  H.  M.,  of 
Orrville,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
S.  P.  Eshleman,  of  Orrville,  also  a hardware  merchant;  W.  B.,  cashier  of  the 
bank  at  Massillon;  J.  O.  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  Orrville. 

Mrs.  Jacob  Bechtel  married  a second  time,  her  last  husband  being 
Michael  Hawk,  of  East  Union  township,  and  two  children  were  born  to  this 
union,  Lavina,  wife  of  William  Chapin,  and  David  Hawk,  both  of  Orrville. 

John  Bechtel  was  a member  of  the  school  board  in  Greene  township  for 
twelve  or  fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he  did  much  to  promote  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  same.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  Bechtel  are  members  of 
the  English  Lutheran  church  at  Orrville.  He  is  one  of  the  highly  respected 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


citizens  of  this  community,  having  led  a life  against  which  nothing  ill  can 
be  said  in  any  way.  He  is  deserving  of  a great  deal  of  credit  for  what  he  has 
accomplished,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had  such  hard  struggles  in  his  early 
life,  but  men  endowed  with  the  grit  which  he  has  always  do  things,  no  matter 
what  their  environment  may  be. 


GEN.  AQUILA  WILEY. 

The  history  of  the  loyal  sons  and  representative  citizens  of  Wayne  county 
would  not  be  complete  should  the  name  that  heads  this  review  be  omitted. 
When  the  fierce  fire  of  rebellion  was  raging  throughout  the  Southland,  he 
responded  with  patriotic  fervor  to  the  call  for  volunteers  and  in  some  of  the 
bloodiest  battles  for  which  that  great  war  was  noted  proved  his  loyalty  to 
the  national  government.  On  the  long  and  tiresome  marches  in  all  kinds  of 
situations,  exposed  to  summers  withering  heat  and  winter’s  freezing  cold,  on 
the  lonely  picket  line  a target  for  the  missile  of  the  unseen  foe,  on  the  tented 
field  and  amid  the  flame  and  smoke  of  battle,  where  the  rattle  of  the  musketry, 
mingled  with  the  terrible  concussion  of  the  bursting  shell  and  the  deep  diapason 
of  the  cannon’s  roar,  made  up  the  sublime  but  awful  chorus  of  death,  at  the 
head  of  his  command,  bearing  aloft  the  standard  of  Old  Glory — in  all  these 
situations,  the  subject  faithfully  performed  his  full  part  until  disabled  by 
wounds  from  further  active  service.  During  a useful  li  fe  in  the  region  where 
he  lives  he  has  labored  diligently  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  people,  being 
devoted  to  the  public  welfare,  and  his  record  has  been  such  as  to  win  for  him 
the  high  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 

Aquila  Wiley  was  born  near  Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  20th  day  of  February,  1835,  and  is  a son  of  William  and 
Susan  (Spahr)  Wiley,  the  former  also  a native  of  Cumberland  county.  The 
subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Robert  Wiley,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
William  Wiley,  the  great-great-grandfather,  in  1770  was  given  a homestead 
grant  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  the 
deed  to  which  was  signed  by  William  Penn,  a grandson  of  the  noted  English 
Quaker  and  founder  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  The  family  name  was 
originally  spelled  “Wylie,"  as  shown  by  the  official  records  of  Cumberland 
county.  William  Wiley,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  died  when  the 
latter  was  but  a bov.  Aquila  received  such  education  as  was  afforded  in  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


737 


schools  of  his  boyhood  days  and  in  an  academy  at  Mechanicsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  came  to  Wooster.  Ohio,  where  he 
made  his*  future  home. 

In  April,  1861,  on  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  volunteers,  Mr.  Wiley 
enlisted  for  the  three-months  service,  joining  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  This  command  was  at  once  sent  to  the  front,  but 
took  part  in  no  engagements  beyond  a skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  Philippi, 
West  Virginia.  At  the  end  of  it§  period  of  enlistment  the  regiment  returned 
home  and  was  mustered  out.  The  Governor  then  issued  orders  for  the  re- 
organization of  the  regiment  and  its  re-enlistment  for  three  years,  nearly  all 
of  the  men  re-enlisting.  The  rank  and  file  of  the  regiment  were  much  dis- 
pleased with  the  appointments  of  field  officers  and  Lieutenant  Wiley  recruited 
a company  with  the  distinct  understanding  that  they  were  not  to  serve  in  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment.  He  then  went  to  Cleveland  and  received  from  Col. 
William  Hazen  a commission  as  captain,  he  and  his  company  being  at  the 
same  time  given  transportation  from  Wooster  to  Cleveland.  The  officers  of 
the  regiment  appealed  to  the  governor  to  have  this  company  transferred  from 
the  Forty-first  back  to  the  Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  it  was  then  that  Captain 
Wiley  showed  his  courage  by  utterly  refusing  to  go  back,  and  in  this  stand 
he  was  backed  up  by  the  entire  company. 

The  service  record  of  the  Forty-first  Ohio  Regiment  was  a glorious  and 
honorable  one,  few  regiments  having  a record  of  more  active  service  or  of 
greater  valor  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  They  took  part  in  a number  of  the 
severest  struggles  of  that  great  conflict  and  amid  all  these  experiences  Captain 
Wiley  was  always  found  at  the  head  of  his  men,  cheering  them  by  his  words 
and  setting  them  an  example  for  personal  bravery.  He  participated  in  all  the 
battles  in  which  the  Forty-first  took  part  and  at  the  terrible  engagement  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  while  carrying  the  regimental  colors  and  leading  the  regi- 
ment in  a furious  bayonet  charge,  he  fell  terribly  injured.  In  this  charge 
General  Wiley  was  conspicuous  because  of  his  bravery  and  the  enthusiasm 
with  which  he  inspired  his  men  on  to  the  assault,  during  which  five  men  were 
killed  with  the  colors.  He  recovered  from  this  injury,  but  later  at  the  battle 
of  Missionary  Ridge  his  horse  was  shot  from  under  him  and  his  left  knee 
shattered  by  a shell,  making  amputation  necessary.  General  Wiley  returned 
to  bis  home  in  January,  1864,  and  after  he  had  regained  his  health  practiced 
law  at  Wooster,  in  which  he  met  with  fair  success.  He  has  alwavs  com- 
manded the  absolute  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  has  been  numbered 
among  the  honored  residents  of  the  city  of  Wooster,  where  so  many  years  of 
his  life  hive  been  spent. 

(4  7) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Politically,  General  Wiley  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party  and  was 
elected  and  served  one  term  as  probate  judge  of  Wayne  county.  His  adminis- 
tration of  the  office  was  so  eminently  satisfactory  that  he  was  nominated  for 
a re-election.  The  same  year,  1878,  he  received  the  Democratic  nomination 
for  Congress,  his  opponent  being  the  late  William  McKinley.  The  General 
resides  in  a comfortable  and  attractive  home  at  No.  195  North  Market  street, 
Wooster,  where  the  spirit  of  the  old-time  hospitality  is  ever  in  evidence.  Re- 
ligiously, his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  church,  to  which  the  General 
gives  an  earnest  and  liberal  support.  Fraternally,  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Ohio  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  where  he  maintains  pleasant  associa- 
tions with  his  old  comrades-in-arms. 

On  May  19,  1870,  General  Wiley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma 
Power,  the  daughter  of  Neal  and  Sarah  (McMillen)  Power,  of  Wooster, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children,  Walter  A.,  born  in  1872,  and  Ada  M., 
born  in  1875.  The  former  is  now  a first  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  reve- 
nue cutter  service,  and  the  latter  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Greenwell. 

Of  marked  social  qualities,  General  Wiley  is  well  liked  by  all  who  know 
him.  His  sterling  manhood,  his  absolute  integrity  of  character,  his  honorable 
war  record,  his  public  spirited  attitude  towards  all  movements  for  the  public 
good  and  his  consistent  private  life  have  earned  for  him  an  enviable  standing 
in  the  community  and  he  is  justly  numbered  among  its  representative  citizens. 


SYLVANUS  G.  COOK. 

A man  who  enjoys  a wide  acquaintance  throughout  Wayne  county,  espe- 
cially East  Union  township,  of  which  he  is  a native,  and  who  has  won  a 
reputation  for  judicious  dealing  in  all  things,  who  is  now  enjoying  the  peace- 
ful retirement  of  his  twilight  of  life,  is  Sylvanus  G.  Cook,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred April  22,  1842,  and  who  has  lived  in  this  county  all  his  life,  making 
his  home  on  the  old  farm  in  East  Union  township  until  1907,  \vhen  he  moved 
to  Orrville.  His  father  was  Robert  Cook,  who  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  3,  1803,  who  came  to  Ohio  in  the  pioneer  days,  locat- 
ing in  Sugar  Creek  township,  Wavne  county,  in  1816,  when  that  section  was 
still  a comparative  wilderness.  He  secured  land  and  developed  it,  becoming 
an  extensive  farmer.  He  married  Jennie  D.  Cummings,  of  Crawford  county, 
Ohio,  in  1831.  She  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  February,  1899.  To  Robert  Cook  and  wife  seven  children 


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were  bom,  among  whom  the  following  are  living:  Rebecca  McCullough,  of 
Orrville;  Liza  Jane  Sharp,  living  near  Apple  Creek,  East  Union  township; 
Nancy  Bonewitz,  of  Wooster;  Samuel,  of  Shelby,  Ohio,  and  Sylvanus  G.,  of 
this  review.  The  Cook  family  is  of  good  Irish  stock.  The  maternal  grand- 
mother of  Sylvanus  G.  was  Mary  (McWilliam)  Cook,  who  came  from  county 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  reaching  America  when  nine  years  of  age,  and  settled  in 
Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  with  her  sister.  Grandfather  Samuel  Cook 
was  bom  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  4,  1781,  and  he 
migrated  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1816;  the  following  year  he  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Sugar  Creek  township.  In  the  summer  of  1816  he  taught  the  first 
school  ever  taught  in  Sugar  Creek  township.  Prior  to  his  coming  here  he 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  McWilliams,  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : Sylvanus, 

bom  February  28,  1802;  Robert,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  December  3,  1803;  Asa,  born  December  23,  1805;  James,  born  March 
9,  1808;  Christena,  born  June  16,  1810;  Mary,  born  October  26,  1812;  Amiel, 
born  August  29,  1815;  Jemima,  born  April  3,  1818;  John,  born  April  30, 
1820;  Jesse,  born  May  26,  1822;  Josiah,  born  July  20,  1824. 

Samuel  Cook  was  in  many  respects  a remarkable  man,  one  of  marked 
influence  and  usefulness.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Dalton,  Sugar  Creek  township,  and  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  public 
educators  and  religious  workers  in  the  county.  He  reared  a large  and  intel- 
ligent family,  giving  them  all  a good  start  in  life  and  an  education  such  as 
he  could  in  those  early  days,  and  his  grandchildren,  of  whom  there  are  many, 
seem  to  be  worthy  of  their  pioneer  ancestors,  taking  a delight  in  maintaining 
the  honorable  name  that  the  family  has  always  borne. 

Sylvanus  G.  Cook,  as  already  intimated,  has  spent  the  major  part  of  his 
life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  having  learned  the  “ins  and  outs”  of 
husbandry  in  his  youth  during  the  summer  months,  and  in  the  winter  time  he 
attended  the  district  schools,  receiving  a fairly  good  education.  The  old 
home  farm  is  located  four  miles  south  of  Orrville  in  one  of  the  most  highly 
favored  sections  of  the  Buckeye  state.  He  has  always  been  regarded  as  a 
very  progressive  and  skillful  farmer,  so  managing  his  affairs  as  to  gain  the 
greatest  results,  keeping  the  place  in  a high  state  of  cultivation  and  efficiency, 
having  reaped  bounteous  harvests  during  a long  stretch  of  years  and  laid 
by  a competency  so  that  now  in  his  old  age  he  finds  himself  surrounded 
by  plenty  and  has  a modern  and  comfortable  home. 

Mr.  Cook  was  married  in  1873  to  Ixwis  Tasker,  who  was  born  in  Paint 


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township,  this  county,  the  daughter  of  James  and  Rebecca  (Bales)  Tasker,  a 
well-known  family  of  that  locality.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  the  following 
children  have  been  born:  Jennie,  wife  of  D.  E.  Eymon,  of  Orrville;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Fred  Bower,  who  is  living  on  Mr.  Cook’s  farm;  Frank,  who  is 
fifteen  years  of  age,  is  living  at  home;  two  children  are  deceased,  Jimmie 
having  died  twenty-two  years  ago,  and  Glen,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Orrville,  and 
they  take  a delight  in  the  work  of  the  same.  The  former  has  served  as  school 
director  in  East  Union  township.  He  is  a Bryan  Democrat,  and  personally 
he  is  a man  whom  it  is  a delight  to  meet,  being  a good  conversationalist,  jolly, 
good  natured  and  a man  of  high  principles. 


JOSEPH  WARREN  HOSTETTER. 

A man  whose  memory  is  revered  by  a wide  circle  of  acquaintances  and 
friends,  and  who  lived  a life  that  was  exemplary  in  every  respect,  which  re- 
sulted in  good  to  himself  and  family  and  the  community  in  general  was  Joseph 
Warren  Hostetter.  He  became  a prosperous  and  representative  citizen  of 
Orrville,  Wayne  county,  having  been  a man  of  great  force  of  character  and 
determination  of  purpose,  and  although  he  has  been  called  from  his  earthly 
labors,  the  good  he  did  still  lives.  Mr.  Hostetter  was  born  near  Minerva, 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  October  3,  1840,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Hos- 
tetter. They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  all  but  one, 
Lydia,  who  died  some  thirty-seven  years  ago,  grew  to  maturity,  Joseph  W. 
having  been  the  second  one  to  pass  away,  his  death  occurring  January  15, 
1902,  after  an  illness  of  two  weeks,  through  which  he  bore  his  sufferings 
patiently  and  heroically.  Besides  him  were  eight  sisters  and  three  brothers, 
namely:  Mrs.  Adeline  Minerva  Frederick,  deceased,  late  of  Canton,  Ohio; 

Mrs.  Eliza  Ann  Martin,  also  of  Canton ; Mrs.  Mary  A.  Sweringen,  deceased, 
late  of  Plattsmouth.  Nebraska;  Mrs.  Kate  Lake,  of  Blue  Springs,  Nebraska; 
Mrs.  Harriet  Robinson,  of  Sharon,  Pennsylvania;  Mrs.  Sadie  Hutchinson,  of 
Seneca,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Blanchard,  of  Canton.  Ohio;  Mrs.  Verdie 
Keeler,  of  Sabetha,  Kansas;  Frank  Hostetter,  living  in  Oklahoma;  Lewis,  of 
Canton,  Ohio,  and  Austen,  deceased,  late  of  Kansas. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Joseph  W.  Hostetter  were  spent  at  the  parental 
home.  He  received  a common  school  education,  and  began  his  business  career 
by  clerking  for  Haynes  & Foster,  of  Slireve.  Early  in  life  he  turned  his 


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attention  to  photography  and  opened  a studio  in  Uhrichsville,  but  in  i860  he 
entered  the  employ  of  his  brother-in-law,  Impertus  Martin,  but  his  patriotism 
being  aroused  when  the  rebellion  threatened  to  disrupt  the  Union,  he  left 
the  position  and  enlisted  in  the  army  at  Canton  and  went  to  the  front  early 
in  the  struggle  as  a member  of  the  noted  Fourth  Ohio  Regiment.  This  was 
in  response  to  Lincoln’s  first  call  for  troops.  The  first  colonel  of  this  regi- 
ment was  the  gallant  Lorin  Andrews,  president  of  Kenyon  College,  who  was 
one  of  the  first  to  give  his  life  for  his  country.  This  regiment  enlisted  for 
one-hundred-day  service,  but  later  re-enlisted  for  three  years,  and  it  was 
engaged  in  many  of  the  severest  battles  of  the  war,  bringing  glory  to  the 
Federal  troops  repeatedly.  It  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  the  Shenandoah 
Valley;  it  fought  at  the  great  battles  of  Gettysburg,  Fredericksburg,  Chancel- 
lorsville.  Later  the  regiment  was  sent  to  New  York  to  quell  the  riots,  and 
then  returned  to  Alexandria,  Virginia.  Mr.  Hostetter  was  an  active  partici- 
pant in  all  the  work  of  this  regiment.  Many  years  after  the  war  he  revisited 
the  fields  of  many  of  the  famous  battles  in  which  he  had  bravely  fought. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Hostetter  returned  to  Canton  and  worked 
for  C.  Aultman  & Company,  as  machinist.  Later  he  was  employed  in  a dry 
goods  store  at  Wellsville.  In  1867  he  came  to  Orrville  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Bartholomew  Brothers  in  the  dry  goods  trade.  I11  1868  he  pur- 
chased the  grocery  business  of  Amos  Eshleman  and  continued  it  for  two 
years. 

In  1869  Mr.  Hostetter  was  united  in  marriage  with  Eunice  Boydston,  a 
native  of  East  Union  township,  this  county,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Boydston,  a highly  respected  family  of  that  community.  She 
proved  a most  worthy  helpmeet  and  is  now  deceased,  having  been  injured 
in  a street  car  accident  in  Akron,  from  the  effects  of  which  she  died  on  Sep- 
tember 23,  1909,  and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband  at  Orrville.  Soon 
after  their  marriage  they  moved  to  Kansas,  but  they  returned  to  Orrville  in 
1874  and  Mr.  Hostetter  embarked  in  the  real  estate  business  and  continued 
in  that  line  until  his  death,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  during  which 
time  he  lived  in  Toledo,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  Toledo  Legal  News. 

During  President  Arthur's  administration  Mr.  Hostetter  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Orrville  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Henry  Schriber,  who 
died  while  in  office.  Mr.  Hostetter  served  in  this  capacity  for  nine  consecu- 
tive years  in  a very  able  and  satisfactory  manner.  In  later  years  he  was  a 
very  active  member  of  the  school  board  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  its 
president.  The  cause  of  education  was  greatly  strengthened  during  his  con- 


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nection  with  the  board.  He  was  a conscientious  Christian,  having  joined 
the  Methodist  church  in  1867  under  Rev.  George  W.  Ball’s  pastorate.  For 
many  years  Mr.  Hostetter  assisted  Impertus  Martin  in  conducting  campmeet- 
ings  at  Orrville  and  other  places  in  the  state.  He  was  an  open  exponent 
of  the  temperance  cause  and  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and  in  many 
instances  he  proved  his  loyalty  to  this  cause  by  giving  financial  and  other 
aid.  In  all  matters  that  in  any  way  aimed  to  advance  the  interests  of  Orrville 
and  vicinity  he  was  deeply  concerned  and  always  did  what  he  could. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  W.  Hostetter  one  child  was  born,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Hostetter  was  a member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  was  also  an 
active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
His  life  was  an  active  one,  and  he  was  always  encouraging  and  helping  some 
one,  for  he  believed  in  helping  others, — in  fact,  few  men  have  done  as  much 
for  the  progress  of  this  community,  and  his  place  will  always  be  greatly  missed 
for  he  was  as  the  just  man  spoken  of  in  Holy  Writ,  “whose  light  shines  more 
and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.” 


ALEXANDER  THOMPSON  CAMPBELL. 

This  sterling  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Ohio  is  a 
native  son  of  Wayne  county,  where  he  was  reared  to  maturity  on  a farm, 
early  beginning  to  assume  the  practical  responsibilities  of  life  and  lending 
his  aid  in  connection  with  the  reclamation  and  improvement  of  the  home- 
stead. That  he  has  lived  and  labored  to  goodly  end  is  clearly  indicated  in  the 
position  which  he  holds  in  the  confidence  and  regard  of  his  fellow  men  and 
in  the  success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts  as  an  agriculturist,  which  has 
been  his  vocation  throughout  his  business  career.  His  fine  farm  is  located  in 
Congress  township,  and  no  resident  of  the  community  commands  a fuller 
measure  of  respect  and  esteem.  This  epitome  of  his  life  history  will  be  read 
with  interest  by  his  many  friends  and  will  serve  as  a permanent  memorial  to 
his  sterling  character  and  worthy  life. 

Alexander  T.  Campbell  is,  as  his  name  indicates,  of  Scottish  descent,  his 
paternal  great-grandfather,  John  Campbell,  having  emigrated  from  Scotland 
to  the  L^nited  States  in  1784,  locating  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  The  subject’s  grandparents,  Isaac  and  Mary  Camp- 
bell, were  lifelong  residents  of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  worthy  and 


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esteemed  fanning  folk.  The  subject's  maternal  grandparents,  John  and  Mary 
(McLevy)  Crum,  were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  spent  their 
entire  lives.  An  ancestor  on  the  maternal  side  was  General  McLevy,  who 
served  with  distinction  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  subject's  parents 
were  James  and  Anna  (Crum)  Campbell,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Hunt- 
ingdon county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  reared  and  married.  In  1851 
they  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Chester  township,  where  the 
father  successfully  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  Which  oc- 
curred on  July  29,  1875.  His  wife  died  September  18,  1898.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  In  politics  James  Campbell 
was  originally  a Whig,  but  on  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  he 
joined  its  ranks  and  thereafter  gave  it  his  support.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  during  his  later  life  and  served  as  an  elder.  He  was 
a man  of  sterling  qualities  of  character  and  enjoyed  the  unbounded  confi- 
dence and  regard  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Alexander  Thompson  Campbell  was  born  on  the  paternal  homestead  in 
Chester  township,  Wayne  county,  on  The  13th  day  of  September,  1857.  He 
secured  a good  elementary  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  township, 
and  later  he  attended  Smithville  Academy  two  years,  taking  mathematics, 
English  and  kindred  studies.  On  the  completion  of  his  education  he  took 
up  active  farming  operations  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  continued  until 
the  death  of  his  mother,  in  1898.  He  now  owns  a farm  in  connection  with 
his  sister,  Anna  C.  Campbell,  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  has  since  devoted 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  its  management.  The  place  comprises  one 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  and  is  most  eligibly  and  pleasantly  located. 
Mr.  Campbell  has  made  a number  of  valuable  improvements,  including  the 
erection  of  a new  barn,  the  remodeling  of  the  residence  and  other  improve- 
ments which  brought  the  place  up  to  the  highest  standard  of  excellence.  The 
land  is  fertile  and  highly  productive  and  Mr.  Campbell,  being  progressive  and 
enterprising  in  his  methods,  realizes  handsome  returns  annually  for  the 
labor  bestowed.  Besides  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  he  also  gives  consider- 
able attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  giving  special  attention 
to  Delaine  sheep,  Durham  and  Jersey  cattle  and  Morgan  and  Norman  horses. 
He  has  been  careful  and  discriminating  in  the  breeding  of  his  stock  and  there 
may  at  all  times  be  found  some  magnificent  specimens  of  these  animals  on 
his  farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Campbell  has  assumed  an  independent  attitude,  being 
bound  by  no  party  ties,  but  on  the  contrary  taking  the  stand  that  the  can- 


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didate's  personal  qualities  and  fitness  for  office  is  of  the  most  importance, 
especially  in  filling  local  offices.  In  religion,  his  belief  is  in  harmony  with 
that  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  he  and  his  wife  belong,  and  to 
which  they  give  an  earnest  and  generous  support.  Every  movement  calculated 
to  benefit  the  community  morally,  educationally,  religiously  or  materially 
receives  their  unqualified  endorsement  and  support. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1894,  Alexander  T.  Campbell  was  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Ella  Reid,  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
and  a daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Reid,  the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased. 
These  parents  were  both  natives  also  of  Wayne  county,  their  respective  an- 
cestors having  come  here  from  the  eastern  states.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell have  been  born  two  children,  Mary  Lucile  and  Florence  Jane.  Through- 
out his  business  career  Mr.  Campbell  has  been  emphatically  a man  of  enter- 
prise, positive  character,  indomitable  energy  and  liberal  views,  and  is  thor- 
oughly identified  in  feeling  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  county 
which  has  been  his  home. 


J.  H.  SEIBERLING. 

Among  the  citizens  well  known  throughout  Wayne  county,  whose  lives 
have  been  led  along  such  worthy  lines  of  endeavor  that  they  have  endeared 
themselves  to  their  neighbors  and  a large  circle  of  acquaintances  is  J.  H. 
Seiberling,  who  was  born  in  Summit  county,  Ohio,  in  1835,  the  son  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Katherine  (Peters)  Seiberling,  both  natives  of  Lehigh  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. They  came  to  Summit  county,  this  state,  in  1831  and  purchased 
ninety-six  acres  of  timber  land,  which  was  transformed  into  a good  farm  in 
course  of  time,  Nathaniel  Seiberling  also  managing  successfully  a saw-mill  in 
the  early  days.  He  prospered  and  bought  a number  of  tracts  of  land  which  he 
cleared,  owning  at  the  time  of  his  death  about  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
Summit  county.  He  was  a strong  Whig  and  later  became  a Republican.  He 
always  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  party.  He  was  for  many  years 
justice  of  the  peace  and  has  held  various  other  local  offices.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  a large  family,  four  daughters  and  nine  sons,  one  daughter 
and  six  sons  now  living. 

Charles  Seiberling,  brother  of  J.  H.,  of  this  review,  served  very  gallantly 
as  a soldier  for  three  years  in  the  Union  army. 

J.  H.  Seiberling  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Summit  county. 


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Ohio.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the  milling  and  farming  operations  he  car- 
ried on  until  the  former  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Summit  county,  this  state,  and  farmed  it  for  two 
years.  Then  he  began  manufacturing  farming  implements  at  Doylestown 
with  his  brother,  J.  F.  Seiberling,  who  had  established  the  business  in  i860,  the 
firm  name  being  Cline,  Seiberling  & Hower.  Later  it  became  Seiberling  & 
Miller,  the  members  of  the  firm  being  J.  H.  Seinerling  and  Samuel  H.  Miller, 
mentioned  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Since  then  the  firm  name  has  re- 
mained the  same. 

In  1890  Mr.  Seiberling  went  to  Jonesboro,  Indiana,  and  there  established 
the  Indiana  Rubber  & Insulated  Wire  Company,  becoming  president  of  the 
same,  which  office  he  still  holds,  and  the  large  success  of  this  enterprise  as  well 
as  that  mentioned  above  is  due  in  no  small  measure  to  the  wise  management 
and  judicious  counsel  of  Mr.  Seiberling.  Until  1903  he  spent  about  one-half 
of  his  time  in  Jonesboro  and  the  rest  of  the  time  in  Doylestown.  Since  then 
he  has  made  Jonesboro  his  permanent  abiding  place,  giving  his  entire  attention 
to  the  business  which  he  established  there  and  which  has  grown  to  gigantic 
proportions,  the  products  of  which  now  invade  a vast  territory.  However,  he 
still  retains  his  interest  in  the  Doylestown  company.  He  seems  to  have  a 
wonderful  executive  ability  and  knows  how  to  handle  his  employes  so  that 
they  will  be  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  the  business.  He  always  handles  a good 
grade  of  material  and  is  honest  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men. 

Mr.  Seiberling  was  married  in  i860  to  Elizabeth  Baughman,  daughter  of 
David  Baughman,  a pioneer  of  Summit  county.  Ohio,  who  came  from  Lehigh 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a well  known  and  influential  man  in  his 
community. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Seiberling  three  children  have  been  born,  namely : 
Martha,  who  married  William  Richards;  A.  Frank,  who  married  Angie  Cline, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Paul  and  Catherine;  Robert  W. 
married  Genevieve  Lynn  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Robert  James. 
The  Seiberling  home  is  a modern  and  attractive  one,  beautifully  located  and 
is  known  as  a place  of  hospitality  for  the  many  friends  of  the  family. 

While  a resident  of  Doylestown,  Mr.  Seiberling  was  a member  of  the 
village  council  and  of  the  school  board.  He  is  still  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  at  that  place.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  politically  votes  with  the  Republicans.  His  life  has  been  led 
along  worthy  lines  and  has  resulted  in  good  not  only  to  himself  and  family  but 
also  to  the  community  at  large,  for  he  is  always  interested  in  the  success  of 
others. 


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JAMES  B.  GINDLESPERGER. 

The  unostentatious  routine  of  private  life,  although  of  vast  importance 
to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  has  not  figured  to  any  great  extent  in  his- 
tory. But  the  names  of  men  who  have  distinguished  themselves  by  the  pos- 
session of  those  qualities  which  mainly  contribute  to  the  success  of  private 
life  and  to  the  public  stability,  and  who  have  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  those  around  them,  should  not  be  permitted  to  perish.  Their  exam- 
ples are  most  valuable  and  their  lives  well  worthy  of  consideration.  Such 
are  the  thoughts  that  involuntarily  come  to  mind  when  we  take  under  review 
the  career  of  such  an  honored  pioneer  as  the  gentleman  whose  name  initiates 
this  paragraph.  He  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  Wayne 
county,  and  his  mind  links  the  early  formative  period  with  that  of  latter-day 
progress  and  magnificent  achievement.  Such  are  the  men  particularly  worthy 
of  mention  in  a work  of  this  nature. 

James  B.  Gindlesperger  was  born  on  the  24th  of  January,  1856,  on  the 
old  family  homestead  in  Congress  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Shidler)  Gindlesperger,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  bom  in  Somerset  and  the  latter  in  the 
county  of  Washington.  These  parents  were  reared  in  their  native  state  and 
came  to  Ohio  some  time  prior  to  their  marriage.  He  was  a carpenter  by 
trade,  but  during  his  later  years  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming,  in  which 
he  was  fairly  successful.  They  are  both  now  deceased.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are  now  living.  In  politics  Daniel  Gindles- 
perger was  a pronounced  Democrat  and  took  an  active  part  in  local  political 
affairs.  He  stood  high  in  the  community  and  for  twenty  years  he  gave  effi- 
cient service  to  his  community  in  the  capacity  of  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
subject’s  paternal  grandfather,  Christian  Gindlesperger,  was  reared,  lived 
and  died  in  Pennsylvania,  as  did  also  his  wife.  The  maternal  grandparents. 
Daniel  and  Katherine  Shidler,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  came  to 
Ohio,  taking  up  a farm  in  Wayne  county,  where  they  spent  their  remaining 
days.  They  were  persons  of  genuine  worth  and  enjoyed  the  unbounded 
respect  of  all  who  knew  them. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  secured 
his  education  in  the  public  school  at  Lodi  and  the  high  school  at  Burbank. 
He  was  a good  student  and  has  supplemented  his  school  training  by  lifelong 
habits  of  close  observation  of  men  and  things,  so  that  today  he  is  considered 
a well-informed  man.  On  the  completion  of  his  education  he  returned  to 


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active  work  on  his  father’s  farm,  which  he  continued  faithfully  until  1888, 
in  which  year  he  purchased  a farm  of  eighty-three  acres  in  Congress  town- 
ship, lying  about  one  mile  south  of  the  old  homestead.  To  the  cultivation  of 
this  tract  he  has  since  devoted  his  unremitting  attention  and  that  he  has  suc- 
ceeded is  evidenced  by  the  general  air  of  prosperity  which  pervades  the  place. 
A new  residence  was  erected  and  in  many  other  ways  Mr.  Gindlesperger  made 
decided  improvements  on  the  property,,  so  that  today  it  is  the  equal  of  any 
in  the  township.  The  buildings  are  first-class  and  up-to-date,  the  fences  kept 
in  good  condition,  and  all  the  farm  machinery  necessary  for  the  proper  con- 
duct of  a twentieth-century  farm  are  to  be  found  here.  Besides  the  carrying 
on  of  general  agriculture,  Mr.  Gindlesperger  devotes  considerable  attention  to 
the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  in  which  line  of  effort  he  has  been 
equally  successful.  He  is  thorough  and  progressive  in  everything  he  does 
and  keeps  closely  in  touch  with  the  most  advanced  ideas  in  relation  to  the 
science  of  agriculture. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1888,  Mr.  Gindlesperger  was  married  to  Alice 
Byers,  a native  of  Wayne  county  and  a daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
Byers,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  early  settlers  in  this  section  of 
Ohio.  To  the  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two  children,  Harry  and 
Hazel,  the  latter  being  now  a student  in  the  Congress  high  school. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gindlesperger  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat  and  has 
given  an  earnest  support  to  his  party.  He  has  taken  an  intelligent  interest 
in  local  public  affairs  and  served  efficiently  as  a member  of  the  township 
school  board  for  eight  years.  His  religious  belief  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  to  which  he  and  his  wife  belong,  giving  to  the  same  their  loyal  and 
generous  support.  A man  of  generous  impulses,  genial  disposition  and  good, 
practical  common  sense,  Mr.  Gindlesperger  has  readily  made  friends  and  he 
stands  today  as  one  of  the  popular  and  enterprising  men  of  his  township.  He 
withholds  his  support  from  no  movement  or  enterprise  that  promises  to  be 
for  the  common  good  and  is  himself  a definite  influence  for  good  in  the  com- 
munity. 


CLAYTON  GOOD. 

There  is  now  taken  under  review  the  career  of  one  of  the  sterling  citizens 
of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  has  practically  passed  his  entire  life  and 
where  he  has  ever  commanded  unequivocal  confidence  and  esteem.  The 
name  which  he  bears  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  annals  of  the 


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county  since  the  days  when  the  work  of  reclaiming  the  sylvan  wilds  of  this 
section  of  the  state  was  inaugurated,  and  here  he  is  now  known  as  one  of 
the  large  land-holders  and  successful  farmers  of  the  county.  He  has  ren- 
dered his  community  efficient  service  in  an  official  capacity  and  is  numbered 
among  the  sturdy,  upright  and  progressive  citizens,  thus  it  may  be  seen  that 
he  is  peculiarly  worthy  of  representation  in  a work  of  this  character,  his 
character  and  services  in  the  county  making  him  thus  eligible. 

Clayton  Good  was  bom  in  Congress  township,  Wayne  county.  Ohio, 
on  the  23d  of  June,  1876,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  B.  and  Margaret  (Worst) 
Good.  The  former  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  on  November  10,  1841,  and  the 
latter  is  a native  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  April  1,  1843. 
The  subject’s  paternal  grandparents,  John  and  Eliza  Good,  were  l>oth  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  they  were  reared  and  married,  and  in  1849 
they  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Congress  township,  Wayne  county,  where 
Mr.  Good  became  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants.  Subsequently  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  and  was  eminently  successful,  owning 
at  the  time  of  his  death  four  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  fine  land,  the 
greater  part  of  which  was  in  Wayne  county.  The  subject’s  maternal  grand- 
parents were  Samuel  and  Mary  (Martin)  Worst,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania  respectively,  the  former  having  been  born  in  Chester  town- 
ship, Wayne  county,  on  land  which  the  subject  now  owns,  and  which  his 
father  had  entered  from  the  government.  Daniel  B.  Good  was  a farmer  by 
vocation  and  stood  high  in  the  communty.  A Republican  in  politics,  he  took 
a great  interest  in  local  public  affairs,  and  was  a member  of  the  school  board 
in  an  early  day,  subsequently  serving  for  many  years  in  the  capacity  of  a no- 
tary public.  He  was  the  father  of  two  children  the  subject  and  a sister.  The 
father  erected  a splendid  family  residence  at  Pleasant  Home,  where  he  spent 
his  last  days,  his  death  occurring  on  December  8,  1901.  His  widow  is  still 
living. 

Clayton  Good  was  reared  under  the  paternal  roof  and  secured  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  common  schools,  attending  the  Congress  high  school. 
Subsequently  he  attended  the  Bixler  Business  College  at  Wooster  and  was 
thus  well  equipped  to  take  up  the  duties  of  life.  After  completing  his  educa- 
tion. he  took  up  active  farming  operations,  in  which  he  realized  that  there 
was  as  good  a chance  for  a young  man  of  energy  as  any  other  profession,  and 
his  judgment  has  been  abundantly  verified  during  the  subsequent  years,  as 
he  has  achieved  a distinctive  success  in  the  line  of  agriculture.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  splendid  fanning  land.  His 


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original  possession  was  a part  of  the  old  homestead,  but  to  this  he  has  added 
one  hundred  and  seven  acres,  owning  now  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Congress 
township.  He  here  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  in  both 
lines  of  which  he  has  been  enabled  to  realize  a handsome  profit.  He  main- 
tains the  premises  at  a high  standard  of  excellence,  the  general  appearance  of 
the  place  indicating  the  owner  to  be  a man  of  good  taste  and  sound  judgment. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1901,  Mr.  Good  married  Ellen  Heacock,  a native 
of  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Mary  Heacock. 
To  this  union  two  children  have  been  born,  Dorothy  and  Katherine.  In  mat- 
ters political  the  subject  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party  and  is 
rendering  efficient  service  as  a member  of  the  school  board,  having  ever  had 
a deep  interest  in  educational  matters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Good  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  they  are  regular  attendants  and  to 
which  they  give  a generous  support. 

In  every  avenue  of  life's  activities  in  which  he  has  been  engaged,  Mr. 
Good  has  exhibited  the  highest  qualities  of  citizenship  and  he  stands  as  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  Congress  township. 


DAVID  G.  BLACKWOOD. 

In  the  respect  that  is  accorded  to  men  who  have  fought  their  own  way 
to  success  through  unfavorable  environment  we  find  an  unconscious  recogni- 
tion of  the  intrinsic  worth  of  a character  which  not  only  can  endure  so  rough 
a test  but  gain  new  strength  through  the  discipline.  The  gentleman  to  whom 
the  biographer  now  calls  the  reader’s  attention  was  not  favored  by  inherited 
wealth  or  the  assistance  of  influential  friends,  but  in  spite  of  this,  by  per- 
severance, industry  and  a wise  economy,  he  has  attained  a comfortable  sta- 
tion in  life,  established  a good  home  and  become  a worthy  citizen  of  Wayne 
— one  of  the  most  progressive  counties  of  the  great  Buckeye  commonwealth. 

David  G.  Blackwood  was  born  in  East  Union  township,  this  county, 
October  30,  1850,  the  son  of  William  Blackwood,  Sr.,  an  influential  and 
highly  honored  pioneer  of  that  township,  whither  he  came  in  the  thirties, 
making  the  somewhat  hazardous  and  tedious  overland  trip  from  his  ancestral 
home  in  Pennsylvania.  He  began  life  in  a modest  way  like  other  first  settlers 
and  in  time  the  dense  wilderness  gave  way  to  his  “sturdy  stroke’'  to  well- 
cultivated  fields  and  his  log  cabin  was  replaced  bv  a substantial  and  com- 


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fortable  frame  dwelling.  He  married  Hannah  Gardner  and  here  they  reared 
their  children  in  a wholesome  atmosphere,  leaving  them  the  heritage  of  a 
good  name,  then  passed  on  to  their  rest  in  the  silent  land. 

David  G.  Blackwood,  being  ambitious  from  his  early  boyhood  to  suc- 
ceed in  what  the  poets  would  call  “the  battle  of  life/’  studied,  hard  and  re- 
ceived a good  education  in  the  local  schools  of  Orrville  and  the  high  school 
of  Smithville,  Ohio.  He  first  turned  his  attention  to  teaching,  which  he  fol- 
lowed very  successfully  for  a period  of  four  years  in  the  district  schools,  and 
although  his  services  were  eminently  satisfactory  to  pupils  and  patrons  alike, 
he  decided  not  to  make  teaching  his  life  work  and  left  the  school  room  never 
to  return  as  an  instructor.  He  has  been  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years,  being  freight  agent  at  Orr- 
ville ten  years,  and  in  1900  was  transferred  to  Wooster  for  duty  as  chief  clerk 
in  the  freight  office,  which  position  he  now  holds.  He  is  regarded  by  the 
company  as  one  of  their  most  faithful  and  efficient  employes  and  his  long 
period  of  service  is  indicative  of  his  faithfulness  and  fidelity  to  duty.  Mr. 
Blackwood  has  never  had  time  to  mingle  much  in  politics,  but  he  very  ably 
served  as  clerk  of  the  village  of  Orrville  for  a period  of  four  years,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  council  four  years. 

Mr.  Blackwood  was  married  on  September  7,  1876,  to  Emma  Weirich, 
who  was  born  in  Millersburg,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  K.  Weirich  and  wife, 
highly  respected  citizens  of  that  village,  who  afterwards  moved  to  Orrville, 
this  county.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  child  that  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackwood  have  numerous  friends  throughout  Wayne  county, 
especially  at  Orrville  and  vicinity,  where  they  were  long  among  its  worthiest 
citizens. 


CHARLES  FAHR. 

That  life  is  the  most  useful  and  desirable  that  results  in  the  greatest  good 
to  the  greatest  number  and,  though  all  do  not  reach  the  heights  to  which  they 
aspire,  yet  in  some  measure  each  can  win  success  and  make  life  a blessing  to 
his  fellow  men.  It  is  not  necessary  for  one  to  occupy  eminent  public  posi- 
tions to  do  so,  for  in  the  humbler  walks  of  life  there  remains  much  good  to 
be  accomplished  and  many  opportunities  for  one  to  exercise  his  talents  and 
influence  which  in  some  way  will  touch  the  lives  of  those  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  Although  in  the  list  of  Wayne  county's  successful  citizens 
who  have  won  state  or  national  reputations  the  name  of  Charles  Fahr  may 


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not  be  found,  yet  there  is  much  in  his  career  that  is  commendable,  and  his 
success  forcibly  illustrates  what  a life  of  energy  can  accomplish  when  his 
plans  are  wisely  laid  and  his  actions  governed  by  right  principles,  noble  aims 
and  high  ideals. 

Charles  Fahr,  well-known  deputy  auditor  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  at  Red  Haw,  Ashland  county,  this  state,  January  28,  1868.  While  very 
young  he  removed  with  his  mother,  his  sole  dependent,  to  Plain  township, 
near  Reedsburg,  where  she  was  employed  as  a domestic.  Poverty  prevented 
his  receiving  more  than  an  ordinary  education, — in  fact,  the  mere  rudiments 
of  learning, — for  during  his  school  days  he  was  compelled  to  labor  on  the 
farm,  attending  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months,  known  as 
Union  Institute,  District  No.  2,  Plain  township,  later  known  as  Mt.  Wis- 
dom. But  he  was  ambitious  and  studied  hard,  and  here,  during  the  latter 
part  of  his  school  days,  he  assisted  in  teaching,  procuring  some  small  means 
which  he  put  to  good  use  by  attending  the  Ohio  Normal  University,  at  Ada, 
Ohio,  during  1890  and  1892.  This  again  consumed  all  his  finances  and  he 
returned  and  taught  his  home  school  for  nine  terms,  studying  in  the  mean- 
time, until  he  became  quite  well  informed  on  general  topics,  the  sciences  and 
the  classics.  His  ability  as  an  able,  conscientious  and  painstaking  educator 
became  known  and  his  services  were  in  great  demand.  He  was  at  the  head  of 
the  Reedsburg  schools  for  four  years,  and  in  1900  he  was  chosen  principal 
of  the  New  Pittsburg  schools,  which  position  he  retained,  giving  his  usual 
eminent  satisfaction,  up  to  1909.  He  is  at  home  in  the  school  room  and  en- 
tertains as  well  as  instructs  his  pupils,  and  his  ability  to  organize  and  man- 
age classes  and  all  the  details  of  school  work  made  him  popular  with  pupils, 
teachers  and  patrons,  so  that  the  most  satisfactory  results  were  accomplished. 

Mr.  Fahr’s  domestic  life  dates  from  August  1,  1894,  when  he  married 
Mary  Ebert,  a lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  of  Apple  Creek,  Ohio,  and  the 
daughter  of  an  excellent  family. 

Early  in  life,  Mr.  Fahr  had  imbibed  a love  for  equality  and  political 
principles  and  therefore  affiliated  himself  with  the  Democratic  party  and  his 
first  public  work  as  an  organizer  was  during  the  campaign  of  1896,  when  he 
labored  in  behalf  of  Bryan,  and  his  township  gave  a majority  of  thirty  for 
Bryan  when  it  was  normally  Republican  by  seventy  majority.  His  politics 
can  never  be  doubted  as  he  has  always  been  found  fighting  for  the  cause  of 
Democracy,  as  can  be  attested  by  his  efforts  in  Chester  township  in  the  last 
national  and  state  campaign.  He  was  a resident  of  New  Pittsburg  in  Chester 
township  from  1900  to  September,  1909,  \vhen  he  removed  to  Wooster,  Ohio. 


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His  record  as  a public  school  teacher  can  be  attested  by  the  fact  that  for 
thirty-eight  terms  of  experience,  these  have  all  been  in  but  three  different 
schools.  He  was  an  active  and  energetic  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at 
New  Pittsburg,  Ohio,  and  the  Sunday  school  superintendent  there  for  nearly 
six  years,  which  position  he  resigned  upon  his  removal  to  Wooster.  He  trans- 
ferred his  membership  and  is  now  a member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  of  Wooster. 

Upon  the  election  of  James  L.  Zaring  as  county  auditor  in  the  fall  of 
1908,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Zaring,  in  the  spring  of  1909,  as  deputy  audi- 
tor, and  he  assumed  his  present  position  on  October  18,  1909.  Personally  he 
is  a pleasant  man  to  meet,  always  courteous,  considerate,  genteel  and  kind,  so 
that  he  is  generally  popular  throughout  the  county,  with  all  classes,  irrespec- 
tive of  party  ties. 


DAVID  JAMES. 

In  the  death  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  which  occurred  on  the  25th  of 
September,  1904,  at  his  home  in  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county  suffered 
a distinct  loss,  he  having  been  for  many  years  numbered  among  the  strong 
and  virile  characters.  A man  of  forceful  personality,  sound  judgment  and 
enterprising  spirit,  he  had  long  occupied  a high  position  among  his  fellow 
agriculturists,  and  had  achieved  a large  measure  of  success  in  his  life  work. 

David  James  was  born  in  England,  October  7,  1826,  and  was  a son  of 
George  and  Ann  (Sealy)  James,  who  migrated  to  America  in  1832.  They 
located  on  a farm  in  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county,  where  they  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  land,  for  which  they  paid  seven  hundred  dollars,  this  being 
the  farm  on  which  the  subject's  widow  now  resides.  The  country  was  at  that 
time  but  sparsely  settled,  there  being  but  one  house  between  the  James  home 
and  Wooster.  There  the  parents  made  their  home  during  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  the  father  dying  in  1859  and  the  mother  in  1870.  George  James 
was  a stanch  Whig  in  his  political  faith  and  was  an  active  and  influential  man 
in  his  home  neighborhood.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  four  children, 
namely:  William  Albert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years;  John  S.. 
whose  death  occurred  April  25,  1896;  Amelia,  deceased;  David,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

David  James  was  but  six  years  old  when  the  family  emigrated  to  the 
Lnited  States  and  here  he  obtained  a fair  common  school  education.  When 
old  enough  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  but  never  fol- 


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. n • 1 1 n i. 


m , n.-r  can  }#>  attested  1 w tiu,  tat  that  for 
v\  $$?*{.'  have  ill  1 \‘(  a in  lull  three  duYer<mi| 
mmrgein  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  it 
- ‘j\  mb.  ■«'»*  mpr'intendcut  there  he  neatly 

' rh  i’  • 1 ! : "’  removal  to  \\o<otei.  lie  tr.ire- 

. ’ her  of  the  K\ angelical  Lnti  ernn 

* • iie;  as  eoimn  auditor  in  the  fill  of 

..  w<  the  *miirtg  > f a^  depute  aum- 

i*-'U  on  t h’tolu  r iK  lyjmg  Personally  Iv 
considerate.  genteel  ami  bind,  s< * 
gbovn  1 e M4mtv.  with  all  clashes.  inespec- 


P \ Yii>  JAM PS. 

n‘  h ' a v\  hi-  h omirred  on  the  J*  h of 

• • . - ! \\  ay  tie  count  \ or  > d 

1 .bered  ftntong  t1  <.  r;r 
* i 1 tv.  s< >und  judge  .■  o : ■ 
m n position  among  ]m  u 
* • mfe  of  success  in  his  lire  \m’k. 

■ o:  ,,i/.  h i ),  i.'her  j%  and  was  a son  ot 

; i t:-.  ,,.  who  tiug'Wied  to  Xmerica  in  !N}_\  They 

..  faint  m i va  • hu  iov\ndup,  \%  avne  ommy,  w lie  re  they  bought  one 
art  os  of  land,  tor  which  t1  "•  paid  seven  hundred  dollars,  this  bring 
* on  which  tiu*  sub;ectls  v ’ w now  resides.  The  country  was  at  that 
n ^pamr-v  settled;  then  ^nig  hid  one  house  between  the  James  home 
v o’er.  *1  here  the  p • nts  mahg  their  Itotne  dunng  the  remainder  - f 
es.  the  father  fly ; u 4S50  and  the  mother  in  |Xjo.  t leorge  Jamm 
mutch  \\  lug  in  1 - political  faith  and  was  an  actor  and  inthvniial  r.uii 
"home  n*.ghf«  rod.  I ■ him  aoddu's  win-  were  born  four  chddrcu, 
v . \\  iliri’n  *e’ t.  who  heed  an  the  age  o t t weinv  - lit  n c veto;  John  m. 
deadt  10  1 , ed  April  ns.  1 Xm* ; .Vinci  a.  deceased  ; Pu\  id,  the  swim.  k ! o 

rn-h 

ho  *es  \v;r  blit  six  \ ears  old  when  the  umidv  emigrated  t-  . h a 

! ' and  here  he  ol  t tiuul  a nit  eoturtioa  sPn<  ,nl  e lucatiof|  \ hen 

•'  he  vgSs  npp’vimiro!  tl)  g-(tm  r la*  bPnkmmh's  trade.  1 m it  rtu  r nP 


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lowed  it  as  a vocation,  his  entire  life  from  that  time  on  being  spent  on  the  home 
farm.  At  his  father’s  death  he  took  up  the  burden  of  its  management  and 
eventually  he  acquired  the  ownership.  He  was  a hard  and  discriminating 
worker  and  succeeded  in  making  this  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Wayne  county. 
He  erected  several  splendid  buildings,  bought  improved  and  up-to-date  ma- 
chinery, and  followed  the  best  and  most  advanced  methods  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil.  He  was  prosperous  and  bought  other  land,  so  that  at  his  death  he 
owned  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  as  good  land  as  could  be  found  in 
the  community. 

In  1853.  Mr-  James  married  Ellen  Gilmore,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Dorothy  (Young)  Gilmore,  of  Holmes  county,  this  state.  The  union  was  a 
most  happy  one  and  was  blessed  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children ; Thomas 
A.,  of  Franklin  township,  this  county;  Dorothy  Ann,  at  home;  William  Alfred, 
of  Franklin  township,  who  married  Minnie  Florence  Morgan,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Hugh  Carl  and  Mary  Ellen ; Jesse  Gilmore  is  the  wife  of  Alverta 
Watson,  of  Franklin  township,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Harry,  Nellie  and  Blanche  Ellen;  Mary  Nellie  became  the  wife  of  Frank  E. 
Langell,  of  Wayne  township,  and  they  have  five  children,  Mark  Bunyan, 
James  Maxwell,  Floyd,  Myrel  David  and  Francis  Henry;  Martha  Nettie  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  Shaw,  of  near  Shreve,  this  county,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Ernest  and  Forest ; Wesley  David,  who  lives  in  Iowa,  married  Emma  Morgan, 
and  they  have  seven  children,  Glenn.  Lucille.  William  McKinley,  Althea,  Ken- 
neth, Harrold.  Max:  John  Charles,  of  Franklin  township,  married  Flora 
Franks,  to  which  union  has  been  born  one  child,  Clark;  George  Walter  died  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years;  Lorenzo  Ellsworth  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years; 
Frederick  Herbert  married  Alca  Weetman,  and  they  have  two  children,  Earl 
and  David;  Francis  Asbury,  of  Franklin  township,  married  Nora  Swinehart. 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children  : Lester.  Virgil,  Harold  and  Wayne ; 
Amelia  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Wilbur  Snure,  of  Franklin  township;  Sealy,  of 
Wayne  township,  married  Anna  Bucher,  and  they  have  three  children,  Mabel. 
Ellen  and  Chester  Allen;  Anna  Hortense  is  the  wife  of  Richard  McCoy,  to 
whom  she  has  borne  one  child,  Ellen  Marie. 

Mrs.  James’  parents,  Thomas  and  Dorothy  (Young)  Gilmore,  were  na- 
tives of  England,  the  former  having  been  born  at  Somersetshire,  November 
17,  1810,  and  the  latter  at  Bristol  March  31,  1810,  and  at  the  latter  place  their 
marriage  occurred.  On  May  1,  1831,  five  weeks  after  their  marriage,  thev 
came  to  the  United  States,  locating  first  at  Fredericksburg.  Wayne  countv. 
Ohio.  Later  they  moved  to  Honeytown,  Wayne  county,  this  st^te,  but  two 

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years  afterwards  they  settled  at  Martins  Creek,  in  Holmes  county,  where  they 
remained  thirteen  years.  Mr.  Gilmore  first  followed  the  occupation  of  a miller 
and  subsequently  he  purchased  the  Hockenberrv  Mill,  which  he  operated  until 
his  wife’s  death,  when  he  bought  the  Cider  mill  in  Franklin  township.  He 
operated  this  mill  twenty-eight  years,  when  his  second  wife  died,  and  he  there- 
after made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  James,  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  ten  months  and  twelve  days.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  Which  he  was  an  earnest  and 
liberal  supporter,  and  he  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Politically,  David  James  was  a Republican  and  took  a deep  interest  and 
an  active  part  in  local  public  affairs.  He  was  an  interested  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  at  Moorland,  and  served  as  trustee  and  class 
leader.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  advance  the  religious  interests 
of  the  entire  community,  and  assisted  materially  in  the  erection  of  the  second 
church  in  Wayne  county.  His  death  occurred  on  the  25th  of  September, 
1904.  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Moorland.  Since  his 
death  Mrs.  James  has  personally  directed  the  operation  of  the  farm  and  has 
achieved  eminent  success  in  her  efforts.  She  possesses  business  ability  of  a 
high  order  and  has  given  to  her  affairs  a discriminating  intelligence  that  has  en- 
abled her  to  realize  a handsome  income  from  her  property.  She  is  well  liked 
by  all  who  know  her  and  in  her  hospitable  and  attractive  home  she  gives  a cor- 
dial greeting  to  her  many  friends. 


JOSEPH  SHERCK. 

Another  of  the  native  sons  of  Wayne  county  who  has  here  passed  his 
entire  life  and  by  his  energy,  integrity  and  progressive  methods  attained  a 
high  degree  of  success,  is  Mr.  Sherck,  whose  fine  homestead  farm  lies  in 
section  5,  Franklin  township.  He  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  the  state,  since  his  father  located  in  Ohio  nearly  three-quarters 
of  a century  ago  (in  1837).  and  that  he  has  attained  his  prosperity  by  worthy 
means  is  evident  from  the  unqualified  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  the  com- 
munity where  his  life  has  been  passed. 

Joseph  Sherck  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  on  the 
1 6th  of  November,  1849,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Morr)  Sherck. 
The  subject’s  paternal  grandparents  were  Peter  and  Barbara  (Pefley)  Sherck, 


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who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  At  the  age  of  seventy-two  years  he 
came  to  Wayne  county  and  settled  on  the  Franklin  township  farm,  which  at 
that  time  contained  but  little  improvement.  He  was  a strong  and  sturdy  type 
of  the  early  pioneer  and  enjoyed  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  died 
June  4,  1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years,  eight  months  and  fifteen  days, 
and  his  wife  died  September  14,  1885,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years 
two  months  and  four  days.  They  were  active  members  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  which  in  those  days  held  services  in  the  homes  of  the  members  of  the 
society.  Peter  and  Barbara  Sherck  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children : Catherine,  who  makes  her  home  with  the  subject ; Mary, 
now  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  John  Morr;  and  John,  father  of  the 
subject.  John  Sherck  received  but  a limited  school  education,  though  in  the 
great  school  of  experience  he  was  an  apt  scholar  and  by  dint  of  close  observa- 
tion and  sound  reasoning  he  became  a well-informed  man.  He  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Wayne  county  when  eighteen  years  old,  was  reared  to  the 
life  of  a farmer  and  remained  a resident  of  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county, 
until  1867,  when  he  and  his  wife  moved  to  DeKalb  county,  Indiana,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  his  death  occurring  in  1887,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  was  a well-known  local  preacher  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church,  though  he  served  without  salary.  In  politics  he  assumed  an 
independent  attitude,  voting  for  the  man  whom  he  considered  best  qualified 
for  the  office.  John  and  Catherine  Sherck  were  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Abraham,  who  is  a resident  of  Dekalb  county,  Indiana,  and  Joseph,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Joseph  Sherck  is  indebted  to  the  common  schools  of  Franklin  township 
for  his  mental  training  and,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  prior  to  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  was  employed  in  Wooster,  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  on 
this  place.  He  here  carries  on  general  farming,  raising  all  the  crops  common 
to  this  latitude,  and  he  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  most  advanced  ideas 
relating  to  the  science  of  agriculture,  so  that  he  has  long  been  numbered 
among  the  representative  farmers  of  the  township. 

The  subject  married  Laura  Ellen  Lauck,  who  was  born  in  Wooster 
township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  January  9,  1851,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Harriett  (Kramer)  Lauck.  Joseph  Lauck  was  a native  of  the  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  son  of  David  Lauck,  and  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
young  manhood.  He  settled  first  in  Wooster  township,  later  at  Madison- 
burg,  and  followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  all  his  active  life.  He  is  now 
deceased,  and  his  widow  makes  her  home  in  Denver,  Colorado.  They  were 


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consistent  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  while  in  politics  Mr. 
Lauck  was  a Republican.  Mrs.  Sherck  is  their  only  child.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sherck  have  been  bom  six  children,  namely:  Ora  Alice,  the  wife  of 
Julius  Gasche,  of  Holmes  county,  and  the  mother  of  one  child,  Charles;  Julia 
A.,  the  wife  of  George  Smith,  of  Franklin  township,  this  county;  Clara  E. 
is  the  wife  of  Lambert  Gilson,  of  Holmes  county,  this  state,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Virgil,  John  and  Walter;  Walter  E.  is  at  home;  George  M. 
resides  at  Sullivan,  Oh;o;  Ida  C.  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Sherck  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  views  and  has  been  honored 
by  his  fellow  citizens,  having  twice  been  elected  to  the  office  of  trustee  of 
Franklin  township.  He  is  public-spirited  in  his  attitude  towards  all  move- 
ments having  for  their  object  the  advancement  of  the  best  interests  of  the 
community.  Because  of  his  fine  personal  qualities,  he  enjoys  the  unbounded 
confidence  and  regard  of  all  who  know  him,  regardless  of  religious  creed  or 
political  belief. 


JOHN  JACOB  LOWE. 

One  of  the  native  sons  of  Wayne  county  who  has  here  passed  his  entire 
life  figures  as  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  it  is  not  irrelevant  to  state  that 
he  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Franklin  town- 
ship, where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  farming,  having  a well-improved 
and  highly  cultivated  farm  in  section  8.  As  a member  of  one  of  our  leading 
pioneer  families  we  here  enter  record  of  the  more  salient  features  in  his 
career. 

John  Jacob  Lowe  was  bom  April  13,  1859,  m Saltcreek  township,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Gilbert  Lane  and  Catherine  (Armstrong)  Lowe, 
the  latter  having  been  a daughter  of  John  Armstrong,  of  Holmes  county. 
Gilbert  Lane  Lowe  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years 
came  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  John  and  Rachael  Lowe.  A few 
years  later  they  settled  in  Holmes  county,  this  state,  where  they  remained 
until  Gilbert  was  married.  After  that  event  he  came  to  Saltcreek  township, 
Wayne  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the  carpenter  trade  and  farming,  dur- 
ing his  later  years  giving  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  latter  vocation.  He 
remained  in  Saltcreek  township  until  1867,  when  he  moved  to  East  Union 
township,  where  he  resided  until  about  two  years  prior  to  his  death.  He  and 
his  wife  were  prominent  and  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


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church.  In  politics  he  had  been  at  first  an  active  Republican,  but,  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  dictates  of  his  conscience,  he  subsequently  allied  himself  with  the 
Prohibition  party  and  was  equally  vigorous  in  its  support.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1907,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  while  his  wife  died  in  1868, 
their  remains  being  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Fredericksburg.  Mr.  Lowe's 
second  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Effie  Swinehart,  survives  her  hus- 
band and  resides  at  Moorland,  this  county.  To  the  union  of  Gilbert  and 
Catherine  Lowe  were  born  the  following  children:  Ora  A.  is  the  wife  of 

Silas  Smith,  of  East  Union  township,  this  county;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  James 
Snyder,  of  Franklin  township;  Luella  is  the  wife  of  William  Ober,  of  Akron, 
Ohio;  John  Jacob,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  next  in  the  order  of  birth; 
Walter  is  a resident  of  Stark  county,  Ohio. 

John  J.  Lowe,  when  four  years  old,  removed  with  his  family  to  East 
Union  township  where  he  “was  reared  at  the  parental  homestead  and  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality.  He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a 
fanner  and  has  followed  this  vocation  practically  all  his  life.  He  has  been 
at  all  times  wide-awake  and  alert  in  his  business  affairs  and  has  so  conducted 
his  operations  as  to  realize  a comfortable  annual  income  from  the  same.  He 
has  made  many  permanent  and  substantial  improvements  on  his  property, 
which  he  has  at  all  times  kept  in  the  very  best  of  condition,  and  because  of 
his  enterprise  and  progressiveness  he  is  numbered  among  the  reliable  and 
representative  farmers  of  the  township. 

Mr.  Lowe  has  twice  been  married.  His  first  wife  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Cerena  Beam  and  is  now  deceased.  To  this  union  were  bom  three  children, 
namely : Osa  A.  married  Alta  Byrns  and  lives  in  Holmes  county ; Roy  Clay- 
ton, who  lives  in  Holmes  county,  married  Mabel  Byrns,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Rosetta;  the  youngest  of  these  children  is  Wealthy  Fern,  now  the  wife 
of  Roy  Slater,  of  Wooster.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Lowe  chose  Sadie  Tay- 
lor, a daughter  of  Mark  and  Catherine  (Kuhn)  Taylor,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  and  all  at  home,  namely:  Alta, 

Elton,  Glenn,  Lillian  and  Leo,  the  two  last  named  being  twins.  Mark  Tay- 
lor, who  at  the  time  of  his  death,  December  4,  1905,  was  numbered  among 
the  well-known  and  highly-esteemed  citizens  of  Franklin  township,  was  born 
in  Somersetshire,  England,  February  5,  1823.  In  1842  he  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  parents,  locating  in  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  where  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  were  spent.  His  parents  were 
James  and  Mary  Taylor,  who  on  their  emigration  to  this  county  settled  first 
near  Wooster,  later  locating  in  Franklin  township.  James  Taylor  was  a 


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stonemason  by  trade  and  followed  that  vocation  during  most  of  his  active 
years.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Josiah, 
bom  November  27,  1820,  died  in  infancy;  Mark,  bom  February  5,  1823; 
Martha  (Mrs.  John  Tuttle),  bom  May  6,  1825;  Thomas,  born  February  15, 
1828;  Mary,  born  January  13,  1830.  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Bodine;  Jo- 
siah (second  of  this  name),  born  April  22,  1832;  Sarah,  born  April  14,  1834, 
became  Mrs.  William  Guyor;  Elizabeth,  born  March  23,  1836,  became  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Gilmore;  Hester,  born  March  21,  1838,  became  the  wife  of 
William  L.  Newstetter,  of  Wooster  township,  but  is  now  deceased;  Jane, 
born  November  22,  1839,  became  the  wife  of  Adam  Schaaf.  James  Taylor 
died  June  1,  1853,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years  and  one  month,  and  his 
wife  died  April  9,  1856,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  five  months  and  five  days, 
their  remains  being  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Moorland.  They  were  a grand 
old  couple  and  enjoyed  the  love  of  all  who  knew  them.  Mark  Taylor  was 
a stonemason  by  trade,  and  followed  that  vocation  largely  during  his  life. 
He  also  worked  some  as  a cooper,  which  trade  he  had  learned  in  his  early  life. 
He  was  also  successful  in  high  measure  as  a farmer  and  Was  prospered  finan- 
cially in  all  his  undertakings,  so  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  one  of 
the  large  landholders  of  the  township.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Sarah  Boyd,  whose  death  occurred  June  15,  1854,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
one  years,  ten  months  and  twelve  days.  To  this  union  was  born  one  child,  a 
daughter  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  L.  A.  Hall,  of  Chicago,  Illinois.  On 
the  22d  of  March,  i860,  Mr.  Taylor  married  Mrs.  Catherine  Gabriel,  the 
widow  of  Jacob  Gabriel,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely : 
Sadie  C,  born  September  28,  1861,  and  Josiah  J.,  born  in  1864,  who  makes 
his  home  in  Franklin  township,  this  county.  Mark  Taylor  died  December  4, 
1905,  and  his  second  wife  on  November  30,  1898,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  seven  months  and  twelve  days. 

In  politics  John  J.  Lowe  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  maintains  at  all 
times  a deep  interest  in  the  local  affairs,  giving  his  unreserved  support  to  ev- 
ery measure  calculated  to  benefit  the  community  in  any  way.  His  religious 
belief  is  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  is  a member  and  trus- 
tee of  the  church  of  that  denomination  at  Moorland.  His  fraternal  relations 
are  with  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen,  Wooster,  to  which  Mrs. 
Lowe  also  belongs.  In  all  the  qualities  that  go  to  make  up  a stalwart  and  well- 
rounded  manhood,  standing  “four  square  to  every  wind  that  blows,”  Mr. 
Lowe  is  conspicuous  and  during  the  years  of  his  residence  in  this  community 
he  has  ever  enjoyed  the  unbounded  confidence  and  the  highest  regard  of  all 
who  know  him. 


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RICHARD  HARRISON. 

One  of  the  best  known  and  most  progressive  agriculturists  of  Frank- 
lin township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  Richard  Harrison,  a native  of  Frank- 
lin township.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Shreve)  Harrison  and 
his  birth  occurred  on  August  7,  1870.  John  Harrison,  now  deceased,  was 
born  on  August  1,  1796,  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  seven  miles 
southwest  of  Uniontown.  He  was  the  son  of  Peter  Harrison,  who  was  the 
father  of  fifteen  children,  thirteen  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  the  oldest 
and  youngest  dying  in  childhood.  Peter  Harrison  was  reared  in  Maryland, 
from  which  state  he  emigrated  to  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  thence  to 
Cumberland  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Harrison  county,  this  state.  John 
Harrison's  death  occurred  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Franklin  township, 
October  19,  1889. 

John  Harrison,  with  his  brother,  Elisha,  came  to  the  state  of  Ohio  in 
May,  1816,  and  settled  in  Franklin  township.  Before  he  left  his  native  state 
he  was  married  on  April  30,  1816,  to  Margaret  Dysert,  a native  of  Virginia. 
They  made  the  trip  overland  on  horseback,  bringing  with  them  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  of  flour,  it  being  seventy  miles  to  their  destination  in  Har- 
rison county.  They  settled  first  in  section  22,  about  a mile  south  of  where 
he  purchased  land  later.  In  1826  he  bought  a farm  where  his  son,  the 
subject,  now  lives,  and  there  he  lived  until  his  death.  In  1836  he  built  a 
substantial  brick  house,  the  brick  having  been  burned  on  the  farm  near  by 
the  spot  where  the  house  was  erected.  Mr.  Harrison  also  burned  lime  here 
in  the  early  days,  and  many  of  the  old  homes  of  the  county  are  plastered 
with  it.  He  was  an  honest,  plain,  hard  working  man  whom  everybody 
respected.  He  was  a Quaker  in  his  religious  belief.  He  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-three  years,  having  been  regarded  by  all  as  a useful  citizen 
and  a kind  and  generous  neighbor.  Eleven  children  were  bom  to  John 
Harrison  and  his  first  wife,  namely:  William,  deceased:  Stephen,  deceased; 

John  lives  at  Millardsburg,  Ohio;  Hannah  married  Jacob  Miller;  Jane 
married  John  Frees;  Elizabeth  married  William  Cristwell;  Nancy  married 
Mr.  Sterling;  two  children  died  when  young.  The  other  child  was  Richard. 
John  Harrison's  second  marriage  was  to  Hannah  Shreve,  who  was  born  in 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  south  of  the  town  of  Shreve,  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
Shreve.  One  child  was  born  to  this  union,  Richard.  John  Harrison,  who 
died  in  1889,  and  is  buried  in  the  East  cemetery  at  Fredericksburg,  as  is  also 
his  wife. 


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Richard  Harrison  was  born  on  August  7,  1870,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  community  where  he  was  born,  remaining  at  home  until  his 
father’s  death.  He  married  Ida  Merryman,  a native  of  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Ruby)  Merryman;  the  former 
died  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  while  the  latter  is  still  living  in  Mount  Vernon, 
this  state.  The  following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard 
Harrison:  Lena,  Ethel,  Donald  (deceased),  Nettie  Belle. 

Politically,  Mr.  Harrison  is  a Republican  and  he  belongs  to  the  Disciple 
church  at  Fredericksburg.  He  has  an  excellent  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  on  which  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising  in  a 
manner  that  shows  him  to  be  abreast  of  the  times  in  these  lines,  his  farm 
being  one  of  the  “show  places”  of  this  township.  Mr.  Harrison  has  a large 
and  comfortable  home,  beautifully  located,  and  here  the  many  friends  of  the 
family  often  gather,  for  he  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly 
esteemed  men  of  the  township  and  his  friends  are  limited  only  by  the  circle 
of  his  acquaintance. 


WILLIAM  FRARY. 

Rising  above  the  heads  of  the  masses  are  many  men  of  sterling  worth  and 
value,  who  by  sheer  perseverance  and  pluck  have  conquered  fortune  and  by 
their  own  unaided  efforts  have  risen  from  the  ranks  of  the  commonplace  to 
positions  of  comparative  eminence  in  the  business  world,  and  at  the  same  time 
have  commanded  the  trust  and  respect  of  those  with  whom  they  have  in  any 
way  been  thrown  in  contact.  Among  the  earnest  men  whose  depth  of  char- 
acter and  strict  adherence  to  principle  exite  the  admiration  of  his  contem- 
poraries Mr.  Frary  is  prominent  and  he  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing merchants  of  his  portion  of  Wayne  county. 

William  Frary  is  a native  of  the  county  in  which  he  lives,  having  been 
born  at  Burbank.  Canaan  township  (called  Bridgeport  then),  on  May  27,  1859. 
His  paternal  ancestors  as  far  back  as  can  be  traced  were  New  England  Yankees 
and  in  that  section  of  the  country  were  born  and  reared  his  paternal  grand- 
parents, Orange  and  Jerusha  Frary.  They  were  married  in  their  native  state, 
and  in  a very  early  day  they  emigrated  to  Ohio,  which  at  that  time  was  consid- 
ered a frontier  state.  Locating  in  Wayne  county,  they  created  a comfortable 
home  and  acquired  a modest  estate,  where  they  spent  their  remaining  years 
and  died.  The  subject's  maternal  grandfather,  Cornelius  Seeley,  was  a na- 
tive of  Ohio,  his  family  having  been  among  the  first  comers  here.  Mr.  Frary's 


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McBride,  early  settlers  and  prominent  citizens  of  Ashland  county.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Frary  the  following,  children  have  been  born:  Leslie,  who  married  Mag- 
gie Shriner:  Eugene;  Grace,  a student  in  the  Burbank  high  school;  Wayne 
and  Leah. 

Personally,  Mr.  Frary  is  a gentleman  of  quiet  demeanor,  unassuming  in 
his  relations  with  his  fellow  men,  but  nevertheless  popular  with  all  classes 
and  most  highly  respected  by  those  who  know  him  best.  He  has  read  and 
thought  much,  possesses  a broad  mind  well  stored  with  knowledge,  and  is  a 
man  of  broad  views  and  wide  culture.  Well  posted  in  the  general  and  political 
history  of  the  country  and  keeping  in  touch  with  the  times  on  current  events, 
he  is  a loyal  citizen  and  a true  type  of  intelligent  and  symmetrically  devel- 
oped manhood. 


CHARLES  MUNSON. 

No  citizen  of  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  more  widely 
known  or  highly  esteemed  than  Charles  Munson.  Of  a sterling  pioneer 
family,  he  and  his  ancestors  have  been  prominent  in  the  development,*  organ- 
ization and  maintenance  of  this  county,  always  being  safely  counted  upon 
to  endorse  and  support  to  the  extent  of  their  ability  every  good  work,  move- 
ment and  enterprise.  A successful  farmer,  public-spirited  citizen  and  faithful 
friend,  Mr.  Munson  is  eminently  deserving  of  representation  in  a work 
of  this  nature. 

Charles  Munson  is  descended  from  a long  line  of  honorable  ancestry. 
The  subject’s  great-grandfather,  Isaac  Munson,  Sr.,  was  a native  of  Con- 
necticut, who,  some  time  after  his  marriage,  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
the  state  of  New  York,  where  his  wife,  Eleanor  Andrews,  died  in  August, 
1815.  Soon  after  her  death  he  and  his  son  Henry  came  to  Ohio.  They 
passed  the  winter  of  1815  in  Holmes  county  and  in  the  spring  of  1816  they 
located  in  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county,  where  they  made  their  future 
home  and  where  the  father  died  on  July  10,  1830.  He  was  a man  of  many 
and  varied  experiences,  not  the  least  of  which  was  his  service  in  the  Conti- 
nental army  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  he  having  entered  the 
service  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  The  subject’s  grandfather,  Henry  Mun- 
son. soon  after  coming  to  Wayne  county  recognized  the  value  of  the  lime- 
stone deposits  in  this  locality  and  he  at  once  opened  up  the  stone  and  built 
the  first  kiln  in  the  county.  His  preliminary  test  of  the  stone  was  made 
by  burning  some  of  it  in  a big  log  heap.  It  proved  to  be  of  splendid  quality 


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and  for  many  years  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  its  manufacture.  He 
sold  it  at  fifty  cents  a barrel  and  people  from  a radius  of  fifty  miles  came 
to  him  for  their  lime.  He  shipped  enormous  quantities  to  Mansfield,  Ohio, 
by  ox  teams,  it  having  been  used  in  the  construction  of  the  old  Wiler  House 
in  that  city.  Mr.  Munson  took  a leading  part  in  local  public  affairs  and 
served  as  trustee  of  the  township  in  1839,  1840,  1841  and  1848.  Henry 
Munson  was  married  November  15,  1821,  to  Mary  Cutter,  a native  of 
Holmes  county.  He  then  removed  to  Shreve,  but  five  years  later  he  returned 
to  the  old  homestead,  where  his  death  occurred  on  December  1,  1867.  His 
wife  died  May  4,  1872.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely: 
Ezra,  who  married  Ann  Eliza  Wycoff ; Isaac,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Samuel  C.,  who  married  Jane  Hughes,  the  daughter  of  John  Hughes; 
Eleanor,  who  died  September  9,  1856,  was  the  wife  of  Jared  Barker,  of  Sum- 
mit county,  this  state;  Mary,  who  died  in  1862,  was  the  wife  of  Isaiah  Jones, 
of  Holmes  county;  Elizabeth,  who  remained  single,  died  on  October  12, 
1856;  Henry,  born  February  12,  1837,  married  Rebecca  Jones,  a daughter 
of  John  Jones  and  granddaughter  of  Isaiah  Jones,  who  died  February  15, 
1861.  They  had  five  children,  John  Henry,  E.  N.,  James  K.,  William  B. 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Rebecca  Munson  died  November  30,  1876, 
and  subsequently  Mr.  Munson  married  Martha  McCartney. 

Isaac  Munson,  the  subject’s  father,  was  born  on  the  19th  of  September, 
1823,  and  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  during  his  mature  years  sup- 
plemented this  education  by  much  reading  and  habits  of  close  observation. 
He  was  the  possessor  of  a large  fund  of  sound  common  sense  and  was 
practical  in  all  his  affairs.  He  long  occupied  a leading  position  in  the  com- 
munity and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  February  13,  1898, 
he  was  considered  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  the  township.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Eliza  A.  Lowe,  w ho  bore  him  three  children,  namely : 
Mary,  who  is  the  wrife  of  Samuel  Geisinger,  of  Shreve,  this  county;  Phoebe, 
now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William  Musser;  Jacob  is  deceased.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Munson,  in  1856,  married  Susan  Thomas, 
who  is  now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  To  this 
union  was  born  one  child,  Charles,  the  subject  of  this  review.  His  birth 
took  place  in  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  May  10,  i860,  and  he  has  always 
made  his  home  in  this  township.  He  w^as  early  initiated  into  the  mysteries 
of  successful  agriculture  and  has  followed  that  vocation  continuously  since 
taking  up  life’s  work.  He  is  the  owner  of  a fine  farm  of  three  hundred 


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acres,  which  is  finely  improved  in  every  respect  and  is  generally  considered 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  Wayne  county.  Good  buildings,  well-kept  fences 
and  highly  cultivated  fields  characterize  the  place,  the  general  appearance  of 
which  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a man  of  sound  ideas  and  practical  methods. 
Mr.  Munson  is  progressive  and  energetic  and  is  not  slow  to  adopt  new  ways 
of  doing  things  when  their  feasibility  has  been  demonstrated  by  experiment 
and  experience.  In  addition  to  the  raising  of  a general  line  of  crops,  he  is 
also  to  a considerable  extent  engaged  in  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock, 
in  which  he  has  achieved  a distinctive  success. 

Mr.  Munson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rebecca  J.  Yen  Ordel,  a native 
of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Harry  and  Hazel.  Harry  was  married  on  January  6,  1910,  to  Edna  S. 
•Crile,  of  Franklin  township.  Personally  Mr.  Munson  is  a man  of  splendid 
qualities  and  has  so  ordered  his  life  as  to  win  and  retain  the  unbounded 
confidence  and  respect  of  those  who  come  in  contact  with  him.  He  is  popu- 
lar in  the  circles  in  which  he  moves  and  has  ever  been  found  on  the  right 
side  of  every  movement  having  for  its  object  the  advancement  of  the  best 
interests  of  the  community. 


OLIVER  D.  BRUCE. 

Oliver  D.  Bruce,  who  is  numbered  among  the  leading  and  successful 
business  men  of  Shreve,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  an  Ohioan  by  birth  and 
may  justly  bear  the  title  of  “self-made  man,”  having  worked  his  way  unaided 
from  the  humble  ranks  of  toil  through  the  vicissitudes  and  adversities  of  life 
to  an  enviable  position  in  his  community.  The  success  attained  in  his  busi- 
ness enterprises  has  been  greatly  owing  to  his  steady  persistence,  stern  integ- 
rity and  excellent  judgment,  qualities  which  cause  him  to  take  rank  with  the 
leading  men  of  his  community,  besides  winning  for  him  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  public  to  a marked  degree. 

Oliver  D.  Bruce  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  on  June  13.  i860, 
and  is  a son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  Bruce,  both  of  whom  are  dead. 
The  subject  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  home  neighborhood,  sup- 
plementing this  by  brief  attendance  in  the  normal  school  at  Millersburg. 
He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  after  leaving  school  he  followed 
that  vocation,  also  engaging  in  teaching  several  terms  of  school,  in  which 
he  was  highly  successful.  In  1890  he  came  to  Shreve  and  engaged  in  the 


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livery  business  under  the  name  of  Coffman  & Bruce.  The  style  of  the  firm 
changed  a number  of  times,  but  eventually  Mr.  Bruce  became  the  sole  owner 
and  ran  the  business  alone  until  1907,  when  he  disposed  of  the  business  and 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  He  is  a man  of  pronounced 
business  ability  and  has  met  with  very  satisfactory  success  in  his  latest 
enterprise.  He  has  handled  a number  of  important  real  estate  deals  in  this 
locality  and  is  numbered  among  the  solid  and  substantial  business  men  of 
the  town.  In  the  insurance  field  he  stands  well,  carrying  none  but  the  best 
companies  and  exercising  a commendable  conservatism  in  his  placing  of 
risks.  While  a resident  of  Holmes  county  he  stood  well  in  the  community 
and  served  as  clerk  of  his  township.  Since  becoming  a resident  of  Shreve 
he  h^s  been  several  times  honored  by  election  to  responsible  offices,  having 
been  elected  mayor  of  Shreve  in  1898,  and  serving  in  the  position  four  years. 
He  was  again  elected  to  this  position  in  1907  for  a two-years  term.  He 
has  given  his  community  valuable  and  appreciated  service  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  to  which  office  he  was  first  appointed  and  afterwards  elected  three 
consecutive  terms. 

Politically,  Mr.  Bruce  is  a stanch  Democrat  and  has  been  active  in 
advancing  the  interests  of  his  party,  having  served  a number  of  times  as  a 
delegate  to  the  county  and  state  conventions  of  his  party.  Fraternally,  he 
is  a member  of  Challenge  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  at  Shreve,  and  has 
several  times  passed  the  chairs  in  this  body.  He  is  a man  of  acknowledged 
ability  and  personal  worth  and  by  a life  of  unimpeachable  integrity  and 
right  living  he  has  gained  for  himself  the  unbounded  confidence  and  regard 
of  all  who  know  him. 


URIAS  F.  WELLS. 

Few  men  of  Wayne  county  are  as  widely  and  favorably  known  as  Urias 
F.  Wells,  whose  attractive  home  is  located  in  Clinton  township.  He  is  one 
of  the  strong  and  influential  citizens  whose  lives  have  become  an  essential 
part  of  the  history  of  this  county  and  for  years  his  name  has  been  synony- 
mous for  all  that  constitutes  honorable  and  upright  manhood.  Tireless  en- 
ergy, keen  perception  and  honesty  of  purpose,  combined  with  every-day  com- 
mon sense,  are  among  his  chief  characteristics  and  while  advancing  individual 
success  he  has  also  largely  promoted  the  moral  and  material  welfare  of  the 
community. 


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Urias  F.  Wells  is  a native  son  of  the  Buckeye  state,  having  been  born 
in  Ripley  township,  Holmes  county,  on  the  28th  of  July,  1843.  He  is  a son 
of  Aaron  and  Mary  (Shreve)  Wells.  The  subject's  paternal  grandparents 
were  Moses  and  Happy  (Gorsuch)  Wells,  and  the  paternal  great-grandfather 
was  David  Wells.  The  latter  was  a native  of  Wales,  from  whose  rock-ribbed 
hills  he  came  to  the  United  States  in  1816,  locating  first  in  Maryland  and 
later  in  Ripley  township,  Holmes  county,  Ohio.  Moses  Wells,  who  also  was 
born  in  Wales,  came  to  this  country  at  the  time  of  the  emigration  of  his 
father,  and  settled  in  Maryland,  near  Annapolis.  He  married  Happy  Gor- 
such after  arriving  in  his  new  home.  Subsequently  he  located  in  Holmes 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1850,  when  he  moved  to  Fulton  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.  He  was  the  father 
of  twelve  children,  of  whom  Aaron  was  the  third  in  the  order  of  birth.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Holmes  county,  where  he  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer 
and  where  during  his  youth  he  secured  his  education  in  the  neighboring  schools. 
He  followed  farming  during  all  the  days  of  his  life  and  was  a prominent  and 
influential  man  in  the  community.  He  was  proprietor  of  the  leading  hotel 
in  that  section  where  they  had  general  muster.  He  married  Mary  Shreve 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : Martin,  Thomas, 
Martha  Jane,  Ellen,  all  of  whom  are  deceased;  Urias  F.,  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Aaron,  who  lives  in  Clinton  township,  Wayne  county. 
Aaron  Wells  died  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  four  and  a 
half  years  old  and  his  widow  subsequently  married  Isaac  N.  Fouch,  to  which 
union  were  born  the  following  children:  Caleb  S.,  who  resides  in  Shreve; 
Mary  E.,  now  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  William  Easterday;  Ira,  de- 
ceased. The  subject's  mother  died  in  1881  and  her  remains  were  interred 
in  the  cemetery  in  Ripley  township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  se- 
cured his  education  in  the  district  school.  He  made  splendid  progress  in  his 
studies  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  fol- 
lowing this  vocation  during  a period  of  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  ac- 
tually taught  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five  days  and  one  hour.  He  then 
relinquished  the  pedagogical  chair  for  the  plowshare  and  applied  himself 
closely  during  the  following  years  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a prac- 
tical man  in  his  operations  and,  besides  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  he  also  devoted 
much  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  in  which  also  he 
was  successful.  In  1881  Mr.  Wells  became  a resident  of  Wayne  county, 
where  he  has  since  remained.  He  is  the  owner  of  a fine  farm  in  Clinton 


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township  and  is  numbered  among  the  enterprising  and  successful  men  of  the 
county.  He  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  most  advanced  ideas  relating  to  the 
science  of  agriculture  and  gives  his  personal  attention  to  every  phase  of  the 
work,  in  consequence  of  which  he  has  been  enabled  to  realize  a handsome 
income  from  his  investment.  His  property  is  well  improved  and  is  main- 
tained at  all  times  in  the  best  of  condition,  the  general  appearance  of  the 
place  indicating  the  owner  to  be  a man  of  excellent  taste  and  good  judgment. 

Religiously,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
with  which  Mr.  Wells  united  on  October  19,  1862.  In  October,  1881,  he 
became  a member  of  the  church  at  Shreve,  and  has  been  prominent  and  active 
in  advancing  the  best  interests  of  the  society.  He  has  long  been  active  in 
Sabbath  school  work  and  served  for  the  long  period  of  forty  years  as  super- 
intendent of  the  school,  his  service  covering  two  thousand  and  eighty  consec- 
utive Sabbaths.  In  politics  Mr.  Wells  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  has  been  actively  interested  in  local  public  affairs.  He  has  been 
frequently  elected  by  his  fellowr  citizens  to  offices  of  responsibility,  in  all  of 
which  he  has  acquitted  himself  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. He  served  three  terms  as  assessor  and  twelve  years  as  a member  of 
the  school  board  in  Ripley  township,  Holmes  county,  and  since  coming  to 
Clinton  township,  Wayne  county,  he  has  served  as  a member  of  the  school 
board  many  years,  during  nine  of  which  he  was  president  of  the  same.  He 
has  also  served  as  a water  works  trustee  and  clerk  of  the  board.  In  these 
positions  he  has  given  to  the  public  interests  the  same  careful  attention  and 
applied  the  same  business  methods  that  he  employs  in  his  own  private  affairs. 
His  ability  as  a Sunday  school  worker  has  been  recognized  in  his  election  to 
the  presidency  of  the  Township  Sunday  School  Association,  which  office  he 
held  for  five  years.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Wayne  County  Farmers’  In- 
stitute, having  held  this  office  during  eleven  of  the  sixteen  years  during  which 
this  organization  has  been  in  existence.  In  every  avenue  of  life's  activities 
in  which  he  has  engaged,  Mr.  Wells  has  performed  his  full  part  to  the  best 
of  his  ability,  and  this  fact  has  been  generally  recognized  by  those  in  touch 
with  him  and  his  work.  Industry,  integrity  and  progressiveness  have  been 
the  keynotes  to  his  character  and  are  the  elements  which  have  contributed  to 
his  success. 

Urias  F.  Wells  married  Louisa  M.  Mathewson,  a native  of  Ripley  town- 
ship, Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Robert  and  Rebecca  (Ruble) 
Mathewson,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  in  the  birth  of  the  following 
children:  Robert  D.,  who  lives  in  Clinton  township,  married  Maude  Thomas; 


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to  them  have  been  born  the  following  children  : Ruth  L.,  Thomas  F.  and  Mil- 
dred I. 

Mary  Shreve  Wells,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Wagel)  Shreve.  Thomas  Shreve.  who  was  a son 
of  Richard  Shreve  and  one  of  twelve  children,  came  to  Ohio  in  1816,  locat- 
ing at  Shreve.  There  he  built  one  of  the  first  mills  in  the  county,  in 
connection  with  which  he  also  operated  a sawmill.  He  was  an  enterprising 
and  progressive  man  and  did  much  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  community.  He 
was  the  first  postmaster  and  in  other  ways  was  a leading  man  among  his 
fellows,  having  served  for  many  years  as  a justice  of  the  peace.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  milling  business,  he  also  successfully  operated  a farm.  The 
Shreve  family  is  of  Holland  origin,  the  first  of  the  name  to  come  to  America 
being  Israel  Shreve,  who  married  Maude,  the  daughter  of  a rich  nobleman. 
They  came  to  the  new  world  at  a date  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
and  in  this  conflict  the  family  took  an  active  part  on  the  side  of  the  colonists, 
Israel  Shreve  having  been  a member  of  General  Washington's  staff  and  pass- 
ing through  the  terrible  experiences  at  Valley  Forge.  The  present  members 
of  this  family  possess  the  original  family  coat  of  arms.  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Wagel)  Shreve  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Rosanna,  who 
is  now  dead,  became  the  wife  of  Eson  Hughes  and  the  mother  of  twelve  chil- 
dren; Richard  is  the  father  of  ten  children;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  John 
Graven,  became  the  mother  of  seventeen  children ; Caleb,  deceased,  was  the 
father  of  six  children:  Charlotte  became  the  wife  of  Peter  Shreve,  who  was 
no  relation;  Henry;  Mary,  mother  of  the  subject;  William;  Eliza  Jane,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Crum  and  the  mother  of  twelve  children;  Sarah 
Jane  married  Thomas  Morgan  and  became  the  mother  of  ten  children.  Mr. 
Wells  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  of  which  there  were  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  members  at  one  time,  but  he  is  now  the  only  one  left.  Mr. 
Wells  was  elected  in  18(79  and  served  three  terms  as  a member  of  the  Legis- 
lature from  Wayne  county,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  his  paternal  grand- 
father served  in  that  body  in  1838-40.  He  has  also  been  the  leading  stock 
buyer  and  shipper  in  the  county  for  fifty  years. 


MATHEW  GAUT. 

The  biographical  history  of  Wayne  county  would  be  incomplete  were 
there  failure  to  make  specific  mention  of  Mr.  Gant,  who  has  passed  his  en- 
tire life  on  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home.  In  his  youth  he  was  familiar 
with  the  scenes  and  incidents  of  pioneer  life,  his  father  having  been  one  of 


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the  early  settlers  in  the  county,  coming  here  at  a time  when  the  section  was 
practically  an  unbroken  forest,  when  Indians  and  wild  animals  were  still  plen- 
tiful and  when  the  homes  of  the  settlers  were  log  cabins  of  the  most  primitive 
type.  Reared  thus  on  the  frontier,  as  it  was  then  called,  the  subject  has 
borne  his  part  in  the  work  of  development,  as  did  his  honored  father,  both 
having  been  factors  in  bringing  about  the  transformation  which  has  made  this 
one  of  the  leading  counties  in  the  state,  with  its  highly  cultivated  farms,  thriv- 
ing towns  and  villages,  its  school  houses,  churches  and  all  other  evidences  that 
show  the  mark  of  progress  and  culture. 

Mathew  Gaut  was  born  on  his  present  homestead  in  the  township  of 
Canaan,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1833,  and  is  a son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Rebecca  (Montgomery)  Gaut,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  former  born  in  1799.  The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather,  Mat- 
thew Gaut,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  he  lived  and  died, 
being  a farmer  by  vocation.  His  son  Samuel  emigrated  from  the  Keystone 
state  to  Canaan  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1821,  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  wild  land.  This  he  cleared  and  developed  into  a fine 
and  productive  farm,  on  which  he  lived  during  the  remaining  years  of  his  life, 
his  death  occurring  in  1879.  He  was  of  that  sturdy  pioneer  stock  which  was 
instrumental  in  paving  the  way  for  the  present  wonderful  civilization  and  his 
sterling  qualities  of  character  commended  him  to  the  confidence  and  regard  of 
all  who  knew  him.  In  politics  he  was  a stanch  and  radical  Democrat  and  took 
a prominent  and  influential  part  in  public  affairs  during  his  active  years.  To 
him  and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  children:  Oliver,  Mary,  Mathew, 
Harriet,  John,  Margaret  and  Vetencia,  all  of  whom  have  passed  over  the 
silent  river  excepting  the  third  named,  the  subject  of  this  review. 

Mathewr  Gaut  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his  early 
education  in  the  district  school  at  Gulden  Corners.  After  the  conclusion  of  his 
school  days  he  continued  to  assist  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  he 
had  attained  his  legal  majority,  when  he  went  to  Iowa  and  was  there  employed 
a few  years.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Gaut  gave  unmistakable 
evidence  of  his  patriotism  by  enlisting  on  June  13,  1861,  in  Company  G,  First 
Regiment  Iowa  Volunteer  Cavalry,  w ith  which  command  he  served  three  years 
and  three  months,  being  mustered  out  on  the  9th  of  September,  1864.  During 
most  of  the  period  of  his  enlistment  he  was  engaged  in  bushwhacking  and  in 
fighting  Quantrell’s  gang  of  guerrillas.  His  command  was  a part  of  the  annv 
wrest  of  the  Mississippi  and  also  took  part  in  several  severe  engagements,  in- 
cluding that  at  Prairie  Grove  and  the  capture  of  Little  Rock,  besides  many 

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minor  battles  and  skirmishes.  At  the  close  of  his  military  service  Mr.  Gaut 
returned  to  Canaan  township  and  resumed  work  on  the  home  farm,  continuing 
to  assist  his  father  until  the  latter’s  death  in  1879,  when  the  farm  became  his. 
He  has  continued  his  residence  here  ever  since  and  gave  to  its  operation  his 
personal  attention  and  undivided  efforts  until  his  retirement  from  active  labor 
a few  years  ago,  since  which  time  his  son  John  has  looked  after  the  manage- 
ment of  the  place  for  his  father. 

Mr.  Gaut  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Julie  Young,  who  was  a native 
of  Chester  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Isaac  and  La- 
vina  (McVicker)  Young.  Mr.  Gaut’s  second  union  was  with  Elizabeth  Fran- 
cis, a daughter  of  William  Francis,  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Gaut  has  become  the  father  of  two  children,  John,  born  May  18,  1876,  and 
Ira,  who  is  deceased.  John  was  married  on  June  2,  1902,  to  Anna  Rumbaugh, 
of  Congress  township,  this  county,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
(McVicker)  Rumbaugh,  who  were  early  settlers  in  this  county.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gaut  have  been  born  two  children,  Edna  and  Wayne. 

In  matters  political  Mathew  Gaut  formerly  gave  a stanch  and  loyal  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  recent  years  he  has  stood  independent 
of  party  lines  and  votes  for  the  men  he  considers  best  fitted  for  the  offices 
He  has  ever  taken  a deep  interest  in  the  advancement  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lives  and  has  always  lent  his  support  to  all  movements  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  best  interests  of  the  entire  community.  He  stands  as  one 
of  the  strong  and  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  county  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  all. 
His  memory  forms  a connecting  link  between  the  primitive  past  and  the  pro- 
gressive present  and  few  men  now  living  in  Wayne  county  are  better  informed 
concerning  its  history  when  Ohio  was  a frontier  state  than  is  Mathew  Gaut, 
whose  reminiscences  of  the  early  days  are  most  interesting. 


PETER  HOUSEL. 

Peter  Housel  was  born  in  Hunterdon  county,  New  Jersey,  on  the  14th 
day  of  May,  1845,  and  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer.  In  1867  he  came 
to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  here  he  engaged  in  the  carpenter  and  contracting 
business,  in  which  he  was  successful.  He  erected  the  Shreve  high  school 
building  and  many  of  the  largest  and  best  residences  in  this  part  of  the  county 
and  was  considered  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  profession  in  this  com- 
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Mr.  Housel  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Ella  Rob- 
inson, the  daughter  of  Charles  Robinson,  of  whose  thirteen  children  she  was 
the  youngest.  To  this  union  was  born  one  child,  Elizabeth  Elleanor,  who, 
after  completing  a good  education  in  the  common  schools,  became  assistant 
postmaster  at  Shreve,  which  position  she  retained  until  her  marriage  to 
Charles  W.  Keister.  They  now  live  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  have  one  child, 
Housel.  Mr.  Housel  is  an  ardent  Republican  in  politics  and  has  rendered  his 
party  effective  service  as  a member  of  the  county  and  township  central  com- 
mittees, in  which  positions  he  served  many  years.  He  also  served  as  clerk  of 
the  township.  On  May  16,  1889,  under  the  administration  of  President 
Benjamin  Harrison,  Mr.  Housel  was  appointed  postmaster  and  served  a full 
term,  his  tenure  of  office  running  over  into  the  Cleveland  administration 
four  months  and  fifteen  days.  He  was  out  of  office  three  years  and  eleven 
months  and  then  was  reappointed  to  the  office  on  September  1,  1897,  and 
retained  the  office  continuously  until  September  30,  1909,  having  served  alto- 
gether as  postmaster  sixteen  years,  five  months  and  a half  and  during  all 
this  long  time  Mr.  Housel  was  never  away  from  the  office  for  one  whole  day 
at  a time.  He  is  an  accommodating  and  obliging  official  and  has  given  the 
patrons  of  the  office  a very  satisfactory  administration.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  public  spirited  and  gives  his  support 
to  every  movement  that  promises  to  be  of  benefit  to  the  community,  having 
served  two  terms  as  a member  of  the  school  board  and  in  other  local  offices. 
He  is  a man  of  marked  ability  and  integrity  of  character  and  because  of  this 
and  his  genial  manner  towards  his  acquaintances  he  occupies  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  the  community. 


ASBURY  B.  OLDROYD. 

The  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  was  characterized  by  the  emigra- 
tion of  that  pioneer  element  which  made  the  great  state  of  Ohio  what  it  is. 
These  immigrants  were  sturdy,  heroic,  upright,  sincere  people,  such  as  con- 
stitute the  intrinsic  strength  of  a commonwealth.  It  scarcely  appears  proba- 
ble that  in  the  future  history  of  the  world  another  such  period  can  occur,  or 
indeed  any  period  when  such  a solid  phalanx  of  strong-minded  men  and  he- 
roic, self-sacrificing  women  will  take  possession  of  a new  country.  Too  care- 
ful or  too  frequent  reference  can  not  be  made  in  the  pages  of  history  con- 
cerning those  who  have  figured  as  the  founders  and  builders  of  a great  com- 
monwealth, and  in  connection  with  this  brief  review  of  the  personal  history 


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of  Mr.  Oldroyd  it  is  a privilege  to  touch  incidentally  and  specifically  upon 
interesting  data  in  regard  to  the  sterling  pioneer  family  of  which  he  is  a 
member  and  which  has  been  identified  with  the  annals  of  the  Buckeye  state 
since  an  early  period  in  the  last  century.  The  subject  is  known  as  one  of  the 
influential  and  worthy  citizens  of  Wayne  county,  where  he  has  passed  prac- 
tically his  entire  life  and  because  of  a life  which  has  been  characterized  by 
unimpeachable  integrity  and  upright  living  he  is  eminently  deserving  of  the 
high  position  he  holds  in  the  community. 

Asbury  B.  Oldroyd,  who  owns  and  operates  a fine  and  fertile  farm  in 
section  14,  Clinton  township,  was  born  May  10,  1842,  on  a farm  located  across 
the  road  from  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Hannah 
(Ebright)  Oldroyd.  The  latter  was  a daughter  of  George  Ebright,  who 
came  in  a very  early  day  from  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Plain  township, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1863. 
While  still  living  in  Pennsylvania  he  was  drafted  for  service  in  the  war  of 
1812,  but  secured  a substitute.  However,  the  latter  got  only  as  far  as  Pitts- 
burgh, when  the  news  of  the  close  of  the  war  was  received. 

The  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Charles  Oldroyd,  was  a native  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  was  a fuller  by  trade  in  his  native  country.  At  that 
time  it  was  the  policy  of  the  English  government  to  prevent  mechanics  from 
emigrating,  so  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  country  surreptitiously.  Ar- 
riving in  America,  he  located  first  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  for  a number  of  years  he  operated  a fulling  mill  with  a gratifying 
degree  of  success.  Some  time  after  locating  there  he  was  joined  by  his 
wife  and  son,  who  had  remained  in  England,  and  not  long  afterwards  he  sold 
his  business  and  in  1832,  accompanied  by  his  son,  Henry,  he  came  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  making  the  trip  afoot.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Clinton  township.  During  the  balance  of  his  life  he  was 
employed  in  the  fulling  mill  at  Millbrook,  walking  back  and  forth  to  his  work, 
a distance  of  two  miles.  The  remains  of  Charles  Oldroyd  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Ellis,  are  now  resting  in  the  cemetery  at  Mill- 
brook.  They  were  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
were  highly  esteemed  in  the  community. 

Henry  Oldroyd  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  May  10,  1810,  and,  as 
related  above,  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  America  to  rejoin  the  husband 
and  father,  who  had  preceded  them  to  this  country.  In  1832  Henry  accom- 
panied his  father  on  the  trip  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  here  he  followed 
the  pursuit  of  agriculture  all  the  remaining  days  of  his  life.  His  early  years 


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here  were  characterized  by  much  labor  of  the  hardest  kind,  the  land  which  his 
father  entered  having  been  covered  by  the  primeval  forest  growth,  which 
must  be  removed  before  the  crops  could  be  planted.  Eventually  he  witnessed 
the  wonderful  transformation  which  transpired  in  this  section  and  realized 
for  himself  the  fruit  of  his  labors.  His  death  occurred  in  Shreve,  this 
county,  and  his  wife  died  in  Kansas,  their  remains  being  interred  in  the  Oak 
Grove  Cemetery  at  Shreve.  They  were  prominent  and  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  To  them  were  born  a number  of  children, 
namely:  Mariah,  \vho  died  young;  Elmer  George,  who  now  resides  at  Shreve, 
was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  three  years  as  a member  of  the  Four- 
teenth Regiment  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry;  Charles  W.,  who  now  lives  at 
Ottawa,  Kansas,  served  three  years  during  the  Civil  war  as  a member  of 
Company  C,  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  entering  as  an  or- 
derly sergeant  and  being  honorably  discharged  with  the  rank  of  first  lieuten- 
ant ; Asbury  B.  :s  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review ; Wilbur  Fisk,  de- 
ceased; Thomas  B.,  who  resides  at  Arkansas  City,  Kansas.  Henry  Oldroyd 
was  a stanch  and  uncompromising  Republican  in  his  political  views  and  was 
a strong  supporter  of  the  government  during  the  Civil  war. 

Asbury  B.  Oldroyd  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead  in  Clinton  town- 
ship and  early  became  accustomed  to  the  strenuous  labor  of  the  farm.  He 
secured  his  education  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  it  is  related  that 
when  he  was  learning  his  A B Cs  his  mother  cut  the  letters  out  of  paper 
and  pasted  them  on  a paddle,  which  he  carried  to  school  with  him.  The  sub- 
ject assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm  until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  rendered 
faithful  and  valiant  service  to  his  country,  but,  owing  to  continued  ill  health, 
he  was  given  an  honorable  discharge  from  the  service  about  eighteen  months 
after  his  enlistment.  Since  that  time  he  has  contirtuously  applied  himself  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has  met  with  splendid  success.  His  fine 
farm  in  Clinton  township  is  numbered  among  the  best  in  the  township  and 
is  so  conducted  by  Mr.  Oldroyd  as  to  insure  a handsome  income  each  year. 
The  property  is  well  improved  with  substantial  and  attractive  buildings,  these, 
with  the  well-tilled  fields  and  other  features  of  a modern  farm,  standing  in 
marked  evidence  of  the  progressive  character  of  the  owner.  In  addition  to 
raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  country,  Mr.  Oldroyd 
also  gives  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock,  which  he  has 
found  to  be  a profitable  and  valuable  adjunct  to  the  regular  farm  work.  In 
politics  Mr.  Oldroyd  has  at  all  times  given  a firm  allegiance  to  the  Republican 


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party  and  has  taken  a keen  interest  in  its  success,  though  not  ambitious  for 
office.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Shreve  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  in  which  he  has  served  as  senior  vice  commander. 

Mr.  Oldroyd  took  unto  himself  a helpmeet  in  the  person  of  Tamer 
Kean.  The  latter  was  a daughter  of  William  Kean,  who  was  bom  in  Mif- 
flin county,  Pennsylvania,  six  miles  east  of  Lewistown,  on  January  12,  1805. 
He  was  a son  of  Joseph  W.  Kean,  who  left  Mifflin  county  in  1815,  and  went  to 
Beaver  and  Allegheny  counties,  that  state,  where  he  remained  for  six  years. 
In  1821  he  came  to  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death  in  1826.  William  Kean  was  but  twenty-one  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died  and  he  gave  to  his  mother  the  most  careful  and  loving 
attention  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  1836.  He  then  went  farther 
west  in  search  of  a location,  but  became  dissatisfied  and  returned  to  Wayne 
county.  He  was  married  January  13,  1831,  to  Elizabeth  Case,  a daughter  of 
Augustus  Case,  of  New  Jersey,  who  settled  in  Plain  township,  this  county,  in 
the  spring  of  1831.  Augustus  Case  was  bom  on  Long  Island,  New  York, 
July  17,  1759,  and  in  childhood  moved  to  New  Jersey  with  his  father,  Joshua 
Case.  The  latter  was  the  son  of  Augustus  Case.  Mrs.  Kean’s  father,  Au- 
gustus Case,  Jr.,  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade  and  was  employed  at  that  vo- 
cation in  New  York  city  and  in  the  shipyards  until  1777,  when  he  enlisted 
for  service  on  behalf  of  the  colonists.  He  gave  faithful  service  throughout 
the  war,  but  took  part  in  no  battles,  having  been,  because  of  his  proficiency 
as  a workman,  assigned  to  special  work  along  the  line  of  his  trade.  It 
is  a matter  of  record  that  he  performed  some  very  important  service  for  the 
cause  which  he  had  espoused.  In  1794  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Bell,  a 
daughter  of  Onisimus  Bell,  and  born  in  New  Jersey  May  19,  1765.  In  1798 
they  crossed  the  Alleghany  mountains  to  Washington  county,  now  Greene 
county,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  fall  of  1813  he  started  afoot  westward  and,  ar- 
riving in  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  he  entered  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  31.  He  then  started  on  the  return  journey  and  on  the  way 
he  also  entered  land  in  Richland  county,  this  state.  He  arrived  at  his  Penn- 
sylvania home  January  1,  1814,  and  immediately  made  arrangements  to  move 
to  the  new  western  home.  The  household  goods  were  packed  in  a big  cov- 
ered wagon,  drawn  by  an  ox  team,  with  a horse  hitched  to  the  end  of  the 
tongue.  They  started  on  the  long  and  wearisome  journey,  he  and  the  older 
children  walking  most  of  the  way.  They  arrived  at  Wooster  on  the  25th  of 
April,  1814,  and  there  the  family  remained  a short  time,  while  the  father 
was  engaged  in  the  erection  of  a small  log  cabin  on  the  Plain  township 
land.  On  its  completion,  they  occupied  it  and  the  parents  there  spent  the 


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remainder  of  their  lives.  The  wife  and  mother  did  not  live  long  in  the  new 
home,  her  death  occurring  September  12,  1817.  Her  husband  survived  her 
many  years,  his  death  occurring  March  24,  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kean  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children : Dewitt  C. ; Sophie,  the  wife  of  Ed- 
win G.  Ebright,  of  Clinton  township,  this  county;  Anner,  who  makes  her 
home  with  the  subject  and  his  wife;  Augustus  C.,  who  resides  at  Shreve;  John 
was  a member  of  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  during  the  Civil  war,  and  died  while  on  board  a boat 
at  Young’s  Point;  Tamer,  the  wife  of  the  subject.  William  Kean  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day  and  served  two  terms  as  trustee  of  Plain  township, 
having  also  held  every  other  office  in  the  township  excepting  that  of  consta- 
ble. He  died  in  March,  1884,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  in  December,  1883,  their 
remains  being  interred  in  the  Maple  Grove  cemetery  in  Plain  township.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oldroyd  have  been  bom  the  following  children:  Lura,  at  home; 
Emma,  at  home;  Bessie  is  the  wife  of  George  William  McCluggage,  of  Clin- 
ton township,  this  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Ruth;  Mabel,  at  home; 
Sophia,  deceased  ; Helen  and  Gerald  are  at  home. 


JOHN  W.  CRUMMEL. 

An  enumeration  of  those  men  of  the  present  generation  who  have  won 
honor  and  public  recognition  for  themselves,  and  at  the  same  time  have 
honored  the  locality  to  which  they  belong,  would  be  incomplete  were  there 
failure  to  make  mention  of  the  one  whose  name  forms  the  caption  to  this 
sketch.  During  a number  of  years  he  sustained  a very  enviable  reputation 
in  educational  circles  and,  now,  in  the  responsible  capacity  of  clerk  of  East 
Union  township,  he  is  rendering  signally  useful  and  efficient  sendee  to  his  fel- 
low citizens. 

John  W.  Crummel  is  a native  son  of  the  township  in  which  he  now  re- 
sides, his  birth  having  occurred  at  Apple  Creek,  East  Union  township,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  day  of  October,  1852.  He  suffered  the  loss  of  his 
mother  when  he  was  a very  young  boy  and  he  then  was  placed  in  the  family 
of  W.  W.  Wyer,  who  gave  to  him  the  same  care  and  attention  that  an  own 
father  and  mother  could  have  done.  The  subject  secured  his  elementary  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  which  was  supplemented 
by  attendance  at  the  Smithville  Academy.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching 
school  and  in  this  effort  he  achieved  a pronounced  success,  being  occupied 


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in  this  profession  for  many  years  in  this  county.  In  1881  and  1882  he  at- 
tended the  law  department  of  the  Michigan  State  University  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  but  on  his  return  he  resumed  his  pedagogical  work,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1895.  He  was  then  engaged  in  clerking  in  various  mercantile 
houses  until  1898,  when  he  was  elected  clerk  of  East  Union  township.  So 
efficient  were  his  services  in  this  position  that  he  has  been  retained  in  it  ever 
since,  and  is  the  present  clerk.  The  duties  of  the  position  are  manifold  and 
are  in  some  respects  onerous,  but  Mr.  Crummel  has  handled  the  details  of 
the  office  in  such  a manner  as  to  win  the  approval  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1883,  Mr.  Crummel  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Ella  M.  Hough,  a sister  of  Isaac  N.  Hough,  the  present  auditor  of  Wayne 
county.  The  union  has  been  without  issue.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crummel  lived  for  awhile  at  Honeytown,  where  Mr.  Crummel  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  but  they  are  now  residing  at  Apple  Creek,  where,  in  their 
pleasant  and  attractive  home,  they  give  a hearty  welcome  to  all  their  friends. 

In  politics  Mr.  Crummel  is  a stanch  Democrat  and  gives  an  enthusiastic 
support  to  his  party.  Mrs.  Crummel  is  an  earnest  and  devoted  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which  society  Mr.  Crummel  gives  gener- 
ously. 

Mr.  Crummel  takes  a deep  and  abiding  interest  in  the  progress  and  im- 
provements in  the  schools  and  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of 
his  community.  He  belongs  to  that  class  of  substantial  citizens  whose  lives 
may  not  show  any  meteoric  brilliancy,  but  who,  by  their  support  of  the  moral, 
social  and  political  movements  for  the  general  good  of  the  community  are 
deserving  of  the  commendation  of  all  good  citizens.  A man  of  genial  per- 
sonality and  integrity  of  life,  he  has  won  the  unbounded  confidence  of  all 
who  know  him  and  as  a representative  citizen  of  his  township  he  is  entitled 
to  representation  in  a work  of  this  character. 


WARDEN  WHEELER. 

The  office  of  biography  is  not  to  give  voice  to  a man’s  modest  estimate  of 
himself  and  his  accomplishments,  but  rather  to  leave  on  the  record  the  verdict 
establishing  his  character  by  the  consensus  of  opinion  on  the  part  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  fellow  citizens.  In  touching  upon  the  life  history  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  the  writer  aims  to  avoid  fulsome  encomium  and  extravagant  praise; 
yet  he  desires  to  hold  up  for  consideration  those  facts  which  have  shown  the 


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\ ']  Y,  ‘ > l ! iu. 


c-i  > m ili  - rowny.  In  18S1  and  i be  at  - 
ha-  V;  r/ayui  Sane  M’dce’ouy  at  1 t A > lv  • 

' ; ,ic  rr  nmed  hu  p<-< iayopa  a!  work,  winch  Ik*  o -n 

• ; ■ t on  e.a  o ed  ’ ti  'h-rk.rp  in  various  niercavtia 

■ »'  - w a he  n ■ Jeri;  of  Ihut  l non  |(>unk:,;i.  S<  * 
. . ■ ■•  - ! i To  ; .''•■•?!  > liat  In.*  ho  keen  retained  in  it  eve- 
. f - P ous  . T t rites  mi  do  portion  are  mamf-hd  md 
- : : k 1 * , \ ! r.  ( ruinmT  has  handled  the  detaiN  « t 

.!.*  t*r  a the  annta »\  a!  of  hi|  fellow  citizens. 

■ . A nc  e . ’..ST,  Mi*,  'hummel  was  unite,!  in  marrio- 
. ■ a si'*  ..ar  ;\ . ] : ■ne’fi,  t " , c are  out  a editor  of  \\ \ i \ ■ i • - 

.**•.  -a  Ir  ' * .*  , - ih  'lit  ome.  Afar  thor  marriage  ,M  r.  an-t 

*'  ‘ ’ m : livui  r , at  I i oneytow  n . when.  Mr.  (hummel  was  en 

...  i : icy  h-  o now  oThm:  lI  \pp!e  ( re'-k.  where,  in  tho: 

I e.<  * ' Woy  yu\e  a hc;t’  ;y  wthome  to  all  their  fnctnK 

' ■■  o . T : o a stanch  Memorial  and  ^pves  an  enthusiastic 

* I’ninic!  is  an  earnest  and.  devoted  member  of 
1 ‘ 1 a m \M  'eh  s ciety  Mr.  Crummel  qhves  p'ener- 

. ^ merest  m the  ;»r.  ^ress  and  it: 

m pertaimny  to  the  we! low-  of 
; ' • ; miotanaal  citizens  whose  la  es 
- a . . * . ’ a who,  hy  their  -airport  of  the  moral, 

*•  on!  ■ ■ o !•  ‘ a l naval  tood  of  the  community  are 

■ e o: r\'i !*■  a ’ ’ '■  v da.ion  » t ad  tpoo<t  citizens.  A man  of  genial  per- 

sonaiitv  am  1 ; .;*;*;  of  iitc,  he  has  won  the  unhoundeai  confidenee  of  all 
who  knew  i-hu  rmd  as  a repi  esentat  i\ e citizen  of  his  township,  he  is  entitled 
to  represent  v t n m a work  of  this  character. 


WARid'N  \\  HERT.KR. 

The  i >thee  of  liMpraphy  is  not  to  oive  \ oice  t-  > a man’s  no  ,v>t  estimate  • f 
lntr.M’lf  and  hn  tu*o X1  n.j M ’•iiments.  hut  lather  to  li  ra  on  the  :*econl  tile  \'erd:e* 
e'  ’'ddishii  o'  ho  f o 'aoer  ! \ tin*  oiiisoiMis  ot  f 'pinion  or.  the  part  of  his  rah/ 
if  r-  ;md  teiloa  c-  Ir  toiu  lunp*  upon  the  life  liutorv  of  the  snhnvt  . •* 

hi  : - o eW  . -o*  ..,mu  u » ?\  < ed  fui><  sue  ercourum  and  ret  \\\\  apant  prai-« 

\ef  ht  doio  } : e«j>  tor  e*  n-ideration  those  facts  which  ha\e  how  n t 


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distinction  of  a true,  useful  and  honorable  life — a life  characterized  by  per- 
severance, energy,  patriotism,  broad  charity  and  well  defined  purpose.  To  do 
this  will  be  but  to  reiterate  the  dictum  pronounced  upon  the  man  by  the  people 
who  have  known  him  long  and  well. 

Warden  Wheeler  is  a native  son  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having  been 
born  at  Zanesville  on  the  23d  of  November,  1833.  He  is  a son  of  Benjamin 
and  Eleanor  (Warden)  Wheeler.  The  family  for  several  generations  have 
been  residents  of  Ohio,  his  paternal  great-grandfather,  Moses  Dillon,  having 
died  at  Zanesville  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven  years.  The  paternal  grandpar- 
ents were  natives  of  Baltimore  county,  Maryland,  and  there  the  father,  Ben- 
jamin Wheeler,  also  was  born  in  1802.  The  subject's  mother  was  born  in 
Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  closely  connected  with  an  interesting  bit 
of  pioneer  history.  Her  mother  and  children  were  at  one  time  captured  by 
the  Indians,  but  succeeded  in  escaping  and  hid  themselves  in  a school  house, 
where  they  escaped  detection.  Benjamin  Wheeler  left  his  native  state  in  1820 
and  came  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  making  the  trip  by  horseback,  and  there  he  be- 
gan working  as  an  ox-driver  for  the  Dillon  Iron  Works.  In  this  humble  ca- 
pacity he  was  faithful  and  industrious  and  was  promoted  from  time  to  time 
until  he  became  manager  of  the  entire  plant.  Subsequently  he  started  the 
Zanesville  Foundry  and  Iron  Works,  which  he  conducted  with  considerable 
financial  success  until  advancing  age  suggested  to  him  the  wisdom  of  retiring 
from  active  commercial  life.  Selling  his  manufacturing  interests,  he  invested 
in  bank  stock,  which  enabled  him  to  live  a retired  life  free  from  worry  or  busi- 
ness care.  His  death  occurred  in  1874.  He  was  also  a large  owner  of  farm 
lands,  which  required  much  of  his  attention.  During  his  active  years  he  was 
considered  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  men  in  Zanesville,  giving  his  support 
to  many  enterprises  which  promised  to  be  a benefit  to  the  community.  He 
was  also  very  charitable,  doing  much  in  the  way  of  benevolence,  but  was  unos- 
tentatious in  his  manner  of  giving,  and  many  of  his  acts  of  benevolence  never 
came  to  public  notice.  In  politics  he  was  first  a Whig,  but  after  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  he  gave  that  party  his  unreserved  support.  His 
widow  survived  him  a number  of  years,  dying  in  1884. 

Warden  Wheeler  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  Zanesville  public  schools,  supplementing  this  by  at- 
tendance at  Marietta  College,  at  Marietta,  Ohio.  He  was  not  permitted  to 
graduate  at  this  institution,  however,  ill  health  forcing  him  to  relinquish  his 
studies.  Upon  recovering  sufficiently  to  take  up  active  work,  he  became  a col- 
lector for  the  Adams  & Wheeler  Iron  Works,  at  Zanesville,  in  which  his 
father  was  interested.  Subsequently,  however,  he  became  possessed  with  a 


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desire  to  take  up  agriculture  and,  with  this  end  in  view,  he  went  to  where  is 
now  located  the  city  of  Rochelle,  on  the  line  between  Lee  and  Ogle  counties, 
Illinois,  and  in  1853  entered  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  government  land.  In 
the  following  year  he  returned  to  Zanesville  and  drove  overland  to  his  new 
land  a herd  of  cattle,  the  trip  requiring  about  six  weeks.  Mr.  Wheeler  con- 
tinued his  farming  operations  in  Illinois  until  1862.  He  has  taken  an  active 
and  intelligent  interest  in  the  trend  of  public  events  and  was  deeply  concerned 
in  the  great  struggle  which  ensued  between  the  great  political  parties  just  prior 
to  the  Civil  war.  He  cast  his  presidential  votes  for  Fremont  and  Lincoln  and 
was  intimately  associated  with  several  of  the  great  political  leaders  of  Illinois, 
including  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  he  was  in  a mind  to  enlist  for  military  service,  but  his  father,  to  prevent 
him  doing  so,  persuaded  him  to  return  to  Ohio  and  take  charge  of  a farm  in 
Morgan  county.  The  Wheeler  family  were  of  patriotic  blood,  and  several 
members  took  an  active  part  in  the  great  and  bloody  struggle.  A brother  of 
the  subject,  Samuel  H.  Wheeler,  was  captain  of  Company  A,  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  at  that  time  the  youngest  and 
smallest  captain  in  the  service.  He  was  injured  in  the  battle  at  Cheat  Moun- 
tain, West  Virginia,  and  was  brought  home,  dying  soon  afterwards.  Another 
brother,  Robert  F.  Wheeler,  gave  up  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  a 
brother-in-law,  Capt.  T.  C.  Ewing,  of  Ewing  s Battery,  was  shot  through  the 
body  at  the  battle  of  Rocky  Ridge,  West  Virginia,  being  afterwards  captured 
by  the  enemy.  The  subject  could  not  restrain  his  patriotic  ardor  and  enlisted 
for  service,  and  was  sent  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  as  master  of  transportation 
in  General  Burnside's  army.  He  remained  there  during  the  siege  of  that 
city,  and  was  then  prostrated  with  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever,  being  sent  home 
to  recuperate  as  soon  as  well  enough.  On  his  recovery  he  was  commissioned 
quartermaster  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry,  this  appoint- 
ment coming  to  him  entirely  without  his  application,  and  he  served  in  this 
capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  command  was  a part  of  Sheridan’s 
cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Opaken,  Fisher's  Hills,  and  the  advance  to  Stanton,  be- 
sides other  minor  engagements.  The  command  returned  by  the  Urah  valley 
when  the  Shenandoah  valley  was  devastated,  and  the  subject  was  detailed 
by  General  Sheridan  to  go  to  Martinsburg  and  bring  the  whole  army  train 
from  that  point  to  Cedar  Creek.  In  following  out  this  order,  they  had  reached 
Winchester,  near  Cedar  Creek,  when  they  heard  the  firing  at  the  latter  place. 
The  train  was  at  once  started  for  the  front  and  when  they  had  reached  the 
Stone  Mill,  four  miles  from  Winchester,  General  Sheridan,  who  had  spent 
the  night  at  Winchester,  overtook  Mr.  Wheeler  and  ordered  him  to  park  his 


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train  on  the  left  of  the  road.  The  subject  then  asked  permission  to  go  to  the 
front  and  try  and  save  the  brigade  train,  and  was  told  to  do  so.  He  rode  for- 
ward with  Sheridan  several  miles  and  then  struck  off  to  the  left  and  eventually 
was  able  to  save  the  brigade  train  intact.  This  act  was  of  greatest  importance 
to  the  army  at  that  time  and  the  subject  Was  highly  complimented  by  his  su- 
perior officers  and  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  He  saw  much 
arduous  service  during  the  remainder  of  the  war  and  was  always  found  at  the 
post  of  duty.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Lieutenant  Wheeler  received  an  ap- 
pointment as  quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  regular  army,  but 
he  declined  the  commission,  having  no  desire  for  military  service  in  the  time 
of  peace. 

On  leaving  his  country's  service,  Mr.  Wheeler  went  to  Amesville,  Athens 
county,  Ohio,  and  entered  the  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  continued  until 
1869,  when  he  moved  to  Pike  Station,  now  Creston,  Wayne  county,  and  has 
since  made  that  his  home,  having  in  the  year  mentioned  retired  from  active 
participation  in  commercial  life.  In  March,  1870,  he  was  commissioned  a 
notary  public,  having  been  the  first  person  in  Canaan  township  to  receive  this 
appointment.  He  served  awhile  as  postal  mail  agent  on  the  Wheeling  & Lake 
Erie  railroad,  but  was  caught  in  a wreck  and  badly  bruised. 

Mr.  Wheeler  has  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  and  companionship  of  a num- 
ber of  Ohio's  foremost  citizens  and  some  of  them  men  of  national  importance. 
He  was  a personal  friend  and  admirer  of  William  McKinley  and  in  his  home 
was  held  the  first  meeting  of  the  congressional  commission  preceding  the  first 
election  of  McKinley  to  Congress.  The  district  was  then  composed  of  Ash- 
land, Wayne,  Stark  and  Portage  counties  and  among  the  men  who  composed 
that  campaign  committee  were  such  well-known  men  as  Cornelius,  Colonel 
Hard  and  Smyser,  of  Wayne  county,  Robinson,  of  Portage  county,  and  others 
who  have  been  political  leaders  in  their  communities.  For  several  years  Mr. 
McKinley  was  an  annual  visitor  to  the  home  of  the  subject,  their  intimacy 
having  begun  when  they  were  comrades  together  in  the  army,  both  being 
assigned  to  General  Crook's  staff.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  also  well  acquainted  with 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes  and  James  A.  Garfield,  the  latter  having  served  in  the 
same  brigade  with  the  subject's  brother-in-law,  Gen.  Samuel  A.  Gilbert. 
When  the  subject  was  a lad  of  seven  years  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison  was 
entertained  in  his  father's  home,  and  he  also  gained  the  personal  acquaintance 
of  Thomas  Ewing,  Thomas  Calling  and  S.  S.  Cox.  He  also  remembers  seeing 
Henry  Clay  and  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  while  they  were  on  a steamboat  trip  up 
the  Ohio  river.  Mr.  Wheeler  took  a great  interest  in  the  early  improvements 
of  Ohio  public  highways  and  public  works  and  was  a member  of  the  first 


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party  to  travel  by  rail  from  Zanesville  to  Bellaire.  After  his  removal  to  Cres- 
ton  and  the  incorporation  of  that  place,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  elected  the  first 
mayor  and  gave  to  the  new  corporation  effective  service. 

On  the  nth  of  August,  1858,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  B.  Smith,  who  was  born  at  Bartlett,  Washington  county,  Ohio,  the 
daughter  of  Milton  and  Susan  Smith,  old  settlers  of  that  county  and  who  later 
came  to  Wayne  county,  where  they  spent  their  remaining  days.  Mrs.  Wheel- 
er's grandfather  and  grandmother  came  to  this  country  with  Blennerhassett, 
who  settled  on  Blennerhassett ’s  Island.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  namely : Charles,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  was  for 
twenty-five  years  a conductor  in  the  passenger  service  on  the  Northern  Pacific 
railroad,  and  served  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors  from  North  Dakota 
during  William  McKinley’s  first  campaign.  Benjamin  Wheeler,  who  also  was 
born  in  Illinois,  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Orrville,  this  county. 
Both  of  these  sons  have  married,  and  a grandson  of  the  subject,  B.  F.  Wheeler, 
married,  in  July,  1909,  Sallie  A.  Royer,  of  Orrville. 

Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  successful  in  life  to  a high  degree  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  county's  best  citizens.  He  is  well  known  and  is  highly  respected 
by  every  one.  He  is  now  nearing  the  golden  sunset  of  life  and  in  the  course  of 
nature  must  in  a few  years  take  his  departure,  but  he  rests  in  the  assurance 
that  his  life  has  been  well  spent  and  that  he  has  honored  the  name  which  he 
bears*  being  the  peer  of  any  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  all  that  constitutes  upright 
living  and  correct  citizenship.  He  is  a close  and  intelligent  observer,  has 
read  much,  and  keeps  himself  well  informed  on  current  events.  He  is  unos- 
tentatious in  manner  and  quiet  in  demeanor,  a thinker,  and  a man  of  deeds 
rather  than  words.  He  is  essentially  a man  of  the  people,  because  he  has  large 
faith  in  humanity  and  is  optimistic  in  all  his  views.  The  high  esteem  in  which 
he  is  held  by  the  people  of  his  community  is  a worthy  tribute  to  a most  excel- 
lent man  and  his  name  will  always  occupy  a conspicuous  place  on  the  roster  of 
Wayne  county's  representative  citizens. 


ELMER  BROWN. 

From  his  boyhood  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  a resident  of 
Wayne  county,  and  he  is  an  honored  representative  of  one  of  its  pioneer 
families.  His  life  has  been  one  of  usefulness  and  honor,  and  his  memory 
links  the  later  pioneer  epoch,  with  its  comparatively  primitive  surroundings 


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and  equipment,  with  this  later  era  of  prosperity  and  opulent  achievement 
and  condition  which  have  marked  the  advent  of  the  glorious  twentieth  cen- 
tury. As  a representative  farmer  of  the  county  and  a public-spirited  citizen, 
it  is  entirely  consonant  that  there  be  here  entered  a review  of  the  life  history 
of  Mr.  Brown. 

Elmer  Brown,  whose  fine  farm  is  located  in  section  10,  Clinton  township, 
Wayne  county,  was  born  August  8,  1857,  a son  of  Thomas  Ashford  and 
Mary  (Bird)  Brown.  Thomas  Ashford  Brown  was  a son  of  John  Buckner 
Brown,  who  was  the  second  child  and  oldest  son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  (Ash) 
Brown.  John  Buckner  Brown  was  born  January  28,  1788,  in  Prince  William 
county,  Virginia.  In  the  spring  of  1805  he  accompanied  his  father  and 
family  west  of  the  mountains  to  what  is  now  known  as  Preston  county.  West 
Virginia,  locating  on  what  was  called  the  ‘‘Stone  House”  property,  consist- 
ing of  five  hundred  and  seventy-eight  acres.  About  five  years  later,  at  which 
time  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  married  Mary  Morgan,  who  lived 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Cheat  river,  near  Kingwood,  West  Virginia.  She 
was  a daughter  of  Hugh  Morgan,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Preston  county, 
West  Virginia.  She  was  born  May  12,  1790,  and  was  the  fourth  in  order 
of  birth  in  a family  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  were  girls.  She  was  a 
quiet,  Christian  woman,  of  many  excellent  personal  qualities,  an  excellent 
housekeeper  and  a faithful  and  loving  mother.  In  the  summer  of  1811 
John  Buckner  Brown  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  entered  land  in 
section  20,  Clinton  township,  on  which  he  made  some  improvements.  He 
then  returned  to  his  family  in  West  Virginia,  and  in  the  fall  of  1813  he 
brought  the  family  to  their  new  western  home,  arriving  here  on  the  17th  of 
September.  The  tedious  journey  required  several  weeks*  time,  during  which 
time  the  members  of  the  party  were  in  constant  danger  from  various  sources. 
The  trip  incurred  many  hardships,  the  trail  leading  through  unbroken  forests 
and  over  bridgeless  streams,  while  on  every  hand  roamed  bear,  wolves, 
panthers,  catamounts,  wild  red  deer  and  wilder  red  men.  The  party  arrived 
safely  at  their  destination  and  at  once  the  task  was  begun  of  getting  the  land 
in  shape  for  cultivation.  One  who  has  not  passed  through  this  experience 
can  have  no  definite  idea  as  to  the  extent  of  the  task.  The  timber  had  to  be 
felled,  chopped  and  burned,  the  ground  broken,  crops  planted,  fences  built 
and  other  labor  performed  which  was  not  incumbent  on  those  who  later  took 
up  the  operation  of  the  farms.  These  sturdy  old  pioneers  did  their  work 
well  and  today  they  deserve  the  everlasting  gratitude  of  those  who  are  now 
enjoying  the  conditions  made  possible  by  their  sacrifices  and  strenuous  labors. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


John  B.  Brown  continued  to  reside  on  this  farm  until  their  deaths.  His 
death  occurred  September  15,  1855,  and  hers  on  July  12,  1850,  their  remains 
being  interred  in  the  old  Baptist  cemetery  in  Holmes  county,  near  their 
home.  Mr.  Brown  was  a member  of  the  Disciples  church  and  the  first 
meeting  ever  held  by  that  denomination  in  Wayne  county  was  held  in  his 
home.  Mr.  Buckner  was  said  to  have  been  a man  of  fine  personal  appear- 
ance. He  was  five  feet  eight  inches  in  height,  weighed  one  hundred  and 
sixty  pounds,  and  had  bright  blue  eyes  and  dark  brown  hair.  He  bore  a 
splendid  reputation  in  the  community,  his  word  being  considered  literally  as 
good  as  his  bond.  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  his  father  he  received  as  his 
portion  of  the  estate  three  or  four  slaves.  Being  bitterly  opposed  to  the 
practice  of  slavery,  he  returned  to  Virginia,  and  hired  out  one  of  them,  Rafe 
Harris,  to  Gen.  Buckner  Fairfax,  for  a term  of  six  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  and  the  other  slaves  were  to  be  given  their  freedom,  which 
was  done.  Politically,  Mr.  Brown  was  a Democrat  until  the  campaign  of 
1840,  from  which  time  he  gave  his  support  to  the  Whig  party.  To  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  children:  Ann,  born  November  28, 
1811,  died  August  12,  1812;  George  Harrison,  born  April  4.  1813,  died 
1844,  married  Rebecca  Hull;  William  Wesley,  born  March  23,  1815,  died 
in  June,  1893,  married  Phoebe  Lee,  who  was  born  April  6,  1837,  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  Lee,  of  Virginia,  and  died  July  17,  1886;  Hugh  M.,  born 
October  14,  1816,  married,  on  February  21,  1838,  Margaret  Neely,  who 
was  born  June  25,  1819,  and  both  are  now  deceased;  Rebecca  Ann,  bom 
February  25,  1820,  died  in  infancy;  Thomas  Ashford,  born  June  22,  1818, 
married  Mary  Bird  March  5,  1845,  and  both  are  dead;  John,  born  October 
25,  1822,  died  April  19.  1889,  married,  in  1848,  Rhoda  Newkirk,  who  also 
is  dead;  Mercy,  born  December  19,  1823,  died  in  infancy;  Stephen,  born 
August  8,  1826,  now  deceased,  married,  on  January  31,  1850,  Martha  M. 
Riffle,  also  deceased,  and  had  three  children,  Plerbert,  G.  E.  and  Alice  (Mrs. 
Kick)  ; Mary  Ann,  born  August  25,  1828,  became  the  wife  of  James  K. 
Campbell  on  February  13,  1851,  and  both  are  deceased;  Isaac,  born  April  3. 
1831,  married  Elizabeth  McConkey  on  February  13,  1851,  and  is  now 
living  in  Holmes  county,  this  state;  Samuel  Elery,  born  August  12,  1833, 
married  Almira  Caldwell  November  4,  1854.  He  is  now  dead  and  his 
widow  lives  in  Nebraska. 

Of  these  children,  Thomas  Ashford  Brown,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  became  a well-known  and  highly  respected  farmer  of  Clinton 
township.  O11  March  5,  1845,  he  married  Mary  Bird,  who  was  a native  of 


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Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following  children : Rals- 
ton Buckner,  bom  January  28,  1846,  died  1902,  married  Sarah  J.  Gill, 
February  25,  1869,  she  being  now  a resident  of  Wooster,  this  county; 
Bird  Ashford,  born  February  25,  1848,  died  April  29,  1877;  Salina  J.,  bom 
September  12,  1849,  became  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Sullivan  on  September  27, 
1887,  and  they  now  reside  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Luderna  died  young;  Mina 
J.,  born  July  29,  1853,  was  married,  on  November  27,  1873,  to  W.  C.  Craig, 
of  Wooster;  Aurelia  M.,  born  August  29,  1855,  married,  on  October  6,  1876, 
Lucustus  Sidle,  and  they  live  in  Wooster;  Elmer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  reared  on  the  paternal  homestead  in 
Clinton  township  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He 
was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  as  a tiller 
of  the  soil  in  this  township.  He  has  been  energetic  and  progressive  and 
has  so  operated  his  farm  as  to  realize  a gratifying  return  for  the  labor 
bestowed.  The  place  is  well  improved  in  every  respect  and  is  numbered 
among  the  best  homesteads  of  the  township.  In  addition  to  the  tilling  of 
the  soil,  Mr.  Brown  also  devotes  some  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising 
of  livestock,  in  which  also  he  is  successful. 

Mr.  Brown  married  Ida  Dike,  who  was  born  June  18,  1871,  in  Plain 
township,  this  county,  a daughter  of  Andrew  and  Barbara  (Kugler)  Dike. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  haying  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1851.  The  father  was  a blacksmith  by  trade,  but  here  followed 
farming  as  an  occupation.  He  died  September  2,  1901,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years,  and  his  widow  now  makes  her  home  with  the  subject 
and  his  wife,  being  now  eighty-four  years  old.  To  the  subject  and  his 
wife  have  been  born  the  following  children:  Helen,  born  July  17,  1899; 

Mary,  born  October  6,  1903.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  both  giving  their  earnest  and  liberal  support  to  this  society. 
In  politics  Mr.  Brown  has  given  his  support  to  the  Republican  party,  though 
he  is  not  in  any  sense  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  Standing  “four  square 
to  every  wind  that  blows,”  he  has  so  ordered  his  life  as  to  win  the  unbounded 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  had  dealings  and  his  friends  are  in  num- 
ber as  his  acquaintances. 


DAVID  G.  EVANS. 

D.  G.  Evans,  son  of  James  Evans,  a pioneer  settler,  was  born  in  Baugh- 
man township,  April  4,  1833.  At  the  close  of  his  country  school  days  he 
served  as  a dry  goods  clerk  in  stores  at  Dalton  and  Massillon,  after  which 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  was  engaged  in  various  pursuits  in  Illinois  and  Missouri.  At  Springfield, 
Illinois,  as  bookkeeper  in  a large  dry  goods  house,  he  was  personally  ac- 
quainted with  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  returned  to  Orrville  in  i860  and 
engaged  in  the  drug  and  grocery  business. 

He  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Mary  Jane  Taggart,  daughter  of  Robert 
Taggart,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Baughman  township  and  Orrville. 
Mary  Jane  died  one  year  before  her  husband.  He  died  in  1901  and  left 
no  children.  He  was  known  as  one  of  Orrville’s  most  strenuous  and  enter- 
prising business  men. 


ROBERT  C.  FLACK. 

Back  to  stanch  old  Scotch-Irish  stock  does  the  subject  of  this  sketch  trace 
his  lineage,  and  that  in  his  character  abide  those  sterling  qualities  which  have 
ever  marked  these  two  nationalities  is  manifest  when  we  come  to  consider 
the  more  salient  points  in  his  life  'history,  which  has  been  marked  by  consecu- 
tive industry  and  invincible  spirit,  eventuating  in  his  securing  a high  place  in 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 

Robert  C.  Flack  is  a native  son  of  the  Buckeye  state,  having  been  born 
near  Homesville,  Holmes  county,  on  February  8,  1866.  He  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Isabelle  (Dorvacter)  Flack.  James  Flack,  who  also  was  a native 
of  Holmes  county,  was  a farmer  by  profession,  and  moved  to  Wayne  county 
in  1866.  when  the  subject  was  but  six  weeks  old.  He  located  one-half  mile 
south  of  Maysville,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1894. 
The  father  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Riddle,  who  was  born 
in  Knox  county,  this  state,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children,  of  whom 
only  one  is  living,  Thomas  J.  Flack,  now  living  near  Gambier,  Knox  county, 
Ohio.  Isabelle  Dorvacter  who  became  the  second  wife  of  James  Flack,  was 
born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1898.  She  be- 
came the  mother  of  seven  children,  who  are  briefly  mentioned  as  follows: 
Robert  C.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John  J.,  who  lives  four  and  a half  miles 
southeast  of  Wooster;  Ora  O.,  who  is  connected  with  the  experimental  sta- 
tion work  of  the  government  horticultural  department;  Celia  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Harry  J.  Jolloff,  of  Wooster;  Charles  S.,  living  two  miles  northwest  of  Woos- 
ter; Ida  V.,  of  Wooster;  two,  Marion  and  Mary  Ann.,  died  in  infancy.  The 
subject's  paternal  grandfather,  James  Flack,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day,  being  one  of  the  highly  respected  pioneers  of 
his  locality. 


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- . ' - w and  Missouri.  At  Spnne  • e-hi, 

l,  >*  d'o  ^ "»ih  Mooe,  he  wa-  pers< Hally  w- 
lie  tetnmed  to  Orrvilh*  in  iSno  and 
*■■  w bus,nr>s 

A ■ k i«»  M up  I ;;  '1  Adrift-.  'laughter  of  Robert 

r:  v-n!t  is  • ! ! > m:- hn cm  township  and  < > r t \ ^ 1 lo . 

;•  h.  ; ■ ^ ! ► ; 1 1 o K lie  bile!  in  l go  I an*!  h O 

n .i  ■ ; ■ o ' *i  r,  ille’s  n i»  kremions  and  tntrr- 


o i'  < TMU  K. 

* k • o ■ 1 'di  stock  •;  .i  s the  subject  nf  this  skekh  t once 
; *.'U  *-  abac*  those  Aerhipa  (juahues  w hich  ha\e 

* • . -t’hie‘s  is  mano'est  w hen  we  cane  to  consider 

: - i v histoio.  which  has  been  ma'ked  by  consent 
- ’ - :t,  e\ eWo.o n ijp  in  his  securing  a find]  place  tn 

; , ■ - len' » a ; acn. 

^ •-  ■”  • : ihe  ihckrvc  state.  having  b<  • > A,  at 

: • a h'.enarv  S,  I boo.  i le  is  Me  s,  n « » f 

■ - 1 . k I nnes  Mack.  win.  aho  was  a native 

. k > ■ a v t>  "ii'-c-'ii.  end  nooed  to  Who  nr  oto 

, • ‘ 1 • ■ « ■ ' . w;  six  wnk>  old,,  lit*  Me,  it.*  t ini'll. ill  mde 

-o  'h  f«  'o.  ' M<-u  c ■ ■ sided  mail  his  death,  winch  occurred  in 

i'-’O,  ,k.»  . o ' \\  a'e  n un  .ed.  I 1 o tir>t  w i te  w as  Sarah  Uidd'e.  w ii<  • w a>  hi  >rn 

in  i\;c>\  w-nniy,  this  state.  and  to  Mem  wa  re  born  Mine  children,  of  w lorn 
t no  uni'  i-  living,  d Renas  J.  hunk.  now  1 i \ m t lu-ai  Mambur.  Knox  eonmv. 
Mhio.  Is.iIkUc  Dorvackr  win*  iocnn  the  aroul  wile  of  James  black.  was 
li  irn  in  \\ mb m^mn  comity,  ( MM,  and  her  death  ^coined  in  iS->S.  She  be- 
came the  mother  of  seven  c1  iidren.  w no  are  brnMy  wwniioiRd  as  MlMw-: 
Ruber*  (\,  t be  snkiect  of  this  sketch  ; John  J..  v la  * hv  es  f«  nr  am]  a half  imlo 
southeast  of  \\{u)st-T;  ( . h a ( k.  who  is  connected  with  the  expenmewd  sta- 
tion W'ck  .a'  the  government  ii*  >ri  icnlt  meal  department;  Mena  ki.  is  the  \\Oe  . »t 
I ! arrv  ] JolMtt . of  Wmsiir;  ( !o,  rh*s  S..  h\  mp  two  mile-  n»  >rt  1 1 w est  of  \\  . o- 
ter  : I la  Y . o>'  Wooster:  tw  c kaiion  and  Mary  Amo,  dik'd  m intanev.  The 
snhje-oA  looin'd  e i a ml  fat  her.  lames  Fkuk.  v.;n-  a name  of  ! 'eim-\ ! \ ni;  a 
.m  1 ennx  ! ’ i J iio  in  an  early  dnv.  h anp  -me  or  t lie  hi ah!\  respected  pi<  n<-t  - 
hi-  Moh'.W 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


785 


As  stated  above,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  to  Wayne  county 
by  his  parents  when  he  was  but  six  weeks  old,  and  this  county  has  been  his 
home  continuously  since.  He  remained  on  the  parental  farmstead  during 
his  boyhood  years  and  received  a good  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  locality.  He  continued  to  assist  his  father  in  the  duties  of  the  farm  for  a 
number  of  years  and  then  entered  the  insurance  business,  working  fraternal 
insurance  and  giving  his  attention  principally  to  the  Bankers’  Fraternal  Union. 
He  then  took  up  old-line  insurance  and  for  eight  years  was  with  the  John  Han- 
cock Company,  one  of  the  strong  and  reliable  companies.  In  this  line  of  work 
Mr.  Flack  achieved  a distinctive  success,  being  considered  one  of  the  leading 
insurance  men  in  this  locality.  He  practices  correct  business  methods  and  has 
won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has  transacted  business. 

R.  C.  Flack  is  at  present  engaged  in  the  field  of  investments,  in  which  he 
negotiates  bonds,  stocks  and  other  first-class  securities,  making  a specialty  of 
western  investments  because  of  their  larger  profit  return  on  invested  funds.  In 
this  field  he  has  been  exceptionally  successful,  having  influenced  the  invest- 
ments of  many  thousands  of  dollars  of  Wayne  county  capital.  He  is  a director 
of  the  Colusa  Mining  & Milling  Company,  operating  rich  gold  properties  in 
the  Tarryal  district,  Park  county,  Colorado,  and  a director  of  the  Ohio  Quartz 
Hill  Gold  Mining  Company,  operating  valuable  gold  properties  on  Quartz 
Hill,  which  is  generally  recognized  as  the  richest  square  mile  of  gold  producing 
territory  in  the  world.  Judge  L.  M.  Goddard,  for  twelve  years  associate  jus- 
tice of  the  supreme  court  of  Colorado,  with  other  influential  persons  of  that 
state,  are  officers  and  directors  of  this  company.  Mr.  Flack’s  offices  are  in 
the  Nolle  building,  Wooster,  Ohio.  Mr.  Flack  is  heavily  interested  in  other 
legitimate  enterprises  of  the  west,  among  which  are  the  Stoughton  Mining  & 
Milling  Company  and  the  North  Star  Tunnel,  Mining,  Milling,  Power  & 
Transportation  Company,  both  mining  enterprises  of  a profitable  and  success- 
ful business  character. 

On  August  31,  1887,  Mr.  Flack  wedded  Priscilla  B.  Hoagland,  of  Dan- 
ville, Knox  county,  Ohio.  She  is  a daughter  of  Stephen  A.  Hoagland,  of 
Knox  county,  and  is  descended  from  a family  of  soldiers,  five  of  her  father’s 
brothers  having  served  throughout  the  Civil  war  as  members  of  the  Northern 
armies.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flack  have  been  born  the  following  children : 
Elmer  C.,  now  seventeen  years  of  age,  has  completed  his  common  school  ed- 
ucation and  is  now  a student  in  Bixler’s  Business  College,  at  Wooster ; Hazel 
V.,  aged  thirteen;  Urshel  E.,  aged  ten  years;  Genevieve,  aged  five  years; 
Edgar  V.  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Socially,  Mr.  Flack  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, both  subordinate  and  encampment,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he 
has  risen  to  the  Uniform  Rank,  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America  and  the 
Home  Guards  of  America.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  Democrat,  though  not  an 
aspirant  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office.  Religiously,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Flack  and  their  children,  Elmer  and  Hazel,  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  to  which  they  give  a generous  support.  The  subject  is  one  of  the 
county’s  public-spirited  citizens,  and  he  has  so  ordered  his  life  as  to  command 
unequivocal  confidence  and  esteem  in  the  county  where  he  has  passed  prac- 
tically his  entire  life.  He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  and  has  co-operated 
earnestly  in  every  movement  which  he  believed  would  advance  the  general 
welfare  and  progress  of  the  county. 


OHIO  J.  HARRISON. 

As  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Wayne  county 
and  as  one  who  has  here  passed  his  entire  life,  it  is  certainly  consistent  that 
we  enter  in  this  work  a review  of  the  career  of  Mr.  Harrison,  who  has 
long  been  identified  with  the  agricultural  and  stock-growing  interests  of  the 
county,  having  a fine  estate  in  Franklin  township  and  being  honored  as  one 
of  its  representative  men.  He  is  a native  of  the  township  in  which  he  now 
maintains  his  home,  having  been  born  on  the  old  pioneer  homestead  on  the 
9th  of  January,  1852.  He  is  a son  of  William  and  Mariah  (Criswell)  Har- 
rison. His  paternal  grandfather  was  William  Harrison,  who  was  born  on 
the  Harrison  homestead  in  this  township  in  1823  and  lived  here  all  the 
days  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  on  the  9th  of  October,  1900,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years.  His  remains  are  buried  in  the  Fairview  cemetery  at 
Fredericksburg.  William  Harrison  was  a man  of  many  excellent  parts  and 
stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  community.  He  was  a farmer  all  his 
life  and  was  a practical  and  industrious  man.  His  wife  died  on  January 
9,  1898.  He  was  in  religious  faith  a Presbyterian  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  work  of  the  society,  having  served  efficiently  as  trustee.  In  matters 
political  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party  and  took  a commendable 
interest  in  local  public  affairs,  though  he  was  never  an  aspirant  for  public 
office  of  any  nature.  He  was  the  owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of  fine  and 
fertile  land  and  was  very  successful  in  his  agricultural  operations,  being 
energetic  and  progressive  in  his  methods  and  a man  of  excellent  discrimina- 


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tion.  He  was  the  father  of  three  children,  namely:  Ohio,  the  immediate 

subject  of  this  sketch;  Adeline,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Gerry  S., 
who  resides  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio. 

Ohio  J.  Harrison  was  reared  on  the  paternal  homestead  and  secured  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  the  township.  He  was  reared  to  the  vocation 
of  a farmer  and  has  always  been  a tiller  of  the  soil.  He  has  always  lived 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  where  he  now  resides  and  has  been  con- 
sidered one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  township.  He  is  the  owner  of  a 
splendid  and  well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  to  which  he 
devotes  his  entire  attention,  with  gratifying  financial  results.  His  place  is 
well  improved  with  neat  and  substantial  buildings  and  other  accessories  of 
an  up-to-date  farm  and  here  he  carries  on  a diversified  system  of  agriculture, 
raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  country.  In  addition, 
he  gives  much  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  in  which  also 
he  is  successful. 

Mr.  Harrison  rtiarried  Margaret  Moore,  a daughter  of  William  Moore, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children,  namely : George  Clarence  mar- 

ried Ellen  Hall,  a daughter  of  Asa  Hall,  of  Holmes  county,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Margaret  Helen,  Wayne  Hall  and  Dorothy  Fay.  George  C. 
Harrison  served  five  years  as  a private  in  Company  H,  Eighth  Regiment 
Ohio  National  Guard.  William  I.,  the  youngest  son,  lives  at  home  with 
his  parents.  Politically,  Mr.  Harrison  is  an  enthusiastic  Republican  and  is 
active  in  the  interest  of  his  party,  though  not  himself  ambitious  for  the 
honors  or  emoluments  of  office.  Religiously,  he  is  a member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  to  which  he  gives  an  earnest  and  liberal  support.  He  is  a man 
of  fine  personal  qualities  and  during  his  lifetime  spent  in  this  community  he 
has  done  nothing  to  forfeit  the  unbounded  regard  in  which  he  has  been  held 
by  his  friends  and  neighbors.  He  is  keenly  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  and  gives  a hearty  support  to  every  movement  calculated  to 
advance  the  moral,  educational,  religious  or  material  interests  of  the  town- 
ship in  which  he  lives. 


WILLIAM  S.  EVANS. 

William  Shafer  Evans,  son  of  James  and  Katherine  Gardner  Evans, 
was  born  on  the  family  homestead  farm  in  section  25,  school  district  No.  5, 
Baughman  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  December  23,  1843,  fourth  son 
of  his  father’s  family,  the  other  children  being  David  G.,  John  G.  and 
James  S.  He  traces  his  lineage  back  to  John  Evans,  who  was  born  in  Wales 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  1724,  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  and  died  in  Ohio.  His  grandfather 
(James  Evans)  and  father  were  both  born  in  Pennsylvania.  The  former 
died  on  the  above  mentioned  homestead  in  the  year  1852;  the  latter  died  in 
Orrville  in  the  year  1887. 

W.  S.  Evans  never  attended  any  other  schools  or  educational  institute 
than  the  “Pokeberry”  district  school  near  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  it  was 
exceedingly  primitive  at  that  time.  As  early  as  ten  years  of  age  he  gave 
evidence  of  his  journalistic  or  newspaper  tendency  in  editing  and  reading 
before  the  school  each  Friday  afternoon,  or  literary  day,  an  imitation  local 
newspaper,  in  which  the  neighborhood  and  school  news  and  gossip  was 
presented  in  a semi-comical  manner,  which  afforded  much  amusement  to  the 
scholars  and  their  parents,  who  would  assemble  to  enjoy  the  exercises  of  the 
occasion  in  the  little  red  school  from  which  it  took  the  cognomen  “Poke- 
berry. ^ ” He  was  also  the  champion  speller  in  the  school  and  his  elder  brother 
frequently  carried  the  smaller  boy  on  his  shoulder  through  the  deep  snow 
for  the  purpose  of  “spelling  down”  the  champions  in  the  surrounding  dis- 
tricts such  as  “Bunker  Hill,”  “Number  Four”  and  “Mock’s”  schools. 

His  first  effort  in  writing  for  publication  occurred  when,  at  about  nine 
years  of  age,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  reporting  the  condition  of  the  growing 
crops  and  other  farm  news  for  the  Ohio  Farmer , then  published  in  Cleveland. 
In  February,  i860,  his  brother,  D.  G.,  opened  a grocery  and  drug  store  in 
Orrville  and  brought  W.  S.  with  him  to  help  about  the  store.  During  the 
next  two  years  and  while  about  the  store  during  the  day  he  got  permission 
from  John  D.  McNulty,  Orrville’s  first  telegraph  operator,  to  go  into  the 
telegraph  office  at  night  and  practice  the  art  of  telegraphy.  In  this  way  he 
became  extra  operator  for  the  relief  of  operators  along  the  line  of  the 
Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  & Chicago  railway.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  was  sent 
to  take  charge  of  the  telegraph  office  at  Plymouth,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
employed  for  one  year  and  was  returned  to  Orrville  in  1864  and  was  the 
manager  of  the  telegraph  office  in  that  place  for  ten  years,  or  until  1874, 
when  he  went  to  Akron  and  spent  the  summer  in  the  office  of  the  Akron 
Daily  Argus,  as  assistant  to  the  editor  and  in  other  office  duties.  Resigning 
this  position  at  Akron,  he  returned  to  the  railway  office  and  filled  such 
positions  as  telegrapher,  freight  office  clerk,  ticket,  freight  and  express 
agent,  with  the  Atchison,  Topeka  & Santa  Fe;  Northern  Pacific;  Cincinnati, 
New  Orleans  & Texas  Pacific;  Chesapeake  & Ohio;  Chicago  Great  Western; 
Wheeling  & Lake  Erie;  Pennsylvania  and  Lake  Shore  & Michigan  Southern 
railways. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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On  June  21,  1868,  Mr.  Evans  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Celia  Sey- 
mour Painter,  adopted  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  W.  H.  Painter,  and  who 
is  yet  living.  From  this  union  one  son,  William  P.  Evans,  was  bom.  This 
son  gave  great  promise  from  his  very  unusual  mental  endowment,  but  died 
on  his  twenty-fifth  birthday  in  Chicago  in  the  year  1894  from  spinal  tuber- 
culosis. 

In  the  year  1866,  while  in  the  telegraph  office  at  Orrville,  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  procured  a small  printing  outfit  which  included  a “Lowe” 
press,  a conical  shaped  cylinder,  which  swung  around  from  one  end  and 
by  which  he  could  execute  various  kinds  of  job  work,  such  as  sale  and  hand 
bills  and  indifferent  card  printing.  This  was  the  first  printing  press  and 
outfit  in  Orrville  and  rendered  much  service  for  those  days,  but  its  work 
was  not  fine  enough  for  the  fastidious  taste  of  our  pioneers  in  this  line  of 
progressive  development,  so  he  sold  it  to  C.  M.  Kenton,  a printer  at  Shreve. 
Determined  upon  continuing  yet  further  efforts  in  the  printing  line  our 
amateur  purchased  a Novelty  foot-power  press  and  a nice  outfit  of  type, 
with  which  he  turned  out  much  of  the  small  work  in  a highly  creditable 
manner. 

In  the  year  1867  Mr.  Evans  began  the  publication  of  Orrville’s  first 
newspaper  and  on  September  15th  of  that  year  he  issued  number  one  of 
volume  one  of  The  Orrville  Ventilator , a four-page  monthly  paper  devoted 
to  the  local  news  and  business  interests  of  Orrville,  the  printing  being  done 
at  the  office  of  the  Wooster  Republican.  This  arrangement  was  continued 
until  January,  1870,  when  John  A.  Wolbach,  of  Wadsworth,  came  to  Orrville 
with  a printing  outfit  of  type  and  presses  and  prepared  to  issue  a weekly 
paper.  On  the  third  week  of  January,  1870,  Mr.  Wolbach  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  Orrville  Ventilator,  weekly,  taking  the  data  of  the  monthly 
} entilat or  number  one,  volume  five.  In  April,  or  three  months  later,  the 
name  was  changed  to  Orrville  Crescent  and  Mr.  Evans  was  continued  as 
local  editor  the  first  year  of  the  issue  of  the  weekly  Ventilator  and  Crescent. 
Mr.  Wolbach  is  now  a respected  resident  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 

In  October,  1906,  Mr.  Evans  was  offered  and  accepted  the  editorship 
of  the  Orrville  Courier , which  he  held  for  one  year,  when  too  arduous  labor 
and  advancing  age  obliged  him  to  relinquish.  He  found  much  pleasure  in 
conducting  its  columns  in  accordance  with  his  ideas  of  what  best  subserves 
the  requirements  of  a village  and  country  weekly  and  made  a commendable 
record. 

It  was  noticeable  throughout  the  multiplicity  of  essays,  editorials,  selec^ 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tions  and  random  notes  that  he  always  upheld  and  advocated  optimism, 
hopefulness,  good  cheer  and  a higher  and  better  life.  He  was  possessed 
of  a rare  appreciation  of  genuine  wit  or  clean,  good  humor  and  always  liked 
to  publish  anything  that  he  thought  would  be  appreciated  and  cherished  by 
his  readers.  He  also  nourished  an  inherent  hatred  of  hypocrisy,  conceit  and 
falsity.  He  was  naturally  of  a retired,  reserved  disposition,  but  a true  and 
devoted  friend  to  any  one  whom  he  believed  to  be  honest  and  trying  to  do 
what  is  right.  If  he  acquired  a dislike  of  any  one  it  was  not  his  disposition 
to  quarrel  with  him,  but  rather  to  let  each  go  his  own  way.  He  was  generous 
to  an  unusual  degree  and  would  give  the  last  cent  he  had  to  help  a friend. 
In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republican  from  the  date  of  that  party’s  birth 
in  1856,  but  did  not  care  to  indulge  in  political  discussion,  because  he  believed 
that  every  man  was  entitled  to  his  own  opinion. 


L.  S.  STUDER. 

Holding  worthy  prestige  among  the  leading  business  firms  at  Apple 
Creek,  East  Union  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  that  of  Studer  Broth- 
ers, proprietors  of  a thriving  and  important  milling  business,  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  important  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  The 
proprietors,  L.  S.  and  C.  E.  Studer,  enjoy  honorable  reputations  as  enter- 
prising, progressive  and  eminently  reliable  men  in  the  lines  of  commerce  in 
which  they  are  engaged  and  since  locating  at  their  present  place  of  business 
they  have  built  up.  by  fair  dealing  and  correct  methods,  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  patronage,  which  under  their  able  and  judicious  management  is 
steadily  increasing  with  each  succeeding  year. 

The  milling  plant  now  operated  by  the  Studer  brothers  was  built  about 
the  year  1880  and  is  a modern  and  up-to-date  mill,  with  a capacity  of  one 
hundred  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours.  The  plant  is  equipped  with  the  best 
of  machinery  and  other  appliances  for  the  production  of  mill  products  and 
is  kept  busy  practically  the  year  round.  In  addition  to  the  milling  business, 
the  firm  also  handles  coal,  plaster,  lime  and  cement,  and  in  these  lines  also 
they  do  an  immense  and  constantly  increasing  business.  They  carry  large 
supplies  in  all  these  lines  and  by  the  courteous  treatment  of  the  trade  and 
their  fair  dealing  they  have  built  up  a splendid  trade  throughout  this  part  of 
the  county.  They  are  also  heavy  buyers  and  shippers  of  all  kinds  of  grain, 
handling  many  carloads  annually.  They  have  been  uniformly  successful  in 


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their  various  lines  of  trade  and  are  today  numbered  among  the  enterprising 
and  prosperous  concerns  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

L.  S.  Studer,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Studer  Brothers,  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  on  the  19th  of  March,  1870,  and  is  a 
son  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Zurcher)  Studer.  He  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  received  a fair  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county. 
In  1890  he  apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the  milling  business  at  Kent,  Ohio, 
and  served  three  years,  during  which  time  he  made  it  his  business  to  acquire 
a knowledge  of  every  detail  of  the  work,  from  the  handling  of  the  grain  and 
the  manufacture  and  shipping  of  the  finished  product  to  the  keeping  of  mill 
accounts.  After  the  completion  of  his  period  of  apprenticeship  he  became 
a regular  or  “trick”  miller  in  the  same  mill,  holding  the  position  four  years. 
He  then  was  offered  and  took  the  management  of  Thompson  Brothers’  mill 
at  Brink  Haven,  Ohio,  and  continued  in  this  capacity  for  eight  years.  In 
1905  he  and  his  brother  C.  E.  bought  the  flouring  mill  at  Apple  Creek,  which 
they  put  in  first-class  condition  and  have  continued  to  operate  it  continuously 
to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Studer  is  a benedict,  having  been  united  in  marriage  with  Effie 
Klein,  who  is  a native  of  Stark  county,  this  state.  This  union  has  been 
without  issue.  In  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Studer  are  active  members  of  the 
Reformed  church  at  Apple  Creek,  of  which  the  subject  is  an  elder.  His 
political  belief  is  that  of  the  Republican  party,  in  the  support  of  which  he 
takes  an  active  part.  He  is  interested  in  all  that  promises  to  benefit  the  com- 
munity, giving  his  support  to  all  worthy  enterprises.  In  evidence  of  this 
fact  it  may  be  stated  that  he  is  a stockholder  in  the  Apple  Creek  Banking 
Company,  as  is  also  his  brother.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Studer  are  well  liked  in 
the  community.  Though  they  have  no  children,  their  hospitable  residence 
is  ever  open  to  young  and  old  alike  and  within  its  walls  the  guest  is  sure  of 
a welcome  such  as  only  comes  from  hearts  in  close  touch  and  sympathy 
with  what  is  noblest,  best  and  most  elevating  in  humanity. 


FRANK  HECKMAN. 

The  Heckman  family  needs  no  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this  history, 
for  members  of  the  same  have  figured  prominently  in  the  life  of  Wayne 
county  for  several  generations.  Frank  Heckman,  to  whose  career  the  read- 
er’s attention  is  especially  directed  in  the  following  paragraphs,  was  born  in 


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WAYNE  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


Clinton  township,  this  county,  in  1868,  the  son  of  Henry  B.  and  Barbara 
(Jacobs)  Heckman,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  born  in 
Knox  county,  Ohio.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  Frank  Heckman  were 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Grafius)  Heckman.  To  Henry  B.  and  Barbara  A. 
Heckman  were  born  six  children,  five  boys  and  one  girl.  The  sister  died 
April  1,  1908. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Clinton  and  Plain  townships,  and  early  in  life  he  decided 
to  become  a tiller  of  the  soil  and  consequently  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits,  his  wife  now  owning  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  acres  in  Plain  township,  which  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this 
vicinity  and  which  yields  its  owner  a very  comfortable  income  from  year  to 
year. 

Mr.  Heckman  was  married  on  April  5,  1888,  to  Lora  Bunyan,  a native 
of  Macon  township,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  where  her  people  were  well  known. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Elijah  Bunyan,  a leading  farmer  of  Ashland  county. 
Mr.  Bunyan  was  one  of  the  men  who  made  a successful  trip  to  the  gold 
fields  in  California  in  1849,  and  came  back  in  1851. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Heckman  the  following  children  have  been 
born : Howard  Cuyler,  Clarence  Clark,  Sherman  LeRoy,  Ralph  Richey  and 
Earl  Wayne. 

Mr.  Heckman  has  an  attractively  located  and  comfortable  home  and  ex- 
cellent outbuildings  on  his  place  and  he  is  carrying  on  general  farming  in  a 
manner  that  shows  him  to  be  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  this  line.  He  takes 
considerable  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  township  and  has  been  superintendent 
of  the  township  roads,  discharging  his  duties  in  this  connection  in  a very  able 
and  conscientious  manner.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


SAMUEL  M.  B REX  X EM  AX. 

In  the  past  ages  the  history  of  a country  was  comprised  chiefly  in  the  rec- 
ord of  its  wars  and  conquests.  Today  history  is  largely  a record  of  com- 
mercial and  financial  activity  and  those  whose  names  are  foremost  in  the  an- 
il ds  of  the  nation  are  those  who  have  become  leaders  in  business  circles.  The 
financial  and  commercial  history  of  Orrville.  Wayne  county,  would  be  incom- 
plete and  unsatisfactory  without  a personal  mention  of  those  whose  lives  are 
interwoven  closely  with  the  industrial  and  financial  development  of  this  portion 


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. *'.■  w a name  m jvnmmcania,  the  latter  horn  in 
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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


793 


of  the  state.  When  a man,  or  a number  of  men,  set  in  motion  the  machinery 
of  business,  which  materializes  into  many  forms  of  practical  utility,  or  where 
they  have  carved  out  a fortune  or  a name  from  the  common  possibilities,  open 
for  competition  to  all,  there  is  a public  desire  which  should  be  gratified  to  see 
the  men  as  nearly  as  a word  artist  can  paint  them,  and  examine  the  elements 
of  mind  and  the  circumstances  by  which  such  success  has  been  achieved. 
These  thoughts  are  prompted  by  reference  to  the  lives  and  works  of  him  whose 
name  appears  as  the  caption  to  this  article  and  his  father,  both  of  whom  have 
exerted  a wide-felt  and  wholesome  influence  on  the  growth  and  development 
of  Wayne  county. 

The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather  was  Adam  Brenneman,  a native  of 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  about 
1832,  and  nobly  performed  his  part  in  the  development  of  this  section.  He 
was  the  father  of  a large  number  of  children,  nearly  all  of  whom  remained  in 
this  county  and  became  prominent  and  respected  citizens,  so  that  it  has  been 
aptly  said  that  the  history  of  this  part  of  Wayne  county  is  a history  of  the 
Brenneman  family.  The  subject’s  parents  were  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Martin) 
Brenneman.  The  latter  was  a native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  still  living  at  the  old  homestead  in  Orrville,  which  was  erected'  in  1874. 
Jacob  Brenneman,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  accompanied  his  father  to 
Wayne  county  in  the  thirties,  and  during  the  subsequent  years  he  occupied  a 
conspicuous  place  in  local  business  circles.  He  was  a pioneer  in  commercial 
enterprises  and  a man  of  large  influence.  In  1859  he  came  to  Orrville  and  the 
following  year  he  built  a store  building  and  entered  the  dry  goods  business, 
in  which  he  was  successful  from  the  beginning,  continuing  this  line  until  1867, 
when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  retired  to  his  farm.  Five  years  later  he  re- 
turned to  Orrville  and  erected  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Orrville  Sav- 
ings Bank.  About  1868  the  Brenneman  & Hoist  Exchange  Bank  was  organ- 
ized and  he  remained  identified  with  this  institution  until  1876,  when  he  with- 
drew. In  1881,  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  he  organized  the  Orrville  Bank- 
ing Company,  with  which  he  was  identified  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1885.  He  was  a larger  holder  of  landed  interests  and  was  a heavy  dealer  in 
grain,  owning  a warehouse  for  its  storage.  He  was  a Mennonite  in  religious 
belief  and  was  a man  of  sound  moral  principles  and  sterling  integrity,  in 
whom  the  people  with  whom  he  dealt  had  absolute  confidence. 

Samuel  M.  Brenneman,  who  was  born  in  Baughman  township,  Wayne 
county,  February  12,  1855,  attended  the  schools  of  Orrville  and  Wooster,  and 
subsequently  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan, at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1880.  He  was  a member  of 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Sigma  Chi  fraternity.  The  following  year  he  was  interested  with  his  father 
in  organizing  the  Orrville  Banking  Company  and  was  identified  with  it  until 
1892.  A few  years  later  he  organized  the  Orrville  Savings  Bank,  of  which  he 
is  the  proprietor.  The  banking  room  was  first  located  in  what  was  then  known 
as  Dr.  D.  L.  Moncriefs  office  and  moved  into  its  present  convenient  and  well- 
arranged  quarters  in  1905.  The  bank  has  been  prosperous  from  its  inception 
and  is  counted  among  the  prominent  and  solid  financial  institutions  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Breneman  is  also  proprietor  of  the  Rittman  Savings  Bank,  at 
Rittman,  this  county,  a private  bank  which  was  established  in  October,  1907. 

In  1886  Mr.  Brenneman  was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria  Orr,  a daughter 
of  the  late  Judge  William  M.  Orr  and  a granddaughter  of  the  founder  of 
Orrville,  Smith  Orr.  She  was  a native  of  Wooster  and  was  a most  estimable 
woman,  possessing  many  qualities  of  character  which  commended  her  to  all 
who  knew  her.  Her  death  occurred  on  January  5,  1909.  To  this  union  were 
born  two  daughters,  Charlotte  and  Maud,  both  of  whom  are  students  at 
Wooster  University  and  popular  young  ladies  among  their  associates. 

In  politics  Mr.  Brenneman  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  in 
the  success  of  which  he  takes  a strong  interest,  though  not  in  any  sense  an 
office  seeker.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
belonging  to  the  lodge  at  Orrville.  Mr.  Brenneman  is  a man  of  strong  men- 
tality and  keen  discernment,  and  he  commands  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow  men  because  of  his  sterling  worth  of  character. 


CHARLES  E.  BURCHFIELD. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  lived  what  to  many  persons  might  appear 
to  be  an  uneventful  life,  yet  to  one  who  looks  beneath  the  surface  and  seeks 
the  hidden  springs  of  human  action,  there  comes  into  view  the  intrinsic  worth 
of  a man  who  has  in  every  sphere  of  action  in  which  he  has  engaged  been 
faithful  to  his  trust,  and  in  any  line  of  activity  faithfulness  is  the  keynote 
to  success.  Mr.  Burchfield  is  well  known  throughout  Wayne  county  and 
everywhere  his  sound  qualities  are  recognized  and  he  enjoys  the  unbounded 
confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 

Charles  E.  Burchfield  is  a native  son  of  the  old  Keystone  state,  having 
been  born  in  Juniata  county.  Pennsylvania,  on  the  nth  of  April,  1857.  His 
parents  were  Hiram  and  Sarah  (Fox)  Burchfield,  also  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  they  were  married.  They  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  i860, 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


795 


when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  three  years  old,  and  here  they  spent 
their  remaining  days,  the  father’s  death  occurring  in  1886.  He  was  a miller 
by  trade  and  after  coming  here  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  at  Massillon.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  only  child 
born  to  this  union.  After  his  father’s  death,  his  mother  again  married  and 
is  now  living  at  Apple  Creek,  this  county. 

Charles  E.  Burchfield  was  reared  by  his  parents  and  in  his  youth  'was 
early  inured  to  the  labors  of  a farm.  During  his  boyhood  days  he  was  given 
the  advantage  of  attendance  at  the  common  schools  and  secured  a fair  educa- 
tion. In  1876  Mr.  Burchfield  entered  the  employ  of  Silas  Moore  as  a grain 
buyer  and  continued  in  this  capacity  until  1882.  He  then  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Orrville  Milling  Company,  at  Orrville,  this  county,  in  which  he  has 
remained  continuously  since.  He  has  a position  of  responsibility  and  has 
performed  his  duties  to  the  full  satisfaction  of  the  company.  He  is  widely 
known  and  has  by  his  own  efiforts  brought  much  business  to  the  firm  with 
which  he  is  connected.  He  has  exercised  a wise  economy  and  has  exercised 
sound  judgment  in  his  investments  and  is  now  the  owner  of  two  good  resi- 
dence properties  at  Apple  Creek,  which  are  a source  of  income. 

In  1879  Charles  E.  Burchfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ida  Hough, 
a sister  of  Isaac  N.  Hough,  the  present  auditor  of  Wayne  county,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  three  children,  namely  : Earl,  who  is  deceased ; Maude, 

the  wife  of  Delano  Moore,  of  Akron,  Ohio;  Mabel,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Burchfield  gives  an  unqualified  support  to  the  Republi- 
can party  and  takes  a keen  interest  in  the  trend  of  public  events.  He  is  an 
influential  worker  in  the  ranks  of  his  party,  but  is  in  no  sense  a seeker  after 
office  or  public  preferment.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  Apple  Creek 
Lodge  No.  674,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  Apple  Creek  Lodge 
No.  374,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  passed  the  chairs  in  both  of  these  sub- 
ordinate bodies  and  is  a member  of  the  grand  lodge  in  each  order.  His  re- 
ligious belief  is  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  the  Apple  Creek 
church  of  which  denomination  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members.  Mr. 
Burchfield  is  a leader  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  is  now  a member  of  the 
board  of  trustees. 

Mr.  Burchfield  has  been  public  spirited  and  progressive  in  his  attitude 
towards  all  movements  having  for  their  object  the  betterment  of  the  com- 
munity morally,  educationally,  religiously  or  materially,  and  he  has  honestly 
won  and  retains  the  respect  of  the  entire  community. 


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796 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ALBERT  DIX. 

Examples  that  impress  force  of  character  on  all  who  study  them  are 
worthy  of  record.  By  a few  general  observations  may  be  conveyed  some 
idea  of  the  high  standing  of  Albert  Dix,  publisher  of  the  Wooster  Republican , 
as  a man  of  affairs  and  a citizen,  as  a public  benefactor  or  an  editor  of  un- 
usual felicity  of  expression,  whose  facile  pen  delights  hundreds  of  readers. 
United  in  his  composition  are  so  many  elements  of  a solid  and  practical  na- 
ture, which  during  a series  of  years  have  brought  him  into  prominent  notice 
and  earned  for  him  a conspicuous  place  among  the  enterprising  men  of  the 
county  of  his  residence,  that  it  is  but  just  recognition  of  his  worth  to  speak  of 
his  life  and  achievements  in  a work  of  the  province  of  the  one  at  hand,  al- 
though he  is  conservative  and  unpretentious,  caring  little  for  the  admiring 
plaudits  of  men,  satisfied  if  he  is  conscious  of  doing  his  duty  well  in  the 
several  relations  of  life. 

Mr.  Dix  was  born  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  October  8,  1845.  His  moth- 
er died  when  he  was  eighteen  months  of  age.  His  father  owned  a small 
farm  of  fifty-two  acres,  and  in  addition  he  was  a stone  cutter  and  mason, 
and  for  years  he  was  a stone  contractor.  He  is  remembered  as  a hard-work- 
ing. honest  and  well-liked  gentleman  who  took  considerably  more  than  a 
passing  interest  in  the  development  of  his  community. 

Albert  Dix  Was  taught  the  use  of  stone  cutters  tools  at  an  early  age, 
and  when  fifteen  years  old  he  left  home  for  the  purpose  of  working  as  a stone 
cutter  on  the  New  York,  Pennsylvania  & Ohio  railroad,  now  the  Erie.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  in  the  summer  and  attended  select  schools  in  the  winter- 
time for  a period  of  four  years.  He  taught  school  during  the  winter  months 
for  a short  time.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  entered  a general  store 
in  which  he  remained  for  twelve  years.  But  not  fancying  the  mercantile 
business  as  a vocation  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  newspaper  field  and  in 
1879,  with  C.  M.  Campbell,  he  established  the  Hamilton  (Ohio)  Daily  News 
and  continued  as  manager  of  the  same  up  to  1897.  In  1898  he  and  his  son, 
Emmett  C.  Dix,  purchased  the  Wooster  Republican , which  they  have  devel- 
oped into  a fine  property  and  which  has  the  support  of  the  people  to  a large 
degree.  Under  their  management  the  publication  took  new  life,  the  father 
taking  charge  of  the  business  department  and  the  son  as  editorial  manager, 
with  George  Kettler  in  the  news  department.  The  circulation  increased  rap- 
idly, the  mechanical  appearance  of  the  paper  was  greatly  improved,  and  the 
Republican  became  much  more  valuable  as  an  advertising  medium  which  is 
now  liberally  patronized.  They  have  sought  to  keep  abreast  of  modern 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


797 


methods  and  they  have  left  nothing  undone  to  give  the  people  what  they  want. 
New  equipment  has  been  added  and  this  is  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best, 
newspaper  properties  in  the  Buckeye  state  of  cities  the  size  of  Wooster.  A 
Duplex  printing  press  has  been  installed,  printing  the  paper  from  the  roll, 
thus  being  able  to  “run  off”  the  rapidly-growing  circulation  within  a few  min- 
utes. The  composing  room  is  equipped  with  two  up-to-date  linotype  ma- 
chines. 


HUGH  M.  MEIER. 

The  record  of  Mr.  Meier  is  that  of  a man  who  by  his  own  unaided  efforts 
worked  his  way  from  a modest  beginning  to  a position  of  comparative  af- 
fluence in  the  business  world.  His  life  has  been  of  unceasing  industry  and 
perseverance  and  the  systematic  and  honorable  methods  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed have  won  for  him  the  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  of 
Apple  Creek  and  East  Union  township. 

Hugh  M.  Meier  is  a native  son  of  the  county  in  which  he  now  resides, 
he  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  at  Fredericksburg,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  29th  day  of  April,  1870.  He  is  a son  of  James  and  Eliza  (McCul- 
lough) Meier.  The  father  died  September  19,  1907,  while  his  widow  now 
lives  on  the  home  farm.  James  Meier  was  a native  of  Switzerland,  having 
been  born  April  8,  1836.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land  and, 
des;ring  larger  opportunities  for  advancement,  he  came,  in  i860,  to  the  United 
States.  He  came  at  once  to  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married. 
He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  and  was  considered  a proficient  workman,  but 
later  in  life  he  took  up  farming,  of  which  he  made  a success.  He  was  a poor 
man  when  he  first  came  to  this  country,  but  at  his  death  he  was  conservatively 
estimated  to  be  worth  twelve  thousand  dollars.  He  Was  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  was  highly  respected  throughout  the  community  where 
he  lived.  James  and  Eliza  Meier  became  the  parents  of  fifteen  children, 
named  as  follows:  A.  J.,  G.  E.,  W.  H.,  Lucinda,  Hugh  M.,  E.  B.,  I.  V.,  John 
F.  (deceased),  Cornelius,  J.  M.,  Mainard,  C.  W.,  Etna,  Joseph  and  Virgil. 
It  is  a remarkable  fact  that  of  this  large  family  only  one  has  died,  and  all 
of  the  survivors  are  prosperous  and  most  of  them  heads  of  families. 

Hugh  M.  Meier  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  remained  at  home, 
assisting  in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old,  when, 
taring  of  an  agricultural  life,  and  believing  he  could  do  better  along  another 


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line,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a harness-maker,  at  which  he  has  worked  contin- 
uously since.  On  March  u.  i8c8,  he  located  at  Apple  Creek  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  numbered  among  the  enterprising  and  successful  merchants 
of  this  place.  The  quality  of  his  work  and  his  courteous  and  accommodating 
treatment  of  his  customers  has  resulted  in  attracting  to  his  shop  a full  share 
of  the  trade  in  his  l:ne  and  he  is  handling  a nice  business  which  is  increasing 
steadily  year  after  year.  He  carries  in  stock  everything  pertaining  to  harness 
supplies,  such  as  robes,  blankets,  whips,  etc.,  and  is  eminently  deserving  of 
the  large  patronage  which  is  accorded  him. 

In  January,  1897,  Mr.  Meier  married  Emma  Keister,  a native  of  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three  children,  namely : Ralph  M., 
born  July  25,  1898;  Stewart  J.,  born  July  27,  1901,  and  Pearl  M.,  born  April 
14,  1904.  In  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meier  are  faithful  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  generous 
support.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  while 
his  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  taken  a deep 
and  commendable  interest  in  local  public  affairs  and  was  elected  mayor  of 
Apple  Creek,  in  which  position  he  served  from  1900  to  1905,  giving  a strong 
and  business-like  administration.  He  is  now  serving  as  chairman  of  the 
water  works  board,  and  is  rendering  efficient  service.  In  the  fall  of  1909  he 
was  elected  treasurer  of  his  township.  A few  years  ago  five  public-spirited 
citizens  of  Apple  Creek  organized  and  incorporated  the  Franklin  Union  Tele- 
phone Company,  the  incorporators  being  J.  E.  Frank,  John  Tate,  F.  R. 
Beazell,  Alvah  Eyman  and  Hugh  M.  Meier.  There  are  now  fifty  stock- 
holders in  this  company  and  Mr.  Meier  is  serving  as  treasurer. 

In  this  necessarily  brief  review  of  the  life  of  the  subject  enough  has  been 
said  to  indicate  to  even  the  casual  reader  the  leading  characteristics  of  the 
man.  Wide  awake  to  his  best  opportunities,  with  a candor  and  courage  that 
has  enabled  him  to  take  advantage  of  them,  he  has  gone  forward,  step  by  step, 
until  today  no  man  in  the  community  where  he  lives  enjoys  a larger  measure 
of  popular  regard  than  does  he.  A man  of  acknowledged  ability,  absolute 
integrity  in  word  and  action,  and  of  courteous  manner,  he  has  no  trouble  win- 
ning friends,  which  are  in  number  as  his  acquaintances. 


HARRY  KOUNTZ. 

Back  to  stanch  old  German  stock  does  Harry  Kountz  trace  his  lineage, 
and  that  in  his  character  abide  those  sterling  qualities  which  have  ever 
marked  the  true  type  of  the  German  nation,  is  manifest  when  we  come  to 


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consider  the  more  salient  points  in  his  life  history,  which  has  been  marked 
by  consecutive  industry  and  invincible  spirit,  eventuating  in  his  securing  a 
high  place  in  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 

Harry  Kountz  is  a native  son  of  Wayne  county,  having  been  born  on 
West  North  street,  Wooster,  on  the  ioth  of  August,  1862.  He  is  a son  of 
George  Harry  and  Jane  (Gregor)  Kountz,  the  former  of  whom  was  bom  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  September  22,  1842,  the  latter  the  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Hill)  Gregor,  of  Franklin  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio.  Her  parents,  who  are  both  deceased,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
came  to  Ohio  and  bought  land  when  the  locality  was  still  inhabited  by  In- 
dians. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kountz  were  married  on  March  19,  i860.  The  sub- 
ject’s paternal  grandfather  was  Michael  Kountz,  a native  of  Baden,  Ger- 
many. He  was  a boilermaker  by  trade  and  came  to  the  United  States  with 
his  wife  in  1825,  locating  at  Pittsburgh,  where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade 
and  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  years  and  died.  Their  son, 
Harry  Kountz,  father  of  the  subject,  was  reared  in  Pittsburgh  and  se- 
cured a fair  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a painter  and  in  1859  he  came  to  Massillon,  Ohio,  where  for  about 
a year  he  was  engaged  at  his  trade.  In  i860  he  came  to  Wooster  and  in 
1863  he  enlisted  for  service  in  defense  of  his  country.  He  proved  a brave  and 
valiant  soldier  and  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  the  end  of  his  period 
of  enlistment.  After  his  return  he  was  employed  at  his  trade  by  the  McDon- 
alds until  1875,  when  he  ceased  that  line  of  work  and  moved  onto  a farm 
which  he  owned  in  East  Union  township.  The  farm  comprised  about  forty 
acres  and  he  devoted  himself  with  success  to  its  operation.  He  is  now  de- 
ceased, but  his  widow  is  still  living.  They  were  the  parents  of  twro  children, 
Harry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Alice,  who  remains  unmarried. 

Harry  Kountz,  Jr.,  was  reared  principally  on  his  father’s  farm  and  he 
possesses  a practical  knowledge  of  agriculture,  having  been  his  father’s  as- 
sistant in  that  work.  He  received  a good  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  township,  and  has  liberally  supplemented  this  by  much  close  reading  of 
the  world’s  best  literature  as  well  as  the  current  periodicals  of  the  day,  so 
that  today  he  is  considered  an  unusually  well  informed  man.  He  has  been  pros- 
pered in  all  his  undertakings  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  acres  in  East  Union  township,  besides  residence  property 
in  Wooster.  He  is  a heavy  stockholder  and  general  manager  of  the  Wayne 
County  Telephone  Company,  besides  being  a stockholder  in  three  mining 
companies.  Mr.  Kountz  is  of  an  inventive  turn  of  mind  and  has  secured 


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several  patents  on  devices  for  leveling  purposes,  a number  of  which  he  has 
sold.  His  devices  have  been  pronounced  by  good  authorities  as  possessing 
considerable  merit  and  indicate  the  patentee  to  be  a man  of  practical  ideas. 
Mr.  Kountz  is  wide  awake  and  progressive  in  his  makeup  and  gives  an  un- 
qualified support  to  every  movement  having  for  its  object  the  upbuilding  of 
the  community,  morally,  educationally,  socially  or  materially.  His  public- 
spirited  attitude  has  given  him  prestige  in  the  community  and  he  occupies 
an  enviable  standing  among  his  fellow  citizens. 

In  matters  political  Mr.  Kountz  has  always  given  an  ardent  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  rendered  effective  service  to  his  party  in  the 
capacity  of  committeeman.  He  has  not,  however,  been  a seeker  after  office 
or  public  preferment  of  any  nature.  In  every  relation  of  life  in  which  he 
has  been  placed,  the  subject  has  proven  faithful  to  his  duties  and  obligations 
and  because  of  his  business  ability,  personal  qualities  and  unimpeached  integ- 
rity he  enjoys  the  unbounded  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 


COL.  CURTIS  VOLOSCO  HARD. 

A citizen  of  the  United  States  can  wear  no  greater  badge  of  honor  than 
the  distinction  of  having  faithfully  served  the  government  in  the  war  between 
the  states.  It  is  a sacred  family  inheritance  of  renown,  to  be  prized  like  a 
jewel  by  all  future  descendants  and  kept  bright  and  untarnished  by  other  acts 
of  valor,  patriotism  and  loyalty  in  the  interests  of  free  government.  But  the 
ranks  of  the  old  phalanx  are  rapidly  going  down  before  the  only  foe  that  they 
could  not  meet,  and  ere  long  none  will  be  left  to  recount  the  actual  experiences 
of  those  stirring  times  that  tried  men's  souls.  In  the  meantime,  while  they  are 
still  with  us,  let  us  pay  suitable  honor  to  their  sacrifices,  patriotism  and  suffer- 
ings. Col.  Curtis  V.  Hard,  whose  life  record  is  briefly  outlined  in  the  follow- 
ing paragraphs,  is  one  of  the  brave  heroes  of  the  great  Northland  who  gave 
up  the  pleasures  of  home,  business  and  society,  and  through  many  a trying  cam- 
paign and  bloody  battle  risked  life  to  save  the  honor  of  the  old  flag.  Not  only 
in  his  military  life  has  this  gentleman  distinguished  himself,  but  since  its  close 
his  private  and  public  life  have  been  such  as  to  gain  for  him  the  distinction  of 
being  one  of  the  most  distinguished  citizens  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  He  is  a 
native  of  Wooster,  having  been  born  here  August  3,  1845,  the  son  of  Moses 
Knapp  Hard,  a native  of  the  adjoining  county  of  Medina,  to  which  vicinity 
the  paternal  grandparents  of  Colonel  Hard  came  from  Vermont  in  1816  when 


Digitized  by 


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$r>  car*  wear  no  pvatcr  badpe  of  honor  than 
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* whA  inheritance  < » f renown,  to  he  pmed  like  a 
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« : - A}  ah;  in  tlu  imere,  :s  of  free  po\ eminent.  I > u t the 

. .t  r.  \ are  rap:  kv  going  Sown  Ik  fore  tlie  * o i i > foe  that  tlu*' 

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; 1 • o t re"  Hint  tii<d  men’s  nils.  i n the  imamimc,  while  thev  are 

hi  v A:  m k*t  m pay  suitable  honor  to  cfteir  sacrifices,  patriotism  and  si.ffer- 
: vp.  t ol.  (Vna  d.  1 w lr*w  li!e  record  is  brief  v < ml  hned  in  ;he  follow - 

me  p.iragrapr.-,  is  one  of  the  hra  .e  Ivov-  « ,t  the  great  Northland  wh<  > pave 
n])  I he  pkawiuo  of  lionie,  business  and  o k ;etv.  and  thn  mgh  in  *nv  a tr\  hip  e : i 
paign  and  hi  »o<h-  bailie  risked  life  to  wive  the  honor  of  the  old  dap.  A . a one 
;n  hi?  mditaw  h P*  ha-  this  gentleman  As*  inguished  limneif.  but  -nice  Us  el. 
hh-  p tv  an*  at  •!  { wbkc  li  t e ha\ e Ik  en  -n<  has  1 o gam  for  him  tin  dmt  inch  »n  A 
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.roe  oi  \\  . . sit,  having  been  loin  live  Arnault  7),  i X j ; . the  smi  oJ  hh-m 
r ; a native  oi  the  ad  joining  * # aim  v of  Medina,  to  whndi  \ ie  rd  v 

ih  ’-ao'cna1  v .mdpa:  cm-  "l  f ok  mel  I lard  came  from  Vermont  in  txn>  when 


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this  country  was  a wilderness  and  wild  beasts  roamed  through  its  jungles,  and 
the  tracks  of  the  red  men  had  scarcely  faded  from  the  primitive  soil.  The  an- 
cestral lines  on  both  sides  of  the  house  extend  far  back  in  the  annals  of  Amer- 
ican history.  On  the  fathers  side  several  members  of  the  family  bore  arms 
in  the  struggle  of  the  colonists  for  independence,  having  been  with  the  famous 
Ethan  Allen  at  the  storming  and  capture  of  Ticonderoga.  New  York.  Orig- 
inally the  family  stock  was  English,  having  come  to  America  about  the  middle 
of  the  seventeenth  century  and  ever  since  that  time  to  the  present  day  members 
of  the  same  have  distinguished  themselves  wherever  they  have  dispersed, 
whether  in  public  or  private  life.  Moses  K.  Hard,  father  of  the  Colonel,  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  where  he  was  educated,  and  he  directed  his 
attention  for  a time  to  the  study  of  medicine,  but  later  entered  the  ministry,  in 
which  vocation  he  spent  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  winning  a wide  repuation 
as  a pulpit  orator  of  rare  force  and  earnestness,  doing  a great  work  for  the 
establishment  of  the  Gospel  throughout  this  part  of  the  state.  He  married  Mi- 
randa Booth,  a native  of  Medina  county,  and  to  them  six  children  were  born. 
They  permanently  located  in  Wooster  in  1870  for  the  purpose  of  spending 
their  declining  years  in  retirement. 

Curtis  V.  Hard  received  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  town,  later  entered  Berea  College,  near  Cleveland,  then  returned  to 
Wooster,  where  his  subsequent  life  has  been  spent.  In  1864,  while  yet  a boy, 
he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  which  formed  a part  of  Sheridan’s  army  in  the  Shenandoah  valley. 
After  a very  creditable  record  as  a soldier  he  received  an  honorable  discharge 
in  1865  and  returned  home.  In  1866  he  became  identified  with  the  banking 
house  of  Bonewitz,  Emrich  & Company,  which  in  1867  was  reorganized  into 
the  Commercial  Bank  of  Wooster,  and  at  its  re-organization  into  the  National 
Bank  of  Wooster  in  1871,  with  David  Robison,  Jr.,  as  president,  he  became 
the  cashier  of  the  institution,  remaining  in  that  capacity  until  April,  1898, 
when  he  resigned  to  take  his  regiment  into  Cuba. 

Colonel  Hard  did  not  allow  his  patriotism  and  love  for  military  life  to 
wane  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  but  remained  active  and  as  a reward  for 
his  industry  and  fitness  he  became  a lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Ohio  National 
Guard,  and  in  1898  during  the  Spanish-American  war  he  became  colonel  of 
the  Eighth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  his  regiment  being  the  onlv 
one  from  Ohio  which  had  the  distinction  of  seeing  active  service  in  Cuba. 
During  that  brief  but  decisive  war.  Colonel  Hard  added  fresh  laurels  to  his 
military  fame. 


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Colonel  Hard  is  associated  with  the  Cleveland  & Wooster  Electric  Rail- 
way in  the  capacity  of  manager,  whose  exacting  and  responsible  duties  he 
discharges  with  rare  business  foresight  and  judgment,  having  been  very  large- 
ly instrumental  in  making  this  enterprise  very  successful.  He  has  won  a 
high  standing  in  both  business  and  social  circles  in  Wayne  county  which  he 
has  honored  with  his  citizenship  during  nearly  the  entirety  of  his  life.  He 
promoted  the  Cleveland,  Ashland  & Mansfield  Traction  Company,  and  was 
connected  with  it  until  its  completion  in  April,  1909.  Colonel  Hard  was  in- 
strumental in  the  organization  of  the  Wooster  Electric  Company  which  fur- 
nishes light,  heat  and  power  for  Wooster,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  northern 
Ohio  outside  of  Cleveland,  and  of  which  he  is  the  largest  stockholder  and 
its  manager  and  treasurer.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Cleveland  Light  and 
Power  Company,  the  largest  independent  lighting  company  in  that  city.  He 
played  an  active  part  in  inducing  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad  to  enter 
Wooster  and  was  very  largely  instrumental  in  inducing  the  board  of  control 
of  the  Ohio  agricultural  experiment  station  to  locate  at  Wooster. 

Colonel  Hard  was  married  in  1870  to  Addie  Jackson,  daughter  of  Cyrus 
Jackson,  a prominent  citizen  of  Wayne  county.  Mrs.  Hard  received  a liberal 
education  and  was  a teacher  in  the  Wooster  public  schools.  To  this  union 
four  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Dudley  J.  Hard,  of  Cleveland;  Emily 
L.  Hard;  Agatha  G.  Hard,  now  Mrs.  Willard  Ohliger,  of  Detroit,  and  Miriam 
B.  Hard.  Mrs.  Hard  died  April  6,  1910. 

Politically  the  Colonel  is  a Republican  and  active  in  the  ranks.  He  is  a 
Knights  Templar  Mason  and  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  is  a man  of  exceptional  business  qualifications,  having  the  fine  military 
bearing  of  the  true  soldier,  and  socially  he  is  a polite,  cultured  gentleman. 


P.  S.  BLOSSER. 

The  county  of  Wayne  numbers  among  its  citizens  many  skillful  physi- 
cians, lawyers  of  state  repute,  well-known  manufacturers  and  business  men 
of  much  more  than  local  reputat:on ; while  proud  of  them,  she  is  not  lacking 
in  others  which  have  achieved  distinction  in  callings  requiring  intellectual 
abilities  of  a high  order.  Among  the  latter,  P.  S.  Blosser,  of  East  Union 
township,  occupies  a deservedly  conspicuous  place.  No  one  is  more  entitled 
to  the  thoughtful  consideration  of  a free  and  enlightened  people  than  he 
who  shapes  and  directs  the  minds  of  the  young,  adds  to  the  value  of  their 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


803 


intellectual  treasures  and  moulds  their  characters.  This  is  pre-eminently  the 
mission  of  the  faithful  and  conscientious  teacher  and  to  such  noble  work  has 
the  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  been  largely  devoted. 

P.  S.  Blosser  is  a native  of  Paint  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  having 
been  born  on  the  9th  day  of  January,  1850,  and  is  a son  of  Christian  and 
Susan  (Ruegsegger)  Blosser.  These  parents  were  natives  of  canton  Berne, 
Switzerland,  though  they  were  not  married  until  after  they  had  come  to 
the  United  States.  Christian  Blosser  accompanied  his  parents  to  this  coun- 
try and  the  family  settled  in  Paint  township,  Wayne  county,  where  they  lived 
many  years,  the  father  and  mother  dying  there.  The  father  bought  eighty 
acres  of  farming  land  and  carried  on  agriculture  during  his  active  years. 
Christian  was  eighteen  years  old  when  brought  to  this  country  and  he  was 
reared  on  the  Paint  township  farm,  eventually  becoming  one  of  the  prom- 
inent and  well-known  farmers  of  that  section.  He  was  seventy-five  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  was  caused  by  injuries  received  from  a 
hay  hook.  He  was  a man  of  splendid  qualities  and  his  death  was  considered 
a distinct  loss  by  the  entire  community.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  namely:  Susan,  John,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Christ  C.,  P.  S., 

Louise,  Caroline,  Matilda  and  William.  Of  these,  the  two  last  named  are 
deceased,  and  ten  of  the  surviving  members  of  the  family  are  respected  resi- 
dents of  Wayne  county. 

P.  S.  Blosser  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  during  the  years  of 
his  youth  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  farm  work.  In  the  meantime  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools  during  the  winter  months  and  proved  such  an  apt 
scholar  that,  upon  examination,  he  was  granted  a license  to  teach.  In  this 
profession  he  at  once  scored  a distinct  success  and  such  was  the  prestige  he 
gained  as  an  instructor  that  for  twenty-eight  successive  terms  he  was  en- 
gaged to  teach  in  his  immediate  neighborhood,  certainly  a most  emphatic 
testimonial  to  his  professional  efficiency  and  his  worth  as  a man.  In  1892 
Mr.  Blosser  became  the  Democratic  candidate  for  commissioner  of  Wayne 
county  and  at  the  ensuing  election  he  was  elected.  He  assumed  his  official 
duties  on  the  1st  of  the  following  January,  and  so  satisfactory  were  his  serv- 
ices that  he  was  re-elected  to  the  position,  his  second  official  term  expiring 
September  19,  1899.  He  proved  a most  able  and  efficient  officer,  ever  hold- 
ing the  best  interests  of  the  people  at  heart,  and  he  retired  from  this  responsi- 
ble position  with  the  approval  and  good  will  of  all  the  people.  During  his 
administration  the  recent  county  jail  was  erected  and  many  other  permanent 
and  substantial  improvements  were  made  throughout  the  county,  especially 
pertaining  to  public  highways  and  bridges. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Blosser  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  acres  of  fine 
land  in  East  Union  and  Saltcreek  townships,  to  which  he  devotes  his  atten- 
tion during  the  summer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter  months.  He  has 
ably  and  honestly  performed  his  full  duty  in  whatever  position  he  has  been 
placed  and  no  man  in  Wayne  county  occupies  a more  exalted  position  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  know  him. 

In  politics  Mr.  Blosser  is  an  ardent  Democrat  and  has  ever  been  actively 
interested  in  the  success  of  his  party.  Besides  the  official  preferment  already 
referred  to,  Mr.  Blosser  has  given  efficient  service  as  justice  of  the  peace  in 
both  East  Union  and  Saltcreek  townships.  His  religious  membership  is  with 
the  Reformed  church  at  Apple  Creek,  to  which  he  gives  an  earnest  and  cor- 
dial support.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  Apple  Creek  Lodge  No.  324, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  being  now  a mem- 
ber of  the  grand  lodge. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1876,  Mr.  Blosser  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Emmeline  Tracy,  who  was  born  in  East  Union  township,  the  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Phoebe  Tracy.  These  parents  bore  the  distinction  of  having  been 
the  first  settlers  in  East  Union  township,  they  having  come  here  in  1814. 
The  land  which  they  entered  at  that  time  is  now  the  farm  owned  by  Mr. 
Blosser  and  is  considered  one  of  the  best  estates  in  the  township.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Blosser  have  been  bom  the  following  children:  Louella  G.,  born 
October  25,  1876,  is  the  possessor  of  a license  to  teach;  Harry  C. ; Rev.  M. 
E.,  who  received  a splendid  secular  and  religious  education  and  is  now  occu- 
pying some  of  the  best  pulpits  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  the  West ; 
Cleveland  graduated  from  the  civil  engineering  course  at  the  Ohio  Northern 
University  at  Ada  and  is  now  a successful  teacher;  C.  M.  graduated  in  the 
public  schools  at  Apple  Creek  in  1909;  three  children  are  deceased. 


DAVID  D.  ARMSTRONG. 

At  this  point  we  are  permitted  to  touch  upon  the  life  history  of  one  who, 
if  for  no  other  reason,  merits  recognition  in  this  connection  by  reason  of  his 
having  been  a lifelong  resident  of  Wayne  county  and  a representative  of 
one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  this  .section  of  the  state.  But  super- 
added  to  this  circumstance  are  others  which  render  the  appearance  of  his 
biography  within  these  pages  all  the  more  consistent,  for  he  has  here  attained 
a position  of  prominence  in  connection  with  the  agricultural  activities  of  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


805 


county  and  is  honored  as  one  of  the  upright,  genial  and  whole-souled  citizens 
of  his  native  county,  having  a fine  farm  home  in  East  Union  township,  the 
same  being  the  center  of  a most  cordial  hospitality. 

David  D.  Armstrong  was  born  in  the  township  in  which  he  now  resides, 
on  May  5,  1842,  and  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Hunter)  Armstrong. 
Both  of  these  parents  were  natives  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  were  reared.  The:r  marriage  occurred  after  they  had  removed  to  this 
county.  Here  the  father  bought  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  in  this  connection 
it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  same  land  is  today  worth  at  least  one  hun- 
dred dollars  an  acre.  At  the  time  of  purchase  the  land  was  densely  covered 
with  the  primeval  forest  growth,  and  the  first  thing  done  by  the  pioneer  was 
to  clear  a small  place  in  the  forest  and  erect  a little  log  cabin,  which,  though 
rough  in  appearance  and  probably  inadequately  furnished,  proved  a sufficient 
shelter  for  the  happy  family  which  came  to  brighten  the  pioneer  home. 
The  land  was  all  eventually  cleared  and  was  developed  into  a splendid  and 
fertile  farm,  which  approved  the  wisdom  of  the  father  in  seeking  the  loca- 
tion. In  this  little  home  there  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  the  three 
sons  were  David  D.,  of  this  review,  Samuel,  who  now  lives  in  the  state  of 
Washington,  and  Joseph,  of  Wooster  township,  this  county. 

David  D.  Armstrong  was  reared  in  the  parental  home  and  in  the  winter 
months  secured  a fair  education  in  the  district  school,  which  at  that  early 
day  was  somewhat  primitive  in  methods  and  equipment.  When  he  was  but 
eight  years  old  his  father  died  and  there  devolved  on  him  much  of  the  labor 
and  responsibility  of  the  farm.  It  was  hard  work  and  at  times  it  seemed  as 
if  it  would  be  necessary  for  the  children  to  separate,  but  by  persistent  energy 
and  wise  management  the  mother  and  the  subject  were  enabled  to  weather 
the  storm  and  eventually  prosperity  rewarded  their  efforts.  David  remained 
at  home  until  he  was  thirty-four  years  old,  at  which  time  he  was  married. 
He  was  at  that  time  the  possessor  of  six  hundred  dollars,  and  during 
the  first  year  after  his  marriage  he  rented  a farm.  Afterwards  he  came  in 
possession,  through  his  wife,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  what  was 
known  as  the  old  Brown  farm,  which  she  inherited  from  her  father,  the 
tract  being  devoid  of  any  improvements.  He  at  once  went  to  work  and  in 
due  time  developed  the  place  inter  one  of  the  choice  farms  of  the  township. 
He  erected  a full  set  of  commodious  and  well-arranged  farm  buildings, 
including  an  attractive  residence  situated  about  a half  mile  back  from  the 
highway  and  most  beautifully  situated.  He  has  here  carried  on  general 
farming  operations  and  has  been  highly  successful.  He  raises  all  the  crops 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


common  to  this  section  of  the  country  and  also  devotes  considerable  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  livestock,  in  which  also  he  has  been  prospered.  He  is 
up-to-date  and  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the 
latest  ideas  relating  to  agriculture,  not  hesitating  to  adopt  that  which  has 
been  demonstrated  to  be  superior  to  old  ideas  and  methods. 

In  1876  Mr.  Armstrong  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma  J.  Brown, 
the  daughter  of  Amos  Brown,  of  East  Union  township,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  three  children,  namely:  Willis  married  Della  Schultz  and  lives  at 
Kent,  Ohio;  Nellie  L.  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  her  father;  Mabel  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  Mrs.  Armstrong  died  in  June,  1899,  since  which 
time  the  daughter  Nellie  has  devoted  herself  to  her  father's  care  and  comfort. 

In  religion  Mr.  Armstrong  is  a faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  has  served  as  an  elder  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  He  is  a man  of  honest  convictions  and  in  harmony  with  his  views  on 
the  temperance  question  he  gives  an  ardent  support  to  the  Prohibition  party, 
believing  that  the  temperance  question  is  the  greatest  and  most  important 
issue  now  before  the  American  people.  He  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
in  his  native  county  and  is  known  as  an  able  business  man  and  as  one  whose 
probity  is  above  question. 


LEVI  F.  HOSTETLER. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  one  who  is  to  be  individually  considered  as 
one  of  the  representative  citizens  and  successful  farmers  and  stock  growers 
of  Wayne  county,  and,  in  a more  abstract  sense,  as  a member  of  a family 
whose  history  has  been  honorably  linked  with  this  section  of  the  Buckeye 
state  for  many  decades.  The  fine  farm  property  of  our  subject  is  located  in 
Greene  township  and  with  its  admirable  improvements  and  general  air  of 
thrift  well  deserves  mention  as  one  of  the  model  homesteads  of  the  county. 

Levi  F.  Hostetler  was  born  in  Greene  township,  Wayne  county,  on  No- 
vember 14,  1872,  and  is  the  fourth  in  the  order  of  birth  of  the  eight  children 
born  to  David  and  Barbara  (Yoder)  Hostetler.  David  Hostetler  was  born  in 
Wayne  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  March  10,  1839,  and  is  a son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Elizabeth  (Yoder)  Hostetler.  Christian  Hostetler  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1800,  as  was  his  father,  John,  before  him.  David  was  reared  un- 
der the  parental  roof  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  followed 
farming  operations  throughout  his  life  until  1906,  when  he  gave  up  active 
farm  work  and  moved  to  Weilersville,  where  he  now  resides. 

In  1864  David  Hostetler  married  Barbara  Yoder,  who  was  bom  in 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


807 


Wayne  county  January  2,  1841,  and  to  them  the  following  children  were 
born:  Malinda,  the  wife  of  M.  W.  Hurst,  of  Baughman  township;  Samuel, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  Levi  F.  married  Amanda  Steele  and  lives  in  Greene  township,  and  is 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  John  married  Anna  Longenecker  and 
lives  in  Greene  township  (see  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  work)  ; Amanda  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  David  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Minnie 
is  unmarried  and  lives  with  her  parents.  Religiously  the  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  of  this  society  David  Hostetler  is  an  active 
member,  having  been  ordained  to  this  sacred  office  in  1872. 

Levi  F.  Hostetler  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  and  in  the  meantime  he  secured  a good  common-school  education. 
After  attaining  his  majority  he  took  up  the  carpenter’s  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  some  time,  and  he  was  also  in  great  demand  during  the  autumn 
as  a thresher,  having  a complete  outfit  for  this  purpose.  After  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  in  1896,  he  operated  rented  land  for  two  years,  and  then 
bought  a small  tract  of  land,  which  he  cultivated  a short  time,  afterward 
going  into  the  grain  business  at  Smithville,  Ohio.  In  1908  he  purchased  the 
John  Funk  farm  in  Greene  township  and  is  now  giving  his  undivided  attention 
to  its  cultivation.  The  place  comprises  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  pieces  of  land  in  the  township.  Mr.  Hostetler  has, 
since  buying  the  place,  erected  a set  of  fine  new  buildings,  commodious  and 
well  arranged,  and  now  the  property  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other 
in  the  vicinity.  Besides  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  Mr.  Hostetler  also  gives 
considerable  attention  to  the  feeding  and  selling  of  livestock,  giving  special 
attention  to  heavy  draft  horses  and  sheep,  in  which  line  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. 

In  November,  1896,  Mr.  Hostetler  married  Amanda  Steele,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Steele,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  four  children,  namely: 
An  infant  that  died  unnamed;  Harry,  born  February  1,  1898;  Edith,  born 
August  12,  1900;  Glenn,  born  January  31,  1904. 

In  matters  political,  Mr.  Hostetler  renders  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  takes  a commendable  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity, though  he  is  not  in  any  sense  a seeker  for  public  office.  In  religion 
the  family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  church.  He  is  justly  accorded  a 
place  among  the  prominent  and  progressive  representative  citizens  of  Wayne 
county,  for  he  belongs  to  that  class  of  men  whose  enterprising  spirit  is  used 
not  alone  for  their  own  benefit.  He  is  a man  of  cordial  disposition  and  makes 
friends  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


EDWARD  M.  QUINBY. 

Edward  M.  Quinby  was  of  distinguished  parentage.  His  grandfather, 
Ephraim  Quinby,  was  an  early  settler  of  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He  laid 
out  the  town  of  Warren,  the  county  seat,  was  judge  of  the  court  in  that  county 
and  one  of  its  prominent  citizens.  His  grandfather,  on  his  mother's  side, 
David  McConahay,  represented  Wayne  county  in  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  in 
1825,  and  was  associate  judge.  He  lived  in  the  family  residence  in  Wooster 
on  South  Market  street,  built  by  him,  until  his  death.  Ephraim  Quinby,  Jr., 
came  to  Wooster  from  Trumbull  county  and  was  married  to  Catharine  Mc- 
Conahay, of  which  marriage  Edward  M.  Quinby  was  the  only  child,  and  was 
born  February  21,  1851,  in  the  McConahay  homestead. 

Ephraim  Quinby,  Jr.,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  had  all  the 
strength  of  character  of  the  Quinbys  and,  combined  with  the  high  standing 
and  intelligence  of  the  McConahays,  invested  their  only  son  with  as  splendid 
an  intellect  as  Wayne  county  has  given  birth  to.  This  ancestry  has  a physical 
dignity,  stature  and  beauty,  that  so  greatly  distinguished  their  son.  The 
father,  Ephraim  Quinby,  Jr.,  was  a wise  and  prudent  man,  acquired  a large 
fortune,  mostly  in  real  estate,  located  in  many  of  the  western  cities,  but  largely 
in  Wooster,  which  was  improved  by  him  and  constituted  very  largely  the  first 
steps  of  progress  of  this  beautiful  city.  The  University  of  Wooster  received 
its  first  impulse  in  1868,  when  he  gave  twenty-one  acres  of  land  upon  which 
the  college  is  located;  he  contributed  additionally  to  the  endowment  of  the 
university;  he  established  the  Wayne  County  National  Bank,  which  yet  ex- 
ists as  one  of  the  most  prominent  banks  of  the  city.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  inherited  the  example,  benevolent  spirit  and  business  talent  of  his 
father,  as  well  as  his  fortune,  and  the  estate  grew  into  its  present  mammoth 
proportions  under  the  management  of  the  great  son  of  his  father.  As  soon 
as  his  age  would  permit,  his  education  commenced  at  the  private  school  of 
Mrs.  Pope,  was  continued  at  Dennison  College,  Granville,  Ohio,  and  then  at 
Kenyon  College,  Gambier.  Ohio.  He  soon  commenced  a business  career,  in 
which  he  was  engaged  when,  on  October  17,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Amelia 
C.  Schmertz,  of  Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania,  who  was  the  eldest  daughter  of 
William  E.  Schmertz,  of  that  city,  who  was  then  a member  of  the  Board  of 
Commerce,  president  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  and  one  of  the  largest 
boot  and  shoe  manufacturers  in  the  country.  She  was  also  the  granddaughter 
of  Rev.  David  Kimerer.  one  of  the  pioneer  ministers  of  Wooster,  a noted 
orator,  highly  respected,  and  he  was  such  a grand  old  man  that  the  people 


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'•  ' » \ » < u x tv,  * *u u>. 


' o.\  \lh>  M.  OL'lXHV. 


. . of  • h-tmpuis] sed  panmlape.  1 i i ^ grandfather 
- * - lllcr  of  Trumlmll  count  v.  ^ ) 1 1 i < > . lie  la  a I 

■ . mnl\  -eat,  was  juupe  of  the  court  in  that  uuni;, 

* . . . e u > . Il'X  piumd  father,  on  his  mother's  side. 

■ muted  \\  a;  ne  cr-imiv  in  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  in 
, ' - luupe.  ]h  heed  in  the  family  residence  in  \\  ooxut 
(•  t,  huhi  lain,  ;mn]  Ins  death.  Kphraun  Ooinhx,  lr.. 
'•■mi  Hs-mCdl  c * * n : ’ t \ and  married  to  Catharine  Mc- 

< marmm  I'd  ward  h.  Outnhy  \\a>  the  unlv  chdd.  and  wa- 
ji.  iS;t.  in  tiie  dd  ou.diay  homes! end. 

* i unhv.  jn.  the  had-ei  of  the  subject  of  tin’s  sketch,  had  all  the 
• air  tcier  of  the  (Juinh  x and.  c^mlmied.  with  the  Inch  >tnmhnp 
' m’  c of  the  Xiei  h i i a ’ a -,  mvmted  their  onlv  -on  wall  as  splendid 

a \\h  \ i a*  cottony  i , a s ph  m himh  to  d his  anccsti y has  a pin -sal 
u m-d  houM.  th;u  -o  pnnuh  < nsiinpuishod  their  ^m.  The 
!:  . a i a a i-e  anal  pmient  man,  acquired  a la:a;c 
• i '•.aim  main  d tiu*  western  cities.  hut  Ur  pci  v 
>n  hen  and  c -iis ; ‘ and  very  la  rye1}'  the  tir-t 
. ! c:tv.  The  Cni  er-iry  of  \\To>tcr  remixed 
i i . 'lie  pa  .v  t\\ent\-oiie  acres  ot  land)  njf-n  ahull 

J w < mu  ' - • . -arTum;  udditdmullv  to  tlie  endtowment  of  the 

e,  mmitm  he  tm  o the  \\  m nr  Counts  Xuoowal  Lank.  whan  \ O ex 

pi-  as  ne  of  mm*  most  pmuiiuem  Tmk>  of  tlie  chy.  The  >nh_i<*-' t of  o 
-her  * It  ; i i 1 1. 1 i 1 1 * n * he  mumpe.  hi  : e \ dent  s»int  and  Limh  s>  tad.;!  o . * 
f a he-  a-  .'.  el!  a - .u  > thtitunc.  a ■;  the  c-aue  prew  into  its  present  m:n  mi-  eji 
pr  »p  sM.  m dr  the  t:o  n op  : went  of  due  pool  s(  m of  Ins  father.  _\s  >om. 

■ i - Ins  ape  would  pc ! nut  im  edit-  at  .on  on  in  ,eno*<  ] at  the  pm.  a *■  o Too*  •• 
fd  m Cmo  mo  comimied  a;  Ik  mri-on  Colicpe.  CnanxilV.  ()].».  and  then  m 
knivoii  (.  ohcpn  i amhim.  < >h»o.  He  ■>«  on  commenced  a moiness  muon.  n 
w In*  h he  \\;e  up,ipd  v lam  -m  ( k mU  r it,  iOT  he  w »•  n poed  to  \nam  . 
C.  Nieneo/.  of  Ihtt -bmp.  i \-nn-'  !\ ama.  who  was  u-t  ehmst  <Iaupl.ter 

\\  diuun  l*h  N'liUMuto  of  ov:,  (htv.  vlr*  w o t’nen  .i  ..k’iiIu  r of  the  iha’d 
1 > M'\’n  c.  i.r-'-h-ut  -'f  the  Second  \at:  -;rd  h.mk.  and  one  of  da  ho. 
f>o.  ; ; *‘d  o of-  u r t.iein'er-  in  ti  e euntrv  > ie  \v;n  al-o  i ] u :p‘a:  d la,;pi  *■ 

o!  la"..  Ha.-*  . h*  'U'reM  oiw  o'  the  p'oueer  umi-teis  o!  W'v-ir,  a mm 

■ 71--.,r.  hue;  o • mu-d.  a;d  ,u  w ,t-  -ueh  i puual  old  man  dmt  ’’ne  j-io- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


809 


involuntarily  raised  their  hats  in  his  presence.  He  was  a minister  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  The  Quinbys  were  of  the  Presbyterian  faith. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  a number  of 
years,  discontinuing  in  1879,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  window  glass 
at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  with  E.  C.  Schmertz  as  a partner,  which  was  con- 
tinued from  1879  until  1884.  His  father  having  died  on  January  30,  1880, 
the  large  estate  left  the  subject  of  the  sketch  called  him  to  Wooster.  He 
owned  the  Wayne  County  National  Bank  for  a short  time  after  his  father's 
death  and  sold  it  to  Jacob  Frick.  Commencing  in  1884-5,  he  carried  out  a 
comprehensive  plan  of  improvement  of  his  real  property.  In  the  spring  of 
1885  he  erected  the  Quinby  block  in  Cleveland  on  the  corner  of  Euclid  and 
Wilson  avenues,  at  a cost  of  seventy  thousand  dollars,  which  is  occupied  in 
part  by  one  of  the  largest  branches  of  the  Cleveland  Trust  Company.  In 
1887  he  erected  a large  four-story  building  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  public 
square  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  this  building  being  occupied  principally  by  the 
William  Annat  dry  goods  store.  In  1889  he  erected  a building,  seventy  by 
fifty-five  feet,  in  the  rear  of  McClure's  store  fronting  on  Diamond  alley. 
In  1890  he  built  a three-story  building  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public 
square  and  East  Liberty  street,  with  a modern  basement  running  the  entire 
length  of  the  building;  this  building  is  occupied  by  the  Alvin  Rich  hardware 
store.  In  1894  he  built  the  three-story  building  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  public  square  occupied  by  the  McClure  stove  and  house  furnishing 
store. 

The  truth  is  worthy  of  observation  that  the  foregoing  constitute  but  an 
imperfect  schedule  of  the  improvements  that  so  greatly  embellish  his  native 
town,  and  not  only  illustrate  the  wisdom  of  his  management  but  the  benevo- 
lence of  his  character.  Of  the  many  private  acts  of  charity  and  benevolence 
necessarily  connected  with  a large  estate,  the  rehearsal  would  not  be  in  har- 
mony with  the  habits  or  wishes  of  Edward  M.  Quinby. 

The  peculiar  mental  habits  and  reticence  of  Mr.  Quinby  adorn  his  life; 
his  splendid  manhood  was  private;  there  was  not  the  slightest  ostentation  in 
any  situation  in  which  he  was  placed;  he  inherited  the  calm,  composed,  re- 
flective demeanor  of  the  Quinbys  and  McConahays ; he  was  as  perfect  a gen- 
tleman as  Wooster  ever  produced.  Mrs.  Quinby  gives  him  the  character  of 
a prince,  so  gentle,  so  noble,  was  he  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  Intellectually, 
he  was  the  equal  of  the  highest  type  of  man.  He  was  comprehensive,  dis- 
criminating. strong,  not  to  be  deceived,  without  passion,  without  anger,  gen- 
erally meeting  an  inadmissible  proposition  with  a smile  and  a reason.  He  had 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


pleasant  associates,  was  companionable  with  them,  belonged  to  clubs,  lived 
mostly  in  sunshine  ; was  a modest  man,  but  it  was  not  affectation,  it  was  a con- 
trolling sense  of  propriety;  he  had  a wide,  modern  infonnation,  and  surprised 
one  with  scientific  analysis,  with  occult  suggestions.  His  success  in  his  great 
business  affairs  was  phenomenal.  His  estate  was  largely  increased  in  value; 
he  contributed  immensely  to  taxation  in  Wooster  and  in  the  state;  he  was  a 
public  benefactor;  he  deserved  the  encomiums  of  every  inhabitant  of  Wooster. 

To  Edward  M.  Quinby  and  wife  nine  children  were  bom,  as  follows: 
Herbert,  deceased;  Catherine  Louise  married  E.  P.  Sturges,  now  deceased,  of 
Zanesville,  Ohio;  Edward  M.,  Jr.;  Eleanor  married  Roger  W.  Whinfield; 
Margaret ; William  E. ; Kenneth ; and  Anita.  To  the  accomplishments  of 
Edward  M.  Quinby  as  a native  of  Wooster  are  to  be  added  the  refinements 
of  travel  and  the  broad  elegance  of  the  manners  of  the  international  life. 
With  his  family  he  found  a pleasant  retreat  in  Germany,  and  his  children,  en- 
tering upon  a system  of  education  there,  detained  him  longer,  perhaps,  than 
contemplated.  To  the  writer  he  expressed  the  intention  of  returning  to  Woos- 
ter in  a couple  of  years.  Without  having  time  to  do  so,  he  died  on  the  2nd 
of  July.  1909.  He  was  constantly  engaged  in  traveling  from  Europe  to 
Wooster  to  see  his  large  estates ; he  improved  the  old  ancestral  home  on  South 
Market  street,  and  in  the  spring  of  1909,  at  the  hotel  in  Wooster,  he  seemed 
buoyant,  full  of  life  and  hope  and  pleased  with  the  familiar  scenes  of  his  early 
life. 


EDWARD  M.  GRANT. 

In  East  Union  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  located  the  fine  home- 
stead farm  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  who  was  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  Ohio,  having  been  born  in  Stark  county,  of  which  his  father  was  an  early 
settler.  Mr.  Grant  was  prominently  interested  in  agriculture  and  the  raising 
of  livestock  and  his  progressive  methods  and  discriminating  judgment  placed 
him  among  the  successful  farmers  and  business  men  of  his  native  county, 
while  he  so  ordered  his  life  as  to  gain  and  retain  the  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  those  with  whom  he  was  thrown  in  contact.  It  is  clearly  incumbent 
that  a sketch  of  his  life  be  incorporated  in  a work  having  to  do  with  the  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  the  county. 

Edward  M.  Grant’s  life  began  on  the  31st  of  May,  1834,  and  he  is  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Crawford)  Grant.  The  paternal  grandfather 
was  George  Grant,  a native  of  New  Jersey,  who  moved  in  a very  early  day 


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to  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  Joseph  being  then  but  two  years  old. 
George  Grant  was  a practical  and  energetic  farmer  and  acquired  considerable 
property,  being  considered  quite  well-to-do  for  his  day.  Joseph  Grant  was 
reared  in  his  Pennsylvania  home  and  received  a fair  education  in  the  schools 
of  that  state.  He  married  in  that  state  and  in  1834  he  and  his  wife  emigrated 
to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  locating  on  a tract  of  land  four  miles  east  of  Mount 
Eaton.  There  he  developed  a fine  farm  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
he  and  his  wife  being  buried  at  Mount  Eaton.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fifteen  children,  of  whom  eleven  reached  years  of  maturity,  their  names 
being  William  C.,  Rebecca,  Keziah,  Joseph,  Cassie  J.,  Edward  M.,  John  A.. 
Jesse,  Alonzo  and  Melissa,  twins.  Joseph  Grant  was  an  enterprising  and 
progressive  man  and  was  public  spirited  in  his  attitude  towards  movements 
for  the  public  good.  He  possessed  personal  qualities  of  a high  order  and 
enjoyed  the  unbounded  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  by  his  parents  and  he  secured 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a 
brief  period,  but  returned  to  the  farm  and  during  practically  his  entire  life 
devoted  himself  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  in  which  he  was  eminently  success- 
ful. At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  in  1857,  Mr.  Grant  moved  onto  an  eighty- 
acre  tract  of  land  belonging  to  his  father,  but  subsequently  he  moved  to 
Wood  county,  this  state,  where  he  remained  a year.  In  1863  he  moved  onto 
the  farm  in  section  21,  East  Union  township,  and  which  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-three  acres.  He  went  into  debt  for  his  original  purchase, 
but  through  persistent  industry,  good  management  and  wise  economy  he  was 
enabled  to  get  out  of  debt.  The  property  is  splendidly  improved  with  a 
large,  commodious  and  well-arranged  residence,  fine  bams  and  other  neces- 
sary outbuildings,  while  the  place  is  characterized  by  well-kept  fences  and 
highly  cultivated  fields,  the  general  appearance  of  the  place  indicating  the 
splendid  characteristics  of  the  late  owner.  Here  Mr.  Grant  carried  on  a 
general  line  of  farming,  in  connection  with  which  he  gave  some  attention  to 
the  raising  of  livestock,  so  important  an  adjunct  to  successful  farming. 
He  was  very  successful  as  a raiser  of  potatoes,  which  acquired  a good  repu- 
tation because  of  the  superiority  of  the  quality  and  he  had  no  trouble  finding 
a ready  market  for  his  entire  product. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Grant  occurred  on  April  21,  1910,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years,  and  the  funeral  services,  which  were  held  in  the  Presby- 
terian church,  were  the  most  largely  attended  of  any  held  in  the  community 
in  many  years.  The  floral  tributes,  which  were  numerous,  were  beautiful 


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WAYNE  COUNTY*  OHIO. 


in  character  and  the  general  sentiment  was  that  the  community  had  suffered 
an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Grant.  At  that  time  the  church  of 
which  he  was  a member  caused  the  following  words  to  be  published:  “We 

again  arise  for  duty  from  the  deep  gloom  that  death  has  occasioned  in  our 
midst  by  taking  from  us  our  fellow  laborer,  Edward  M.  Grant,  who  united 
with  the  church  June  30,  1863,  was  elected  to  the  eldership  of  the  church 
in  1884,  which  position  he  continued  to  fill  with  faithfulness  until  death. 
‘Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.’  He  leaves  to  mourn  his  loss 
an  aged  wife,  now  in  her  eighty-first  year,  who  has  been  all  her  life  a faith- 
ful member,  most  liberal  supporter  and  co-worker  of  this  same  church.  They 
are  people  who  will  be  greatly  missed  when  gone  and  a vacancy  will  be  felt  in 
both  church  and  community  which  will  be  hard  to  fill.” 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1857,  Mr.  Grant  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Permelia  Harrold,  who  was  born  in  1830.  No  children  have  been  bom  to 
this  union,  but  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant,  out  of  the  kindness  of  their  hearts,  reared 
two  children,  Andrew  Zeigler  and  Jennie  Hayes,  and  to  these  children  they 
gave  the  same  care  and  attention  they  would  have  given  to  children  of  their 
own  blood.  These  children  are  now  both  grown  and  are  heads  of  families 
of  their  own. 

In  religion  Mr.  Grant  was  a Presbyterian,  holding  membership  in  the 
church  of  that  denomination  at  Apple  Creek,  to  which  Mrs.  Grant  belongs. 
Mrs.  Grant  donated  the  ground  on  which  the  church  now  stands.  Mr.  Grant 
served  for  twenty-five  years  as  an  elder  in  the  church  and  in  many  ways  this 
worthy  couple  showed  their  sincere  interest  in  the  society.  In  politics  Mr. 
Grant  gave  an  enthusiastic  support  to  the  Republican  party,  in  the  success  of 
which  he  was  deeply  interested.  He  was  a man  of  recognized  influence  in 
the  community  and  his  support  was  always  found  on  the  side  of  every  move- 
ment calculated  to  benefit  the  community,  morally,  educationally,  religiously, 
socially  or  materially.  His  genial  disposition,  rugged  honesty  and  blameless 
life  won  for  him  the  unbounded  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 


JOHN  B.  HOSTETLER. 

The  agricultural  interests  of  Wayne  county  have  no  better  representa- 
tives than  its  native  born  citizens,  many  of  whom  are  classed  among  its 
most  practical,  enterprising  and  successful  farmers.  One  of  this  number  is 


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813 

Mr.  Hostetler,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Greene  township. 
Dependent  largely  on  his  own  resources  from  his  boyhood,  he  has  so  applied 
his  energies  and  ability  as  to  attain  a success  worthy  the  name,  while  his 
high  standing  in  the  community  indicates  the  objective  appreciation  of  his 
sterling  character. 

John  B.  Hostetler  was  born  in  Greene  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  30th  of  April,  1874,  and  is  a son  of  David  and  Barbara  (Yoder) 
Hostetler.  David  Hostetler  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  March  10,  1839,  Barbara  Yoder  was  born  in  Wayne  county  January 
2,  1841.  They  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Malinda,  the 

wife  of  M.  W.  Hurst,  of  Baughman  township,  this  county;  Samuel,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Levi  F. 
married  Amanda  Steele  and  lives  in  Greene  township,  this  county ; John,  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  Amanda,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years;  David,  who  died  at  ten  years  of  age;  Minnie,  who  remains  single 
and  is  living  at  home. 

John  B.  Hostetler  was  reared  at  home  and  grew  in  close  acquaintance 
with  the  routine  life  of  a farm.  As  soon  as  old  enough  he  took  upon  him- 
self his  share  of  the  labor  during  the  summer  seasons,  while  during  the 
winters  he  attended  the  common  schools.  He  had  a marked  talent  for  music, 
which  he  studied  much  at  home  and  also  took  one  term  of  musical  instruc- 
tion at  Wooster  University.  During  the  greater  part  of  five  years  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  singing  classes,  and  along  this  line  was  quite  successful. 
After  he  had  attained  his  majority  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account 
and  has  followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  continuously  since.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  the  old  Longenecker  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and  forty- 
four  acres  of  fine  land  situated  in  section  31,  township  17  north,  range  12 
west.  Here  he  carried  on  expensive  operations  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 
being  thoroughly  equipped  for  both  lines  of  activity  in  the  way  of  modern 
machinery  and  permanent  and  substantial  improvements.  His  fields  are 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  good  and  substantial  buildings  adorn 
the  place  and  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  indicates  to  the  passer-by  the 
supervision  of  a progressive  owner. 

In  matters  of  political  importance  Mr.  Hostetler  gives  his  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  his  religious  preference  is  indicated  by  his  membership 
in  the  Mennonite  church. 

On  November  28,  1897,  Mr.  Hostetler  married  Anna  Longenecker,  who 
was  born  in  1877  in  Greene  township,  on  the  farm  on  which  she  now  resides. 


Digitized  by  boogie 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


She  is  the  daughter  of  S.  B.  Longenecker.  Mr.  Hostetler  has  ever  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  enterprises  and  undertakings  which  have  been  projected 
for  the  general  good  of  the  community  and  his  attitude  has  been  that  of  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen. 


DAVID  HOSTETLER. 

Among  the  honored  and  venerable  citizens  of  Wayne  county  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review,  who  has  here  maintained  his  home  for  a period  of  nearly 
three-quarters  of  a century,  winning  a definite  success  by  means  of  the  agri- 
cultural industry,  to  which  he  devoted  his  attention  during  the  long  years  of 
an  active  business  life.  He  is  now  retired  and  is  enjoying  that  repose  and 
rest  which  are  due  to  him  now  that  the  shadows  of  his  life  begin  to  lengthen 
in  the  golden  west.  His  career  has  been  without  shadow  of  wrong  or  sus- 
picion of  evil,  and  thus  he  has  ever  commanded  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  his  fellow  men,  his  three  score  and  ten  years  resting  lightly  upon  him  and 
being  crowned  with  honor. 

David  Hostetler  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
March  io,  1839,  and  he  is  a son  of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  (Yoder)  Hos- 
tetler. Christian  Hostetler  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1800,  and  he  was  a 
son  of  John  Hostetler,  also  a native  of  the  Keystone  state.  Christian  Hos- 
tetler came  with  his  family  by  wagon  from  Pennsylvania  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  about  1829,  and  settled  in  Wayne  township,  about  four  miles  east  of 
Wooster.  Here  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  nearly  all 
of  which  was  densely  covered  with  the  primeval  forest.  This  he  cleared  and 
brought  to  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  so  that  in  the  course  of  time  it 
became  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  locality.  He  also  acquired  the  ownership 
of  other  farms  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  considered  a man  of  means. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  church.  He  was  the  father  of 
the  following  children : An  infant  that  died  unnamed ; Samuel,  Lydia,  John, 
Jeptha,  Barbara,  Christian,  Nancy,  David  and  Jonathan. 

Of  these.  David  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  his  home  township.  He  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  and  then  he  started  out  for 
himself,  working  on  farms  by  the  day  and  also  as  a member  of  a threshing 
machine  crew.  He  was  energetic  and  economical  and  when  he  was  married, 
in  1864,  he  was  the  owner  of  a fine  farm,  which  he  continued  to  operate  until 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


815 


the  spring  of  1906,  when  he  gave  up  active  farm  work  and  moved  to  Weilers- 
ville,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  a quiet,  unassuming  man,  and  his  life 
has  been  so  ordered  as  to  win  for  him  the  sincere  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  know  him. 

In  1864  Mr.  Hostetler  married  Barbara  Yoder,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
county  January  2,  1841,  and  to  them  the  following  children  were  born:  Ma-. 
linda,  the  wife  of  M.  W.  Hurst,  of  Baughman  township;  Samuel,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years;  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Levi  F. 
married  Amanda  Steele  and  lives  in  Greene  township  (see  sketch  elsewhere  in 
this  work)  ; Amanda  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  David  died  at  the 
age  of  ten  years;  Minnie  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  her  parents. 

Religiously  the  family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  of  this 
society  the  subject  is  an  active  minister,  having  been  ordained  to  this  sacred 
calling  in  1872.  He  is  a man  of  many  splendid  qualifications  and  has  richly 
earned  the  high  standing  which  he  now  enjoys  in  the  community. 


JOHN  C.  CONRAD. 

Through  a long  period  the  name  of  Conrad  has  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  Wayne  county.  It  is  an  untarnished  name  and  one 
that  is  familiar  to  the  people  of  this  county  by  reason  of  the  honorable  and 
useful  lives  of  those  who  have  borne  it.  John  C.  Conrad,  of  this  review,  is 
a gentleman  whose  history  forms  a connecting  link  between  the  pioneer  past 
and  the  modern  present.  He  saw  the  country  in  the  days  when  it  seemed 
in  some  respects  almost  on  the  borders  of  civilization,  its  present  wonderful 
development  being  then  but  in  the  bud.  In  the  work  of  progress  and  devel- 
opment that  has  since  wrought  such  marvelous  changes  he  has  borne  his  part, 
and  today  he  ranks  among  those  substantial  and  valued  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity who  laid  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  of  the  present  prosperity  of 
the  county. 

Mr.  Conrad  was  born  in  Baughman  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on 
the  3d  of  December,  1843.  He  the  son  of  Martin  and  Anna  (Conrad) 
Conrad,  who  were  own  cousins.  The  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob 
Conrad,  was  a native  of  France  and  the  father  of  five  children,  Jacob,  Cath- 
• arine,  Peter,  Martin  and  Christ.  Martin  Conrad  came  to  this  country  with 
his  parents  at  the  age  of  six  years.  He  met  with  the  misfortune  of  the  loss 
of  one  leg  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He  settled  on  section  7,  Baughman 


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township,  this  county,  where  they  successfully  followed  farming  pursuits, 
and  there  they  reared  their  three  children,  who  were  Fannie,  the  wife  of  C.  C. 
Graber,  John  and  Lydia.  Martin  Conrad,  who  became  quite  wealthy,  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

John  C.  Conrad  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  a prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  locality.  On  reaching  the  proper 
age  he  took  up  the  duties  of  the  farm  and  has  applied  himself  to  agricultural 
pursuits  continuously  since.  For  a number  of  years  he  gave  his  attention  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  meeting  with  fair  success,  but  in  1882  he 
moved  to  his  present  farm,  which  is  located  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2,  Greene  township.  On  this  place  he  has  a number  of  good  and  substan- 
tial improvements  and  has  maintained  the  place  at  a high  standard  of  excel- 
lence. The  soil  is  good  and  Mr.  Conrad  reaps  abundant  crops  as  the  fruitage 
of  his  labors.  He  confines  his  efforts  to  no  special  line,  but  carries  on  a 
diversified  system  of  agriculture,  combined  with  which  he  also  raises  large 
numbers  of  livestock,  finding  this  combination  a profitable  one.  The  appear- 
ance of  the  premises  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a man  of  good  judgment  and 
progressive  ideas. 

On  December  8,  1870,  Mr.  Conrad  married  Catharine  Ramseyer,  and  the 
fruits  of  this  union  have  been  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  namely : 
Peter  R. ; Amos ; Martin ; Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Leichly ; Amanda,  the 
wife  of  E.  D.  Miller.  The  three  sons  were  located  on  farms  by  their  father's 
assistance  and  have  proved  to  be  successful  farmers.  The  family,  except  one, 
are  all  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  church  and  give  every  moral  move- 
ment their  unstinted  support.  In  politics  Mr.  Conrad  is  a Democrat  and  takes 
a commendable  interest  in  public  affairs,  though  he  is  not  in  any  sense  a seeker 
after  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office.  He  is  public-spirited  and 
gives  support  to  enterprises  for  the  public  good,  being  a stockholder  in  the 
Millersburg  Telephone  Company  and  the  Orrville  National  Bank.  A man  of 
highest  integrity  and  of  unvarying  courtesy  and  kindliness,  he  is  honored  by 
all  who  know  him  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of 
Greene  township. 


LINCOLN  A.  YOCUM,  M.  D. 

Health  and  disease  are  physical  conditions  upon  which  pleasure  and  pain, 
success  and  failure  depend.  By  the  law  of  economics,  the  conservative  and 
preservative  code,  every  individual  gain  increases  the  public  gain.  Upon  the 


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\y\L  CO L’ XI  V, 


' ‘Mv  -n<  v essttdlv  followed  tanning  pmsuits, 
' ’*  * - e O'  i'Caai,  ^ \ I o > were  Fannie,  the  v.  i i'e  m ( , (T 

: '•  mlm  C’-  »urad.  »hi|  became  quite  weaklw.  dwd 

’ ' • -mo!  nii' wr  the  u cental  roof  an* l secured  a pv.w- 

• ■ • • -n  sc%pt  T of  uw-  lovably.  On  reaching  the  p:  of*  •* 

■ c-ii  she  taim  an  turn  applied  himself  to  agricuYura  I 
I <c  a "•  ‘her  of  years  lie  ga\e  hi>  uuvutsat  * 
.•  :•  me  from.  ^ ■ . u g with  fa’r  a;o'e<s  but  in  i SS  J he 
• ai  n,  w 1 1 1 * 'mated  in  the  northwest  qu  mtet  of  mm 
■ . . •■h/n.  Of?  ^ ■ . .me  lie  hits  «t  number  of  good  and  ml  mam 

■ '*  '■  and  has  . m 'm|  the  j?hu e at  a Inch  standard  of  excel-' 
h is  i<  m I a * 1 d mrad  r<  ajw  -abundant  cujs  as  the  fruitage, 

i le  cmb.  - ebb  rw  to  no  <]*K cud  line  but  can  km  on  a 

i s \ wteni  of  a -j,  ooTmed  wnb  winch  he  also  tames  hoop* 

hvest.O  . • tb  s eomirpation  a pr* » lit  a hie  i me.  The  . • | >p\.v  r- 

t ■ « me1  .ef#  - the  • o\ nei  to  l.,e  a man  of  good  judgment  md 

• ■ •••  ••  . o u ".'a!  manned  Catharine  kamseyer,  and  the 

■ ■ iv'h.  i'  of  whom  U\  e are  living,  namely: 

: .me  of  j.  I\  Leich.fv;  Amanda,  the 

t h K*atnl  on  farms  hv  their  fed  erbs 
. * ' ’ d farmers.  The  family.  except  etc, 

i k : ■ t • c no  ehtireh  and  give  e\  eyv  moral  m<  *'  o- 

mcm  ’*  m • ‘ mpp-n  urn  Mr.  Conrad  is  a Lkmoerat  and  tabes 

a om or  ' west  in  p'  cMirs,  though  he  is  not  in  any  sens**  a set  ker 

a fie”  :Y  ••  as  (,r  eui  h ■ ->f  public  office.  lie  is  public-spirited  and 

gives  * 'j.'  - ? t<?  enterin’  •’*  the  public  good,  being  a stockholdt  r in  the 

Millers’  c Telephone  v . o ait'!  tin  ( frrville  National  Hank.  A man  «*f 
highest  wjNggritv  and  * * , .arcing  r*  *iines\-  and  kigMIuiesm  he  is  honored  hv 

ah  win  know  him  a’  m regarded  as  true  of  the  representative  chizcmbd 
( ireeue  township, 

LINO  )LN  A.  VOCl’M.  >!.  I). 

Htalw  dp. -ease  a e ph vocal  conditions  noon  which  pleasure  ami  ne.ir. 
vf'o  rc  hire  'kpen’d  IT  the  law  of  coon? >mio.  the  conservative-  ami 
pa  se  c -.de  even  mdAddual  gain  increases  the  public  gain.  T'p(,n  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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health  of  thexpeople  as  a mass  is  fulcrummed  the  prosperity  of  the  nations; 
by  it  every  value  is  enhanced,  every  joy,  every  condition  becomes  intensive. 

Life  is  incomplete  without  the  possession  and  use  of  healthy  organs  and 
faculties,  for  these  are  productive  of,  or  give  rise  to,  the  delightful  and  thril- 
ling sensations  of  existence.  Health — and  we  might  assert  it  as  a maxim — 
is  essential  to  the  accomplishment  of  every  purpose  and  aim  of  human  life. 
Sickness  is  the  stern  blockade  to  the  best  intentions  and  most  worthy  and 
exacted  aspirations.  The  facts  are,  we  are  perpetually  deciding  upon  those 
conditions  which  either  induce  emotions  and  sensations  or  occasion  the  rever- 
sionary exhibits  of  pleasure  and  pain.  Prudence  and  our  better  common 
judgment  require  us  to  meet  the  foes  and  obviate  the  dangers  which  threaten 
us,  by  turning  all  of  our  philosophy,  science  and  art  into  practical  common 
sense. 

The  profession  of  medicine  is  no  sinecure,  “no  benefice  without  a cure 
of  souls”;  its  labors  are  constant,  its  toils  unremitting,  its  sacrifices  legion, 
and  its  cares  increasing.  The  physician  is  expected  by  many  to  confront  the 
grim  monster,  “break  the  jaws  of  death,  and  pluck  the  spoil  out  of  his  teeth.” 
His  ear  is  ever  attentive  to  entreaty,  and  within  his  faithful  breast  are  con- 
cealed the  disclosures  and  confidences  of  human  suffering.  Success  should 
stimulate  to  a better  service,  as  conquest  flushes  and  strengthens  the  victor.  We 
lavish  and  pile  up  honors  on  the  military  chieftain  who  has  slain  his  thou- 
sands; disease  slays  its  tens  of  thousands;  and  is  not  the  defeat  of  this  ad- 
versary a more  glorious  and  brilliant  achievement? 

With  the  three  liberal  professions  presented  to  them,  the  young  men, 
fresh  from  the  college,  the  academy  or  the  high  schools  have,  if  they  desire  to 
enter,  the  choice  of  the  one  upon  which  they  prefer  to  enter:  the  legal,  with 
its  dry  technicalities  and  classic  literature;  the  medical,  with  its  dignities  and 
elegancies  of  commanding  authorship ; the  clerical,  proclaiming  the  warnings 
of  phophecy,  its  promises  of  pardon  and  happiness. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  saw  proper  at  the  termination 
of  his  rudimentary  course  of  education,  to  make  the  choice,  and  determination 
to  devote  his  life  to  the  study  and  practice  of  the  healing  art. 

Lincoln  A.  Yocum  was  born  in  Warrenton,  in  the  county  of  Warren,  state 
of  Missouri,  May  8,  1867,  and  is  a son  of  James  E.  Yocum,  a former  resi- 
dent and  citizen  of  Wayne  county.  His  earlier  labors  and  experiences  were 
upon  the  farm  with  his  father,  where  he  remained  till  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age,  having  availed  himself,  during  the  preceding  years,  of  the  opportunities 
and  advantages  of  an  excellent  public  school  system,  such  as  is  furnished  by 

(52) 


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the  great  commonwealth  of  Missouri.  He  then  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
making  his  home  with,  or  rather  becoming  a member  of  the  family  of  his 
uncle,  Dr.  Joseph  H.  Todd,  of  this  city.  He  soon  thereafter  registered  as  a 
pupil  of  the  high  school,  from  which,  after  three  years  of  close  application, 
industrious  effort  and  hard,  faithful  study,  he  graduated  in  1891. 

After  this  diligent  and  efficient  course  at  the  high  school,  characterized 
by  the  most  systematic  disciplinary  methods  with  James  C.,  only  son  and  child 
of  Doctor  Todd,  now  an  eminent  practicing  physician  and  author  of  a recent 
volume,  now  of  Denver,  Colorado,  as  his  companion  in  study,  vacation  and  in 
the  fields,  he  spent  two  summer  terms  at  the  Wooster  University,  devoting  the 
time  not  absorbed  in  his  college  work  to  the  study  of  the  profession  upon 
whose  ancient  and  historical  waters,  sometimes  serene,  sometimes  billowy,  he 
had  resolved  to  unfurl  a sail.  He  had  meantime  completed  a full  course  at 
Bixler’s  Business  College,  graduating  therefrom  with  diploma. 

Having  equipped  himself  by  energetic  study  in  the  office  of  Doctor  Todd, 
aided  by  the  counsel,  tutelage  and  experience  of  this  eminent  gentleman  and 
scholar,  not  only  in  his  profession,  but  along  the  lines  of  science,  among  the 
surface  lights  and  central  glooms  of  the  old  earth,  crowding  and  crowning  his 
shelves  with  the  spoils  of  nature  and  art,  he  matriculated  at  the  Marion-Sims 
Medical  College,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where,  after  the  consummation  of  the 
outlined  line  of  work,  study,  experimentation,  drill,  etc.,  he  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1895.  He  then  returned  to  Wooster,  re-entered  the  office  of  Doctor 
Todd  as  partner,  remaining  with  him  for  three  years,  when  he  assumed  for 
himself  the  responsibility  of  professional  work,  opening  an  office  on  West  Lib- 
erty street,  nearly  opposite  his  present  office  and  residence,  to  engage  in  “life's 
long  battle  with  disease/’  dispense  the  healing  balms  and  “lift  unmoved  the 
glittering  knife.”  Not  much  leisure  or  suspensive  waiting  was  accorded  him, 
as  he  was  prepared  for  the  exigencies  of  the  hour  and  the  service  that  came  to 
him.  He  was  not  like  a stray  joint  in  the  boy’s  puzzle  that  fits  into  no  place, 
but  his  adjustments  fitted  him  to  many  and  to  any. 

Doctor  Yocum  was  married  October  5,  1878.  to  Leodema  A.  Phillips, 
of  this  city,  a refined  and  educated  young  lady,  there  having  been  born  to 
this  union  three  children,  Emerson  P.,  Miriam  Louise,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Katherine  R.,  the  former  nine  years  old  and  the  latter  two  years.  And 
it  must  be  noted  with  a feeling  of  pleasure,  the  kindliness,  the  loving  and  af- 
fectionate memory  of  Doctor  Yocum,  in  christening  his  son  by  the  name  of 
Emerson — a tribute,  indeed  of  a loyal  heart,  to  an  older  brother  of  fine  mental 
qualities,  professional  attainments  and  conceded  force  of  character,  who  had 
studied  with  Doctor  Todd,  graduating  from  the  same  medical  college  as  did 


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his  brother,  on  his  return  going  into  practice  with  his  preceptor  for  three 
years.  His  health  becoming  somewhat  impaired,  he  went  to  Thomasville, 
Georgia,  With  the  hope  of  its  restoration,  but  his  anticipations  were  crushed, 
death  ensuing,  as  a result  of  pneumonia,  following  an  attack  of  typhoid 
fever. 

We  can  congratulate  the  Doctor  in  his  years,  that  not  one  star  has  grown 
dim  in  the  cluster  of  his  first  manhood,  that  not  one  shows  portents  of  setting 
in  the  coming  tomorrows.  Fresh,  ambitious,  with  an  earnest  heart,  a clear 
brain,  moulded  to  his  duties,  without  unnecessary  suspicion  or  doubt  of  him- 
self, his  right  is  indisputable  to  have  faith  in  himself  and  make  pledges  to 
fate  or  fortune. 

The  Doctor  is  a quasi-Wayne  county  product,  though  born  in  "the  State 
of  the  Compromise”  and  Tom  Benton,  having  lived  here  since  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  his  father  being  born  and  raised  near  Millbrook  in  old  Wayne,  for 
which  today  he  entertains  a most  pleasant  recollection,  especially  of  Wooster, 
where  at  one  time  he  was  clerk  for  the  old-time  popular  clothing  store  of 
John  Crall  & Henry.  He  was  one  of  the  Argonauts,  the  California  “Forty- 
niners,^ ” veined  into  the  prose  of  Claggett  and  Bret  Harte.  He  was  married 
to  Adelaide  Mendenhall,  of  Clinton  township,  a Methodist,  and  had  a family 
of  children. 

Doctor  Yocum  is  progressive  and  alert  in  his  profession,  seeking  at  all 
times  to  promote  its  interests,  advance  its  claims  to  higher  standards  and  ideals 
and  widen  comprehensibly  its  spheres  of  usefulness.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Wayne  County  Medical  Society  and  its  president,  actively  participating  in  its 
sessions  and  deliberations  with  the  other  medical  and  literary  gentlemen  con- 
stituting its  members,  with  the  zeal  of  an  enthusiast  in  medical  science.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  Ohio  State  and  American  Medical  Associations.  He 
was  one  of  the  five  practicing  physicians  of  Wooster  who  purchased  the  build- 
ings and  beautiful  areas  upon  which  are  located  the  Wooster  Hospital,  on 
North  Market  street. 

Doctor  Yocum  is  advancing  toward  the  full  vigor  and  strength  of  middle 
life,  earnest,  energetic,  buoyant,  with  blood  and  nerve  thrilling  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  what  is  best  along  the  alignments  of  medical  science  and 
stimulate  the  dignity  and  ambition  of  his  profession  to  the  proud  plane  of 
constant  and  continual  elevations.  He  is  a gentleman  eminently  fitted  for 
the  complexity  of  his  work,  composite  in  his  qualifications  as  his  clientele  is 
composite,  a man  of  conscious  sympathy,  a liberal  man  with  moral  qualities 
such  as  naturally  spring  from  an  elevated  and  cultivated  mind,  and  a heart 
penetrated  with  the  love  of  whatsoever  things  are  right  and  of  good  report. 
He  realizes  that  there  are  committed  to  his  profession  important  health  trusts 


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which  it  holds  not  simply  in  its  own  behalf  but  for  the  benefit  of  others,  and 
he  is  possessed  of  the  noble  aim  to  prove  worthy  of  this  generous  and  exacted 
commission  that  he  may  enjoy  present  as  well  as  retrospective  satisfaction, 
the  noblest  fruitage  of  professional  service — the  good  words : “Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servant.”  * 

— By  Ben  Douglas. 


EPHRAIM  J.  STEEL. 

As  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Wayne  county  and 
as  one  who  has  here  passed  his  entire  life,  it  is  certainly  consistent  that  there 
be  entered  in  this  work  a review  of  the  career  of  Ephraim  J.  Steel,  who  has 
long  been  identified  with  the  agricultural  and  stock-growing  interests  of  the 
county,  having  a fine  estate  in  Greene  township  and  being  honored  as  one 
of  its  representative  men.  He  is  a native  of  the  township  in  which  he  now 
maintains  his  home,  having  been  bom  on  the  old  pioneer  homestead  on  the 
23d  of  November,  1869.  He  is  descended  from  a line  of  pioneers,  his  great- 
grandfather, John  Steel,  having  come  to  this  county  from  Pennsylvania  in 
1814  and  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Wayne  county,  in  the  early  develop- 
ment of  which  he  played  an  important  part.  He  married  Fannie  Lantz  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  three  children,  Jacob  and  two  daughters.  Jacob 
married  Sarah  A.  Weaver  and  to  them  were  born  sixteen  children,  named  as 
follows:  Mary  became  the  wife  of  Solomon  Smith;  Martha  was  the  wife 

of  John  Hoover;  Isaac  married  Elizabeth  Hoover;  Jacob  married  Mary  A. 
Martin;  Joseph,  who  also  married;  Amos  married  Mella  Swinehart;  William 
married  a Miss  Haines;  Fannie  became  the  wife  of  Jacob  Fike;  five  children 
died  in  infancy.  Isaac  Steel  also  was  the  father  of  eleven  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Hoover, 
bearing  him  seven  children,  namely:  E.  J.,  who  married  Mary  M.  Brenne- 

man;  Sarah  A.,  unmarried;  Isaac  married  Nola  Frank;  Amanda,  who  became 
the  wife  of  L.  F.  Hostetler;  Cyrus  married  Alva  Kauffman;  Noah  married 
Olive  Forrer;  Clara,  the  wife  of  John  H.  Miller.  Elizabeth  Steel  died  March 
15,  1881,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Steel  married  Mary  Wiean,  and  to  them  were 
born  the  following  children : Melvin  married  Blanch  Hall ; Mable,  Grace  and 
Mary,  who  remain  unmarried.  Mr.  Steel  died  on  the  18th  of  March,  1892. 

Ephraim  J.  Steel  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead  in  Greene  township 
and  secured  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  wrorked  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  the  Levi 
Trover  farm,  where  he  remained  a year,  and  during  this  time  was  employed 


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by  the  day  at  farm  labor.  He  then  moved  to  East  Union  township,  where  he 
rented  a farm  and  operated  it  four  years.  In  1903  he  moved  onto  the  Tschantz 
farm  in  Greene  township,  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  a wide-awake  and  hus- 
tling farmer,  and  in  the  operation  of  his  farm  he  exercises  a soundness  of 
judgment  and  a careful  discrimination  which  insures  him  abundant  returns 
for  the  labor  bestowed.  He  carries  on  a general  line  of  farming,  raising  all 
the  crops  common  to  this  latitude,  and  has  achieved  a distinctive  success  in 
his  vocation. 

On  March  7,  1897,  Mr.  Steel  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony 
with  Mary  M.  Brenneman,  who  was  born  in  East  Union  township,  Wayne 
county,  on  the  3d  of  December,  1873,  the  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Eliza 
(Walter)  Brenneman.  John  R.  Brenneman  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  26,  1825,  and  his  wife,  Eliza  Walter,  was  bom  in 
Greene  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1831.  John  R.  Brenneman  was 
the  son  of  Henry  H.  Brenneman,  who  was  born  in  1814  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
he  the  son  of  Henry  Brenneman,  who  was  born  in  1793.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Steel  have  been  born  two  children,  namely:  Carl  W.,  bom  February  20, 

1898,  and  Paul,  bom  March  25,  1909. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Steel  gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic  party, 
and  has  served  one  year  as  assessor  of  Greene  township.  He  is  a man  of 
splendid  qualities  and  is  liked  by  all.  His  attention  is  given  to  general  farm- 
ing, and  in  all  that  he  undertakes  he  meets  with  creditable  success.  All  the 
splendid  improvements  on  his  place  are  monuments  to  his  enterprise,  indus- 
try and  economy  and  he  stands  high  as  an  enterprising  and  successful  agri- 
culturist. 


JACOB  S.  SHIBLER. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Greene  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  who  have 
built  up  a highly  creditable  reputation  and  have  distinguished  themselves  by 
right  and  honorable  living,  is  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch.  His*  prominence 
in  the  affairs  of  the  community  is  conceded  and  his  deeds  speak  for  them- 
selves. He  is  one  of  the  strongest  factors  in  this  community,  where  there 
are  many  men  of  sound  sense  and  ripe  judgment.  He  has  shown  his  eminent 
fitness  for  official  honors  after  many  years  spent  in  the  public  service,  and  he 
is  willing  that  his  record  should  speak  for  him. 

Jacob  S.  Shibler  was  bom  in  Smithville,  Ohio,  on  the  27th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1849,  an^  is  a son  of  Joseph  and  Rosanna  (Peters)  Shibler,  the  latter 
born  in  Pennsylvania  March  26,  1828.  Joseph  Shibler  was  bom  in  Pennsyl- 


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vania  on  the  24th  of  February,  1823,  and  in  the  same  year  he  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  locating  at  Smithville.  There  he 
grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a fair  education  in  the  schools  of  the  day,  which 
were  somewhat  primitive  in  methods  and  equipment.  On  attaining  mature 
years  he  learned  the  trade  of  a blacksmith,  which  he  followed  during  all  of 
his  active  years.  To  his  union  with  Rosanna  Peters  there  were  born  twelve 
children,  eight  boys  and  four  girls,  named  as  follows:  Jacob  S.,  Henry  G., 
F.  P.,  Israel  L.,  Charlotte  C,  J.  B.,  Sarah  W.  A.,  Hattie  Isabell,  William  W., 
Seneca  B.,  Rosa  V.  and  Samuel  G. 

Jacob  S.  Shibler  was  reared  at  Smithville  and  attended  the  common 
schools,  this  training  being  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Professor  Eberly’s 
school  at  Smithville.  Under  his  father's  direction  he  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  at  which  he  became  a proficient  workman.  He  commanded  his  full 
share  of  the  public  patronage  along  this  line,  and  was  successful  financially, 
so  that  in  recent  years  he  has  been  enabled  to  lay  aside  the  hammer  and  tongs 
and  retire  to  his  comfortable  home  in  Smithville,  where  he  now  resides.  His 
home  place  comprises  three  acres  of  land  and  is  a very  comfortable  and  pleas- 
ant home.  Mr.  Shibler’s  career  has  been  an  honorable  one  and  he  has  won 
and  retains  a host  of  wrarm  personal  friends. 

He  has  ever  had  a keen  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  community 
and  has  rendered  faithful  and  efficient  service  in  the  official  capacity  of  towrn- 
ship  clerk.  He  was  first  elected  to  this  responsible  position  in  1880  and 
served  in  all  about  fourteen  years,  being  the  present  incumbent  of  the  office; 
also  clerk  of  Smithville  since  it  was  incorporated  in  1888,  with  the  exception 
of  about  two  and  one-half  years,  and  clerk  of  the  school  board  about  sixteen 
years.  He  has  given  to  these  offices  the  same  careful  and  painstaking  atten- 
tion that  he  would  give  to  his  own  private  affairs,  and  his  frequent  re-election 
to  the  offices  is  a marked  evidence  of  the  appreciation  in  which  he  is  held 
by  his  fellowr  citizens.  His  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Republican  party, 
of  which  he  is  a stanch  supporter.  Fraternally  he  is  a charter  member  of 
Smithville  Lodge  No.  483,  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  has  passed  all 
the  chairs.  He  was  the  first  keeper  of  records  and  seal,  having  served  several 
years  in  this  capacity.  Mrs.  Shibler  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at 
Smithville  and  is  active  in  its  work  and  generous  in  its  support. 

In  1898  Mr.  Shibler  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sadie  E.  Currie,  who  was 
born  August  13,  1870,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  in  the  birth  of  one 
child,  Ruie  V.,  born  November  5,  1900.  Mr.  Shibler  is  a man  with  broad 
views  and  of  public  spirit,  and  one  wrho  takes  pride  in  the  progress  of  his 
township  and  the  enhancement  of  the  public  weal.  He  is  widely  knowrn  and 
is  highly  respected  by  all. 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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JOHN  W.  SHISLER. 

Wayne  county,  Ohio,  has  been  the  home  of  John  W.  Shisler  since  his 
boyhood,  and  he  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  honored  families  of  this 
section  of  the  state.  He  has  wrought  out  his  own  success  through  the  per- 
sistent application  of  his  energies  and  abdities  in  connection  with  the  great 
basic  art  of  agriculture,  and  is  known  as  a representative  farmer  of  Greene- 
township,  where  he  has  long  occupied  a leading  position  among  his  fellows. 
He  always  stands  for  the  best  interests  of  the  entire  community  and  any 
movement  that  promises  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow  citizens  receives  his 
endorsement  and  support. 

John  W.  Shisler  is  a native  son  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having  been 
born  in  Stark  county  on  the  8th  of  December,  1854.  His  parents  were  E.  C. 
and  Catharine  (Hamley)  Shisler,  the  former  of  whom  was  a native  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  came  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day,  locating 
first  in  Stark  county,  near  Greenville.  In  1865  he  came  to  Wayne  county 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was  a sturdy  citizen  and  en- 
joyed the  unlimited  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  the  father  of 
ten  children. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  family  came 
to  Wayne  county,  and  in  the  schools  of  Wayne  township  he  secured  a prac- 
tical education.  He  has  always  been  a close  reader  and  a keen  observer  of 
men  and  things  and  is  considered  a very  well-informed  man  on  matters  in 
general.  He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  has  followed  this  hon- 
orable occupation  all  the  years  of  his  active  life.  He  is  the  owner  of  a fine 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Greene  townsh’p  and  also  owns  forty 
acres  in  Wayne  township,  this  county.  He  has  acquired  most  of  this  land  as 
the  result  of  his  own  efforts,  and  has  brought  it  all  up  to  a high  state  of 
cultivation.  His  buildings  are  modern  in  style  and  kept  in  perfect  repair, 
and  his  farms  are  well  supplied  with  modern  machinery  and  all  the  accessories 
of  a modem  and  up-to-date  farm.  He  grows  all  the  crops  common  to  this 
section  of  the  country  and  has  met  with  a success  commensurate  with  his 
efforts.  In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  Mr.  Shisler  gives  consid- 
erable attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock,  in  wh:ch  also  he  has  been  suc- 
cessful, giving  special  direction  to  Durham  cattle  and  general  purpose  horses. 

In  1878  Mr.  Shisler  married  Emma  E.  Stutzman,  who  was  born  in 
Smithville,  and  to  this  union  have  been  bom  eight  children,  namely:  Elias; 

Effie,  the  wife  of  Lawrence  K.  Miller;  Frank  S.,  Mabel,  Edwin,  Ad  rain, 
Grace  and  Ada.  In  religion  Mr.  Shisler  is  a member  of  the  radical  branch 


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of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  has  served  as  a trustee.  In 
politics  he  is  a Democrat  and  is  the  present  assessor  of  Greene  township,  in 
which  office  he  has  served  several  terms,  rendering  also  efficient  service  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  the  township. 

Mr.  Shisler  is  a man  of  keen  foresight  and  sagacity,  and  has  made  invest- 
ments which  returned  to  him  a good  profit.  He  is  energetic,  enterprising  and 
reliable,  and  therefore  has  won  and  retains  the  confidence  of  the  residents  of 
the  locality  in  which  practically  his  entire  life  has  been  passed. 


STEPHEN  M.  HENRY. 

Among  the  worthy  and  honored  old  pioneer  families  of  Wayne  county. 
Ohio,  is  that  of  Henry,  members  of  which  came  here  in  the  early  days  when 
this  section  of  the  state  gave  little  promise  of  the  wonderful  progress  and 
development  which  now  characterizes  it.  They  were  a sturdy  class,  those 
early  frontiersmen  who,  disregarding  personal  inconvenience  and  sacrifice  of 
many  kinds,  bravely  went  to  work  and  laid  the  foundations  for  a later  and 
more  advanced  civilization.  The  members  of  the  Henry  family  who  came  to 
Wayne  county  were  coifnted  among  the  leading  and  influential  men  of  their 
day  and  in  each  succeeding  generation  they  have  occupied  honorable  positions 
among  their  fellow  men.  The  history  of  the  county  would  be  incomplete 
were  there  failure  to  make  specific  mention  of  this  family. 

In  the  old  family  Bible  in  possession  of  members  of  the  family  nowr  living 
is  the  following  record:  “Stephen  Henry,  born  November  23,  1761,  died 
August  24,  1850.  His  wife,  Mary  M.,  bom  September  3,  1757,  died  Sep- 
tember 25,  1836.“  Stephen  Henry  was  born  in  Cecil  county,  Maryland,  and 
was  descended  from  ancestors  who  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland  and  who 
were  second  cousins  of  Patrick  Henry,  the  noted  Virginian  patriot  and  states- 
man. From  Maryland.  Stephen  Henry  and  his  family  moved  to  Westmore- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  making  the  trip  in  a two-wheel  ox  cart.  After 
remaining  some  years  in  that  location,  they  started  for  Ohio  in  the  spring  of 
1815,  locating  in  Wayne  county  near  where  the  brewery  is  situated  just  east  of 
the  city  of  W ooster.  In  1831  he  sold  this  farm  and  moved  two  miles  farther 
east  to  the  location  of  the  Henry  Mills,  the  locality  prior  to  that  time  having 
been  called  Euclid.  After  some  other  changes  in  his  residence,  Stephen 
Henry  died  on  the  mill  property  August  24,  1850,  his  wife  having  died  some 
years  before.  To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  the  following  children : John, 


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mt'N/Yh  OHIO. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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born  March  14,  1786,  died  October  21.  1843  ; Joseph,  bom  March  29,  1788, 
died  February  18,  1862;  Ann  (Mrs.  Keslar),  born  July  3,  1789,  died  April 
20,  1855;  Stephen,  Jr.,  born  October  26,  1790,  died  February  23,  1853;  John- 
son. born  June  8.  1792,  died  July  1,  1856;  Mary,  bom  March  7,  1794,  died 
December  25,  1855  ; Elisha,  born  July  20,  1797.  died  in  California  October  28. 
1862;  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Kelley),  born  April  17,  1799.  died  June  9,  1832. 

Of  these  children,  John  was  the  father  of  Stephen  M.,  who  was  bom 
September  8,  1825.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  Because  of  the  comparatively  primitive 
type  of  the  schools  of  that  day  his  education  was  necessarily  somewhat 
limited,  but  he  was  a close  and  discriminating  reader  and  a keen  observer 
of  men  and  things,  and  in  his  mature  years  he  was  considered  a well- 
informed  man,  being  a man  of  prominence  and  marked  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. After  attaining  the  proper  age  he  went  to  work  in  the  Henry  mills 
and  was  also  engaged  in  farming  until  April  1,  1854.  He  v/as  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres  of  land  and  was  an  enterprising  and 
progressive  man  in  his  operations.  He  was  a Democrat  in  politics  and  took 
an  active  part  in  local  public  affairs,  having  served  six  years  as  a member 
of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  and  thirty-three  years,  or  a third  of  a 
century,  as  justice  of  the  peace,  being  elected  in  1855  without  any  solicita- 
tion on  his  part.  In  1865  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  commissioner 
of  Wayne  county,  serving  two  terms,  six  years.  During  his  incumbency 
in  that  office  he  inaugurated  a system  of  bridge  building  that  has  done 
more  good  for  the  public  of  Wayne  county  than  any  other  pre- 
vious system.  He  was  one  of  the  board  of  commissioners  when  the  present 
county  offices  were  built,  and  their  construction  is  largely  due  to  his  superior 
judgment  and  qualification  as  an  officer.  With  unfaltering  fidelity  to  duty 
he,  regardless  of  sacrifice  to  himself,  filled  every  position  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility in  which  he  had  been  placed  by  the  public.  He  was  honest,  true, 
capable,  broad-minded  and  generous.  He  was  progressive  in  thought  and 
pronounced  in  the  expression  of  his  opinions,  being  a Democrat  of  the  old 
Jacksonian  school.  His  death  occurred  on  the  23d  of  February,  1906,  and  in 
his  passing  away  the  community  suffered  a distinct  loss.  His  was  that  sturdy, 
dignified  and  stalwart  character  which  in  any  community  commands  at  once 
unbounded  confidence  and  respect. 

Stephen  M.  Henry  married  Delilah  Burnett,  who  was  bom  April  27, 
1829,  and  died  November  9,  1857.  To  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Mary  Jane,  born  December  13.  1850,  died  August  29,  1908,  was  the 
wife  of  John  Schaaf,  and  they  had  a daughter,  Florence  E.,  who  is  the  wife 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  J.  C.  Patterson,  of  Franklin  township,  and  the  mother  of  five  children, 
those  living  being  Mary  Delilah,  Stephen  John,  Edith  and  Myrtle;  Stephen 
John,  born  April  13,  1855.  On  March  31,  1858,  Stephen  M.  Henry  entered 
into  a second  matrimonial  alliance,  this  time  with  Catherine  Burnett,  who 
was  born  November  23,  1832,  on  a farm  adjoining  her  present  residence. 
She  is  a daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Kizer)  Burnett.  Her  father  was  born 
April  28,  1804,  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  a son  of  Isaac  Burnett. 
The  family  came  to  Wayne  county  in  1808  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Wooster  township,  where  the  father  entered  land,  also  entering  land  in 
Holmes  county.  John  Burnett  received  a limited  education,  but  was  a man 
of  energy  and  good  judgment  and  attained  a good  repute  among  his  fellow 
men.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  moved  onto  the  Franklin  township  farm, 
which  his  father  had  entered,  and  there  he  successfully  carried  on  agricultural 
operations  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  4,  1854.  His  wife  died 
October  2 2,  1871,  and  their  remains  lie  in  the  cemetery  at  Moorland.  They 
were  affiliated  actively  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Burnett  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  here.  He  was  a Republican  in  poli- 
tics and  was  prominent  and  influential  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  They 
Were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Jane,  born  July  22,  1831,  now 

deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Robert  Scott,  of  Clinton  township;  Catherine  (Mrs. 
Henry)  ; Isaac,  bom  July  27,  1834,  residing  in  Franklin  township;  Lucinda, 
born  February  1,  1836,  became  the  wife  of  Marion  Dodd,  and  both  are  now 
deceased;  Peter,  bom  November  1,  1838;  Hester,  born  February  15,  1841, 
became  the  wife  of  George  Schaaf  and  both  are  deceased. 


ARTY  C.  SAURER,  D.  V.  S. 

Among  the  honored  professional  men  in  Wayne  county  stands  Dr.  A.  C. 
Saurer.  who  is  located  in  the  attractive  and  prosperous  town  of  Apple  Creek 
and  who  is  known  as  one  of  the  native  sons  of  the  county  and  a member  of 
one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  this  section  of  the  old  Buckeye  state. 
His  ability  and  his  profession  has  gained  him  marked  prestige,  while  his  per- 
sonality is  such  as  to  have  gained  to  him  a host  of  warm  friends  in  the  com- 
munities where  he  has  practiced  his  profession. 

Arty  C.  Saurer  was  born  in  Saltcreek  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  28th  day  of  August,  1885,  and  is  a son  of  E.  S.  and  Lena  (Sauvain) 
Saurer.  The  father  was  for  a number  of  years  a well  known  teacher  in  the 


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public  schools  and  later  a successful  and  prosperous  farmer,  but  is  now  en- 
gaged as  a manufacturer  of  tile  brick  at  Maysville,  Ohio.  He  is  a man  of 
marked  ability  in  any  line  to  which  he  applies  himself  and  is  a man  of  splen- 
did reputation  in  the  circles  in  which  he  moves.  E.  S.  and  Lena  Saurer  are 
the  parents  of  four  children,  namely : Arty  C.,  Lester,  Zona  and  Lewis. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Saltcreek  township 
and  was  early  initiated  into  the  secrets  of  successful  agriculture.  He  attended 
the  common  schools  and  also  the  school  at  Maysville,  receiving  a good  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  branches.  He  had  from  boyhood  evinced  a 
fondness  for  animals  and  was  also  of  a studious,  technical  turn  of  mind, 
these  elements  resulting  in  the  eventual  determination  on  his  part  to  take  up 
the  practice  of  veterinary  medicine  and  surgery.  To  this  end  he  matriculated 
in  the  noted  Veterinary  College  at  Toronto,  Canada,  in  1905,  and  took  a full 
course,  graduating  at  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1907  with  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Veterinary  Surgery.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Maysville,  Ohio,  but,  desiring  a larger  field  for  his  opera- 
tions he  moved,  in  the  spring  of  1909,  to  Apple  Creek,  where  he  is  now  estab- 
lished. In  connection  with  his  professional  work,  he  is  also  running  a livery 
and  feed  barn,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with  gratifying  success.  Though  young 
in  years,  Doctor  Saurer  has  already  demonstrated  in  an  unmistakable  manner 
:h?.t  h 2 possesses  a broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  his  profession 
and  he  has  handled  successfully  a number  of  very  difficult  and  apparently 
hopeless  cases.  He  is  enjoying  a patronage  that  is  increasing  rapidly  and 
he  stands  today  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  his  profession  in  this  part  of 
the  county. 

In  politics  Doctor  Saurer  gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic  ticket,  in  the 
success  of  which  he  displays  a healthy  interest.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of 
Apple  Creek  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  Quiet  and  unassuming  in  his 
demeanor,  Doctor  Saurer  has  made  many  friends  and  all  are  united  in  their 
high  regard  for  one  who  is  living  an  honest,  industrious  and  upright  life 
in  their  midst. 


MATTHEW  BEAZELL. 

This  venerable  and  highly  honored  citizen  of  East  Union  township, 
Wayne  county,  is  deserving  of  special  mention  in  a work  of  this  character 
owing  to  his  long,  useful  and  upright  life  and  the  interest  he  has  taken  in  the 
development  of  this  community.  He  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Penn- 


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sylvania,  January  8,  1825,  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Shepler)  Beazell,  also 
natives  of  the  last  named  place.  John  came  to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  settling 
near  Navarre,  where  he  owned  a good  farm  and  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  He  lived  quietly  and  cared  nothing  for  public  display.  He 
was  a firm  believer  in  the  Bible  and  the  principles  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  he  took  a great  interest  in  schooling  his  family.  He  was  very  successful 
financially,  owning  a well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres: 
he  earned  all  his  competence  by  his  own  efforts.  He  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  namely:  Matthew,  Rachael,  Michael  F.,  Mary, 

Harvey,  William,  Sarah,  Harriett  C.,  Noah  H.,  Clara  and  James. 

Matthew  Beazell  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and  re- 
ceived a fairly  good  education  for  those  early  days.  He  turned  his  attention 
to  teaching,  which  profession  he  followed  very  successfully  for  a period  of 
ten  years,  teaching  two  village  schools.  He  later  studied  at  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio.  He  was  regarded  as  an  excellent  teacher  and  his  services  were  in  great 
demand. 

Mr.  Beazell  was  married  on  March  24,  1859,  to  Hannah  Cunningham, 
who  was  born  in  Saltcreek  township,  September  11,  1834,  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Hannah  (Finley)  Cunningham,  the  former  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1797.  He  married  there  and  they  came  to  Ohio  and  located 
in  Saltcreek  township,  southern  part  of  Wayne  county,  when  that  section 
was  practically  a wilderness.  He  was  a stock  raiser  and  farmer  and  in  that 
neighborhood  he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  for  many  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children : William,  Nancy,  Elizabeth,  Jane,  Violet,  Rebecca,  Eb.  Robert  and 
Hannah;  two  children  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  one-half  years.  The  others 
grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Saltcreek  township.  Hannah  Cunningham  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  here  she  attended  the  district  schools,  receiving  a good 
education.  After  their  marriage  they  moved  to  a farm  in  East  Union  town- 
ship where  they  lived  for  forty-five  years,  or  until  they  moved  to  Apple  Creek 
in  April,  1904.  They  began  life  in  a one- room  log  cabin  in  which  they  lived 
for  six  years,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a good  frame  dwelling.  Being  hard 
workers,  they  soon  had  a start  and  their  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  made  them  a comfortable  living  and  a competency • that  renders  their 
old  age  free  from  want,  giving  them  all  the  luxuries  their  needs  require. 
They  started  with  ninety-five  acres  in  East  Union  township  and  they  now  own 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  excellent  land. 


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To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beazell  six  children  were  born:  James  Harvey,  torn 
February  12,  i860;  Albert,  born  June  26,  1861,  died  when  twenty-one  years 
of  age;  Clarissa  J.,  bom  June  5,  1864,  died  in  August,  1864;  William  S.,  torn 
August  7,  1867;  Frank  R.,  born  February  22,  1869;  Emma  S.,  born  Novem- 
ber 16,  1876.  James  H.  graduated  from  Ann  Arbor  University  and  is  a 
teacher;  Albert  graduated  from  the  primary  department  of  the  University 
of  Wooster. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beazell  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Beazell  being  an  elder  in  the  same;  they  have  long  been  active  workers  and 
liberal  supporters  of  the  church.  In  politxs  Mr.  Beazell  is  a Republican.  He 
and  his  wife  are  very  pleasant  and  they  are  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them,  being  generous,  affable,  religious  and  hospitable.  They  celebrated  their 
fiftieth  (golden)  wedding  anniversary  on  March  24,  1909,  which  was  a nota- 
ble event  to  the  family  and  many  relatives  and  friends. 


WILLIAM  CASKEY. 

This  highly  esteemed  and  popular  citizen,  who  since  1906  has  been  the 
efficient  sheriff  of  Wayne  county,  is  of  Ohio  birth  and  a descendant  of  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Wayne  township,  the  farm  on  which  the  family 
originally  settled  having  been  purchased  from  the  government  by  his  great- 
grandfather and  held  in  the  Caskey  name  ever  s;nce.  John  Caskey,  the  sub- 
ject’s grandfather,  a native  of  Ireland,  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  sixteen  years  old  and  grew  to  maturity  on  the  farm  in  Wayne  town- 
ship referred  to  above.  In  due  time  he  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the 
place  and  there  reared  his  family,  among  his  children  being  a son,  William 
Caskey,  who  was  born  and  reared  on  the  family  homestead,  and  who  after- 
wards became  a well-to-do  farmer  and  representative  citizen  of  Wayne  town- 
ship. He  married,  in  young  manhood,  Elizabeth  Criets,  who  was  torn  in  the 
above  township,  and  became  the  father  of  nine  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing survive : Mrs.  Mary  Mackey,  of  Smithville,  Wayne  county ; Mrs.  All- 
tena  McGlenen,  of  Creston,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Ida  Conn  and  Elmer  E.,  of  Wayne 
township,  and  William  M.  Caskey,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this 
review.  The  father  of  these  children  died  about  1889;  the  mother,  an  aged 
lady  of  eighty-three  years,  has  been  living  for  some  time  in  the  town  of 
Madisonburg,  this  state. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


William  M.  Caskey,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Canaan  township,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1862,  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
received  a fa;r  education  in  the  public  schools  and  remained  with  his  parents 
until  attaining  his  majority,  when  he  became  a tiller  of  the  soil  upon  his  own 
responsibility.  Later  he  operated  a mill  in  connection  with  his  agricultural 
interests  and  for  about  twenty-s;x  years  ran  a threshing  outfit  with  which  he 
threshed  much  of  the  grain  raised  in  his  own  and  other  parts  of  the  county 
In  1898  he  was  elected  trustee  of  Wayne  township  and  so  ably  and  judi- 
ciously were  his  official  duties  performed  that  three  years  later  he  was 
chosen  his  own  successor,  his  majorities  in  both  elections  being  much  larger 
than  those  of  any  other  candidate  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 

Mr.  Caskey’s  honorable  record  as  trustee,  together  with  his  active  inter- 
est in  behalf  of  his  party,  led  to  his  nomination  in  1906  for  the  office  of  sheriff. 
I11  the  ensuing  election  he  defeated  his  Republican  competitor  by  one  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  seventy-seven  votes,  the  largest  majority  ever  given  a 
cand:date  in  the  history  of  Wayne  county,  and  two  hundred  and  two  more 
than  any  other  man  on  the  ticket,  a fact  of  which  he  has  ever  since  felt 
deservedly  proud,  as  demonstrating  his  popularity  with  the  people  regard- 
less of  political  ties.  Taking  charge  of  the  office  January  1,  1907,  he  ad- 
dressed himself  to  his  duties,  which  he  has  since  discharged  in  an  able  and 
satisfactory  manner,  proving  a capable  and  popular  official  and  a terror  to 
evil  doers  within  his  jurisdiction,  many  of  whom  he  has  arrested  and  brought 
to  the  bar  of  justice,  while  not  a few,  fearing  his  determined  course  to  reduce 
crime  to  the  minimum,  have  taken  counsel  of  their  better  judgment  by  seek- 
ing safer  quarters  in  other  and  distant  parts.  In  1908  Mr.  Caskey  was  re- 
elected and  his  second  term  will  expire  on  January  2,  1911.  He  has  been 
faithful  to  every  trust  and  in  his  official  capacity  stands  high  in  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  county  and  in  point  of  efficiency  and 
faithfulness  his  administrate  compares  favorably  with  that  of  any  of  his 
predecessors. 

On  November  17,  1892,  Mr.  Caskey  entered  the  marriage  relation  with 
Blanche  Geyer,  of  Wayne  township,  his  friend  and  companion  ever  since 
they  attended  the  same  school  in  childhood  and  youth.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union,  viz. : Ruth,  aged  fifteen ; William  Paul,  deceased ; 
Florence  and  Raymond,  aged  twelve  and  five  years,  respectively.  Mr.  Cas- 
key owns  a highly  improved  and  valuable  farm  in  Wayne  township  and  by 
industry  and  thrift  and  good  management  has  accumulated  a sufficiency  of 
this  world’s  goods  to  place  him  in  independent  circumstances.  He  has  been 
a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  eighteen  years,  also 


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belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  He 
;s  a regular  attendant  of  the  Lutheran  church,  with  which  his  wife  holds 
membership,  and  is  a liberal  contributor  to  its  support.  Generous  in  all  the 
term  implies,  with  a large  body  and  a heart  in  keeping  therewith,  he  enjoys 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  to  a marked  degree  and  it  goes  without 
saying  that  he  is  pre-eminently  one  of  the  most  popular  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  the  county  with  which  his  life  has  been  so  closely  identified. 


WILLEY  SYLVESTER  OLDMAW 

It  was  once  remarked  by  a celebrated  moralist  and  biographer  that 
“there  has  scarcely  passed  a life  of  which  a judicious  and  faithful  narrative 
would  not  have  been  useful.”  Believing  in  the  truth  of  this  opinion,  ex- 
pressed by  one  of  the  greatest  and  best  of  men,  the  writer  of  this  review 
takes  pleasure  in  presenting  a few  facts  in  the  career  of  a gentleman  who,  by 
industry,  perseverance  and  close  application  has  worked  lrmself  from  an 
humble  station  to  a successful  business  man  and  won  an  honorable  position 
among  the  well-known  and  respected  men  of  the  city  in  which  he  resides. 

Willey  Sylvester  Oldman  was  born  at  Homerville,  Medina  county,  Ohio, 
June  22.  1872,  where  he  spent  his  childhood.  Prior  to  his  ninth  year  he  at- 
tended school  at  Homerville,  receiving  the  rudiments  of  an  education  which 
he  has  since  supplemented  by  general  reading  and  by  coming  in  contact  with 
the  world  at  large.  At  that  tender  age  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  go  out 
and  support  himself,  and,  being  a brave-hearted  lad,  he  was  soon  successfully 
batth’ng  his  way  in  the  world  of  men.  Working  at  various  occupations,  earn- 
ing an  honest  dollar  any  way  he  could  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age, 
he  went  to  Cleveland  and,  having  long  desired  to  enter  the  railroad  world, 
he  sought  and  secured  employment  on  the  Conneaut  railroad,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a period  as  fireman  and  various  occupations  during  a period  of 
some  six  years.  He  was  also  employed  by  the  Van  Cleve  Glass  Company,  to 
which  he  gave  very  faithful  service. 

Mr.  Oldman  was  married  on  June  12,  1901,  to  Bede  Rice,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  R’ce,  of  Spencer,  Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Oldman  was  reared 
and  educated,  her  birth  having  occurred  at  Sarinac,  Michigan,  on  June  30. 
1875.  She  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Spencer,  and  taught  school 
in  Spencer  twelve  years.  To  this  union  one  child  was  born,  Kenneth  Rice 
Oldman,  November  15,  1908.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  are  affiliated  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Oldman  purchased  a farm  of  ninety-six 
acres  which  he  worked  very  satisfactorily  until  1909.  On  August  15th  of 
that  year  he  came  to  Wooster  and  organized  the  Wooster  Vacuum  Cleaning 
and  Rug  Weaving  Company  and  he  is  now  enjoying  a very  satisfactory 
patronage.  The  vacuum  cleaner  which  he  operates  is  a large  portable  ma- 
chine run  by  a gasoline  engine,  with  a hose  attached,  fitted  with  sweepers. 
Only  the  hose  is  taken  into  the  house  where  carpets  are  cleaned,  first-class 
work  being  guaranteed  at  five  cents  per  yard.  Upholstered  furniture,  bed- 
ding and  mattresses  are  also  cleaned  by  suction  of  air  without  raising  a speck 
of  dust  or  removing  the  furniture  from  the  room.  It  removes  all  dust  and 
moths  from  carpets  and  from  beneath  carpets  and  rugs  without  taking  them 
off  the  floor.  It  is  a remarkable  modern  invention.  Mr.  Oldman  also  weaves 
rugs  from  old  ingrain  and  Brussels  carpets,  making  th;s  line  of  work  a spe- 
cialty and  one  of  the  principal  departments  of  his  business. 


SAMUEL  BROWN  EASON. 

It  is  the  progressive,  wide-awake  man  of  affairs  that  makes  the  real 
history  of  a community  and  his  influence  as  a potential  factor  of  the  body 
politic  is  difficult  to  estimate.  The  examples  such  men  furnish  of  patient 
purpose  and  steadfast  integrity  strongly  illustrate  what  is  in  the  power  of 
each  to  accomplish,  and  there  is  always  a full  measure  of  satisfaction  in 
adverting,  even  in  a casual  way,  to  their  achievements  in  advancing  the  in- 
terests of  their  fellow  men  and  in  giving  strength  and  solidity  to  the  institu- 
tions which  make  so  much  for  the  prosperity  of  the  community.  Such  a 
man  is  Judge  Samuel  Brown  Eason,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  as  such  it  is 
proper  that  a review  of  his  career  be  accorded  a place  among  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  the  city  and  county  in  which  he  resides. 

Judge  Eason  represents  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  honored 
pioneer  families  of  Wayne  county,  having  been  born  at  the  old  Eason  home- 
and  Susan  (Brandsteter)  Eason,  the  father  born  in  Wooster  and  the  mother 
near  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  The  Judge’s  paternal  grandfather  was  Robert 
Eason,  who  was  among  the  earlier  pioneers  of  Wayne  county.  He  was  of 
English  and  Irish  descent,  his  father.  Samuel  Eason,  having  emigrated  from 
Ireland,  and  his  mother,  Anna  Marshall,  from  England,  several  years 
before  their  marriage  on  Pine  creek,  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
Robert  was  bom,  December  10,  1795.  When  the  latter  was  nine  years  old 


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his  father  died,  and  two  years  thereafter  his  mother  married  Edward  Taylor. 
Soon  after  this  second  marriage  the  Eason-Taylor  family  removed  from 
Lycoming  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  during  their  residence  there 
the  war  of  1812  was  fought.  In  this  struggle  Robert  Eason  took  part,  being 
in  active  service  during  a regular  term  of  enlistment  in  a Pennsylvania  regi- 
ment then  stationed  with  other  troops  at  Fort  Erie.  He  was  also  detained 
to  work  as  a carpenter  on  ships  then  building  near  the  fort  for  service  in  Com- 
modore Perry’s  fleet.  For  this  service,  in  addition  to  the  regular  pay  as  a 
soldier,  he  lived  to  receive  from  the  United  States  government  a warrant  for 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  but  his  death  occurred  before  the  passage 
of  the  act  of  Congress  granting  pensions  to  all  who  had  served  in  the  second 
struggle  with  England  for  American  independence. 

After  the  war  closed  the  family  moved  to  Chester  township,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  on  April  14,  1816.  The  mother  and  step-mother  Taylor 
brought  all  the  children  with  them,  viz : Robert,  Alexander,  Mary  and  Anne. 
The  family  first  settled  on  a tract  of  land  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 31,  where  they  built  a cabin  and  cleared  land.  A year  after  this  Robert 
married  Beulah  Sooy,  daughter  of  Noah  Sooy,  who  had  settled  two  year; 
previously  in  Chester  township,  having  emigrated  from  Lafayette  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Robert  and  his  young  wife  then  commenced  housekeeping  in 
real  backwoods  style,  near  Wooster,  at  the  Stibbs  mill.  Here  Mr.  Eason 
lived  for  six  years,  when,  by  the  aid  of  his  good  friend,  Joseph  Stibbs,  he 
purchased  a small  farm  in  the  wilds  of  the  Muddy  Fork  of  the  Mohican,  to 
which  he  moved  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  Samuel,  Joseph  and 
Benjamin,  taking  up  their  residence  in  a cabin  in  the  woods  on  a quarter 
section  of  land  in  Perry  township,  then  Wayne,  now  Ashland  county.  Robert 
Eason  was  a natural  mechanic.  Besides  clearing  land  and  farming,  he 
worked  at  almost  every  branch  of  various  trades  required  by  the  primitive 
settlements — was  wagonmaker,  plowmaker,  weaver,  blacksmith,  cabinetmaker, 
gunsmith,  millwright,  shoemaker  and  general  utility  man  in  the  line  of  me- 
chanics for  his  neighbors. 

During  the  eight  years  that  Robert  Eason  lived  in  Perry  township  he 
and  his  neighbors  joined  in  building  the  first  log  school  house.  The  site 
of  this  early  “college/'  the  structure  itself  having  long  since  disappeared,  is 
in  Chester  township,  near  the  county  line.  Here  Sarah  Elwood,  niece  of 
Mr.  Eason,  opened  the  first  country  school.  In  the  summer  of  1826  Robert 
Eason  built  the  first  frame  bank-barn  of  any  magnitude  in  Perry  township. 
On  January  19,  1832,  he  moved  his  family  to  and  settled  on  the  farm  in  Plain 
township,  later  owned  by  his  son,  Hon.  Benjamin  Eason.  Here  he  succeeded 

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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Dennis  Driscoll  in  the  business  of  milling,  and  commenced  improving  a new 
farm,  and  there  he  lived  and  continued  the  milling  business  until  his  death, 
April  14,  1854.  At  this  place,  on  March  12,  1850,  to  this  family  a most  sad 
and  terrible  accident  occurred,  the  wife  of  Robert  Eason  being  crushed  to 
death  by  the  machinery  of  the  mill.  The  remains  of  husband  and  wife  rest 
side  by  side  in  the  old  graveyard  near  Millbrook. 

In  his  boyhood  days.  Benjamin  Eason  for  several  years  pursued  the  vo- 
cation of  teacher,  varying  his  employment,  at  times,  in  surveying  and 

managing  and  cultivating  a farm.  He  was  not  exactly  a child  of  the  wil- 

derness, but  wilderness  conditions  surrounded  the  rude  cradle  in  which  he 
was  rocked,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  May  5,  1822.  He  spent  his  life 
in  Wayne  county  and  became  one  of  the  eminent  men  of  his 

day  and  generation,  having  devoted  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
to  the  law.  He  taught  his  first  school  when  nineteen  years  old  and 
when  twenty-six  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  served  until 
1850,  when  he  and  his  brother,  Alexander,  who  died  at  Placerville,  Cali- 
fornia, made  the  long,  hazardous  trip  over  the  plains  to  California  in  search 
of  gold,  being  members  of  the  “Dennison  Company/'  composed  of 

about  forty  Wayne  county  men.  He  returned  home  the  following  winter  from 
the  Eldorado  of  the  far  West.  In  1851  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  common 
pleas  court,  and  was  re-elected  in  1854.  He  was  elected  to  the  state  Senate 
in  1859  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  also  served  in  the  Senate  in  1882  and 
1883.  He  was,  by  appointment,  treasurer  of  Wayne  county  nine  months. 
In  1862  he  was  commissioned  captain  of  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Twentieth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  for  some  time  he  served 
at  the  front  in  the  South.  In  1864  he  purchased  the  Wayne  County  Democrat 
and  edited  the  same  for  some  time.  April  1,  1870,  he  opened  an  office  in 
Wooster  with  his  son,  Samuel  B.,  of  this  review,  as  partner,  and  devoted 
his  time  to  the  practice  of  law  and  continued  successfully  during  the  remaining 
active  years  of  his  life. 

Samuel  B.  Eason,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  biographical  record, 
had  the  privileges  of  the  common  country  schools,  which  he  attended  during 
the  winter  months  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
Caroline  Culbertson  being  his  first  teacher  in  the  little  school  house  at  Spring- 
ville,  and  at  an  early  age  he  evinced  an  inclination  to  study  and  a passion  for 
books.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  tendered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment, and  on  May  27,  1862,  was  mustered  into  service,  joining  Company  D, 
Eighty-sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Capt.  Andrew  H. 
Byers  and  Col.  Barnabas  Burns.  In  this  regiment  he  served  four  months. 


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his  enlistment  being  three  months,  and  he  was  discharged  on  September  25th 
following. 

Upon  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Eason  registered,  in  the  fall  of 
1863,  at  Mt.  Union,  Stark  county,  and  remained  in  the  college  there  one  year 
altogether,  having  attended  school  at  home  in  the  winter  of  1863  and  1864, 
returning  to  Mt.  Union  later.  For  one  year  he  had  charge  of  the  college 
telescope  of  six  and  three-eighths  aperture.  He  then  entered  Vermillion  Insti- 
tute, Hayesville,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  remaining  in  that  institution,  with 
the  exception  of  one  term  of  teaching,  until  September,  1867,  then,  accom- 
panied by  Hon.  John  K.  Cowen,  late  president  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Rail- 
road Company,  as  roommate,  he  entered  the  University  of  Michigan 
at  Ann  Arbor,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1869,  having 
completed  the  course  in  law.  Hon.  John  W.  Kern,  of  Indianapolis,  was  his 
class-mate  at  Ann  Arbor.  In  the  winter  of  1867-8  he  was  elected  one  of 
five  to  take  part  in  the  public  exercises  of  the  Webster,  the  most  prominent 
literary  society  of  the  law  department,  and  the  next  day  after  the  exercises 
they  were  entertained  at  dinner  by  Judge  and  Mrs.  Thomas  W.  Cooley,  and 
he  carries  the  incident  in  memory  as  one  of  the  most  pleasant  of  school 
days.  The  next  winter  he  was  president  of  the  Webster. 

Mr.  Eason  located  at  Columbia  City,  Indiana,  but  in  1870  he  returned 
to  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  formed  a partnership  with  his  father,  practicing  thus 
for  two  years.  Later  his  brother,  Benjamin,  joined  the  firm  of  B.,  S.  B. 
& B.  F.  Eason,  which  continued  until  1885,  when  Samuel  B.  began  practicing 
alone,  having  by  this  time  won  an  enviable  reputation  at  the  local  bar. 

In  1897  Samuel  B.  Eason  was  elected  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court, 
in  which  he  made  a splendid  record  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  responsi- 
ble position  in  1902,  and  by  legislative  enactment  the  term  was  lengthened 
to  six  years,  and  he  served  until  January  1,  1909,  then  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  The  Taggart  divorce  case  and  the  Dickinson  murder  trial  were  among 
the  noted  cases  that  came  before  him  as  judge. 

Judge  Eason  was  married  on  May  7,  1885,  to  Anna  Hindman,  a lady  of 
education  and  refinement,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Phillips)  Hind- 
man. She  was  bom  at  Apple  Creek,  this  county,  and  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage  lived  at  Wooster.  This  union  has  been  without  issue. 

The  Judge’s  home,  at  No.  117  West  Liberty  street,  is  one  of  hospitality 
and  good  cheer,  cozy  and  a favorite  mecca  for  the  many  friends  of  himself 
and  wife.  The  business  of  the  Judge  is  exclusively  the  practice  of  law,  and 
he  is  also  the  owner  of  a valuable  and  attractive  farm  of  two  hundred  and 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


forty -five  acres  in  Franklin  township,  which  he  operates.  He  has  placed 
many  valuable  improvements  on  it,  including  forty-six  thousand  feet  of  drain 
tile,  erected  substantial  buildings,  etc. 

Politically,  Judge  Eason  is  a Democrat  and  as  a speaker  and  advisor 
during  campaigns  his  services  are  most  valuable,  the  success  of  the  ticket 
in  a number  of  campaigns  being  largely  attributable  to  his  wise  counsel  and 
judicious  leadership. 

As  a lawyer  Judge  Eason  busies  himself  with  those  things  in  which 
success  depends  upon  the  symmetrical  judgment  and  practical  grasp  that 
come  from  reading  and  reflection.  These  characteristics  were  observed  while 
on  the  bench,  his  fidelity  to  duty  there  and  his  faithful  discharge  of  the  same 
winning  the  admiration  of  all  concerned,  irrespective  of  party  alignment. 
He  is  a man  of  intense  energy  and  application.  He  goes  into  court  with 
his  case  completely  in  hand.  The  labor  of  preparation  is  not  considered.  He 
has  a keen  perception  of  the  varying  phases  of  human  nature  which  charac- 
terize his  professional  career.  In  counsel  he  is  inquisitive,  exacting  and  ex- 
haustive, wanting  to  know  the  truth  and  the  facts.  As  an  advocate  he  is 
earnest,  resolute  and  persuasive,  and  is,  withal,  one  of  Wayne  county's  ener- 
getic, public  spirited  citizens,  richly  deserving  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held  by  all  classes. 

Judge  Eason  is  the  owner  of  a fine  refracting  telescope  of  nine  inches 
clear  aperture,  made  for  him  in  1882  by  the  celebrated  firm  of  Alvan  Clark 
& Sons,  and  of  which  Alvan  Clark.  Sr.,  the  founder  of  the  house,  in  an 
autograph  letter  to  him,  states  that  the  object  glass  was  made  with  his  own 
hands  and  that  it  is  one  of  his  best.  This  he  uses  for  occasional  recreation, 
and  with  it  in  1882  he  obtained  a view  of  the  atmosphere  of  Venus,  which 
would  not  be  visible  again  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  years,  or  until  the 
next  transit,  and  many  other  interesting  and  beautiful  views  of  the  planets 
and  stars  have  been  gained  by  him  through  this  splendid  instrument. 


CYRUS  A.  RIEDER. 

As  long  as  history  endures  will  the  American  nation  acknowledge  its 
indebtedness  to  the  heroes  who,  between  1861  and  1865,  fought  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  Union  and  the  honor  of  the  starry  banner  which  has  never 
been  trailed  in  the  dust  of  defeat  in  a single  polemic  conflict  in  which  the 
country  has  been  engaged.  Among  those  whose  military  records,  as  valiant 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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soldiers  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  reflect  lasting  honor  upon  them  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  now  living  a retired  life  in  the  pleasant  little 
town  of  Apple  Creek  and  who  is  known  as  one  of  the  sterling  citizens  of 
Wayne  county,  where  for  a number  of  years  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  professional  pursuits. 

Cyrus  A.  Rieder  was  born  at  Maysville,  Saltcreek  township,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  30th  day  of  January,  1844,  and  is  a son  of  Daniel,  Jr., 
and  Sarah  A.  (Mowrey)  Rieder.  Daniel  Rieder  was  brought  to  Wayne 
county  by  his  parents  in  1813,  when  he  was  but  a boy,  and  here  he  adopted 
the  pursuit  of  farming,  which  he  followed  during  the  remainder  of  his  active 
l;fe.  He  was  prospered,  and  eventually  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  good  land.  Unfortunately,  however,,  he  became  surety  on  a bond, 
which,  becoming  forfeited,  ruined  him  financially.  He  married  Sarah  A. 
Mowrey  and  they  became  the  parents  of  sixteen  children,  ten  of  whom  grew 
to  mature  years. 

The  subject  was  reared  on  the  parental  farmstead,  on  which  he  worked 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  At  that  time  the  war  had  broken  out  in 
the  Southland  and,  feeling  the  patriotic  impulse,  he  volunteered  for  service 
in  the  defense  of  h;s  country  and  joined  Company  C,  Forty-first  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  the  date  of  his  enlistment  having  been  August  8, 
1862.  He  remained  with  this  command,  participating  in  a number  of  the 
bloodiest  battles  of  that  great  conflict,  including  those  of  Stone  River,  Chick- 
amauga  and  Missionary  Ridge.  In  the  last  named  engagement  Mr.  Rieder 
received  a terrible  wound  in  the  right  leg,  from  the  results  of  which  he  has 
had  to  undergo  two  amputations.  He  was  discharged  in  1864,  and,  returning 
to  his  Wayne  county  home,  he  at  once  took  the  first  steps  towards  securing 
a good  education.  He  attended  first  the  school  at  Fredericksburg,  and  then 
went  to  Professor  Eberley’s  school  at  Smithville.  He  then  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school,  in  which  he  was  successful  and  which  he  continued  for  nine  years. 
He  had  determined  to  take  up  the  profession  of  the  law  and  to  this  end  during 
the  past  several  years  he  had  put  in  all  his  spare  time  in  the  study  of  Black- 
stone,  Kent  and  the  other  great  legal  authorities.  Eventually  he  took  the  ex- 
aminations at  Wooster  and  was  properly  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Wayne  county. 
He  located  at  Wooster  and  entered  actively  into  the  practice  of  his  profession 
and  was  soon  numbered  among  the  leading  members  of  the  bar.  He  was 
elected  city  attorney  of  Wooster,  in  which  position  he  served  four  years,  and 
also  served  two  terms  as  county  attorney  and  prosecuting  attorney.  In  all 
these  positions  he  acquitted  himself  in  a manner  which  won  for  him  an  en- 
viable reputation  among  his  professional  brethren.  He  went  to  Kansas  and 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


located  at  Anthony,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years,  during  which  time 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  While  there  he  served  four  years  as 
postmaster,  receiving  his  appointment  under  President  Cleveland’s  first  ad- 
ministration. At  the  end  of  the  period  noted  Mr.  Rieder  returned  to  his 
old  home  in  Wooster  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which 
he  continued  until  1900,  then  went  to  St.  Regis  Falls,  New  York,  and  stayed 
eight  years,  and  came  back  and  retired  at  Apple  Creek,  where  he  is  now 
living.  In  recognition  of  his  faithful  sendee  during  the  Civil  war,  and  as 
a partial  recompense  for  the  physical  injury  from  which  he  suffered,  the 
subject  now  receives  a liberal  pension  from  the  government  which  he  helped 
to  preserve  and  perpetuate.  In  his  professional  life  Mr.  Rieder  was  recog- 
nized as  a man  of  unusual  attainments  and  occupied  a high  position  in  the 
estimation  of  those  who  knew  of  him  and  his  work.  He  is  a good  speaker, 
a close  student  and  an  indefatigable  worker, — elements  which  contribute  to 
a large  measure  to  the  success  of  any  lawyer.  In  private  life  he  is  a man 
whom  it  is  a pleasure  to  know.  Genial  in  manner,  a splendid  conversation- 
alist, faithful  in  his  friendships  and  of  unimpeachable  personal  character, 
he  is  eminently  deserving  of  the  unstinted  confidence  and  respect  which  are 
accorded  him  throughout  the  community,  and  he  is  particularly  deserving  of 
representation  in  a work  of  this  character. 


PETER  WELTY. 

A representative  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  families  of  Wayne  county, 
which  since  pioneer  days  has  been  prominently  connected  with  the  develop- 
ment and  substantial  progress  of  this  section  of  the  state,  Mr.  Welty  is  worth- 
ily sustaining  the  high  reputation  of  the  family,  through  his  active  and  useful 
life,  prominence  in  connection  with  the  agricultural  industries  of  this  favored 
section  of  the  Buckeye  state  and  his  influential  position  as  one  of  the  county's 
extensive  landholders.  There  is  utmost  compatibility  in  here  entering  a brief 
review  of  his  career,  and  aside  from  being  a valuable  and  perpetual  record, 
the  article  will  be  read  with  interest  by  the  many  friends  of  himself  and 
family. 

Peter  Welty  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides  in  section  5, 
Paint  township,  Wayne  county.  Olr’o.  on  February  17,  1839.  He  is  a son  of 
John  and  Barbara  (Lukenbill)  Welty.  John  Welty  was  a native  of  canton 
Berne.  Switzerland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  his  young  manhood  un- 


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accompanied.  He  went  first  to  Virginia,  where  he  remained  for  a time,  and 
then  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Wayne  county.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been 
married  :n  Holmes  county,  for  he  farmed  for  a while  near  Minesburg,  that 
county.  Subsequently  he  came  to  Wayne  county  and  bought  the  land  where 
the  subject  now  lives.  He  was  in  politics  a strong  Democrat,  but  declined  to 
accept  any  public  office.  Besides  being  a successful  farmer,  he  was  also  a 
good  mechanic,  being  proficient  in  blacksmithing  and  carpenter  work.  He  was 
also  the  owner  of  land  in  Putnam  county,  this  state,  and  was  in  all  his  affairs 
a prosperous  man.  He  was  a member  of  the  Mennonite  church  and  lived  a 
life  consistent  with  his  professions.  After  coming  to  America,  Mr.  Welty 
was  married  to  Barbara  Lukenbill,  who  settled  in  Holmes  county  with  her 
parents  when  she  was  quite  young.  To  Peter  and  Barbara  Welty  were  born 
nine  children,  as  follows : Chris  C.,  Catherine,  Barbara,  Mary,  Anna,  Peter, 
Magdalene,  Fannie  and  John,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 

Peter  Welty  remained  under  the  parental  roof  during  his  youth  and 
received  a fair  education  in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
early  applied  himself  to  the  labors  of  the  farm  and  gave  his  undivided  atten- 
tion to  the  work,  in  which  he  has  continued  during  all  his  active  days.  He 
has  followed  general  farming  and  has  been  progressive  in  his  methods,  keep- 
ing in  close  touch  with  the  most  advanced  ideas  relating  to  the  science  of  agri- 
culture. He  has  never  been  tempted  to  forsake  the  great  basic  art,  which  is 
the  foundation  and  strength  of  the  commercial  life  of  the  nation,  realizing 
that  the  successful  husbandman  is  the  most  independent  and  carefree  man 
in  the  country.  Mr.  Welty  owns  a fine  farm  and  has  given  intelligent  direc- 
tion to  every  detail  of  the  work  thereon.  His  buildings  are  commodious  and 
well  arranged,  his  machinery  is  thoroughly  up-to-date,  the  fences  well  kept 
and  everything  about  the  place  shows  the  owner  to  be  a man  thoroughly  prac- 
tical in  his  ideas  and  methods.  In  connection  with  the  tilling  of  the  soil 
he  also  gives  some  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  in 
which  also  he  has  been  prospered.  Now  in  the  golden  sunset  years  of  his  life 
he  has  laid  aside  much  of  the  actual  manual  labor  of  the  farm,  but  his  interest 
in  the  work  is  unflagging  and  he  is  as  alert  and  keen  in  his  interest  in  passing 
events  as  in  his  prime. 

Politically,  Mr.  Welty  has  always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  has 
never  sought  nor  held  publ'c  office  of  any  nature,  being  content  to  occupy 
the  rank  of  a private  citizen,  though  at  all  times  he  has  been  found  an  earnest 
supporter  of  all  worthy  movements  for  the  general  good.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Mennonite  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  support. 

In  1861  Mr.  Welty  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Gerber,  who  was 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


born  in  May,  1839,  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  this  county,  the  daughter  of 
Woolerick  Gerber.  To  the  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Benjamin,  Barbara  (deceased),  John,  William,  Rosa,  Daniel. 
Sarah  and  Reuben. 

Mr.  Welty  has  through  a long  course  of  years  retained  the  unqualified 
esteem  of  the  community.  He  has  consistently  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests,  through  which  he  has  gained  a gratifying  and  well- 
merited  success.  Industry,  energy  and  progressive  spirit  have  ever  been 
dominating  characteristics  in  his  makeup  and  through  these  forces  he  has 
attained  a distinctive  degree  of  prosperity  and  is  numbered  among  the  repre- 
sentative agriculturists  of  the  county. 


J.  H.  TODD.  M.  D. 

The  ancestors  of  Dr.  Joe  H.  Todd  on  his  paternal  side  were  Scotch- 
Irish  and  Welsh;  on  the  maternal,  they  were  Holland  Dutch  and  Welsh, 
with  a mingling  of  what  Emerson  calls  “compact  old  English  blood.*'  His 
mother  was  a direct  descendant  of  Peter  Yokom,  who  immigrated  to  America 
from  Holland  in  1693  and  settled  at  Sweedsford,  near  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania. His  oldest  son,  John,  married  Elizabeth  DeHaven,  a Welsh  Quak- 
eress, and  died  or  was  killed  in  the  Revolution  February  10,  1777.  About 
this  time,  at  a family  reunion,  the  name  Yokom  was  changed  to  Yocum.  His 
son,  also  named  John,  was  born  at  Sweedsford  February  14,  1757,  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Evans,  of  Welsh-English  blood,  at  Chester,  Pennsylvania.  He 
migrated  to  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  established  Yocumtown, 
on  the  Susquehanna,  and  removed  to  W ayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1828.  He  was 
a Revolutionary  soldier  and  Doctor  Todd’s  great-grandfather.  His  son, 
Elijah,  was  the  Doctor's  grandfather  and  was  a local  Methodist  preacher 
and  a builder  of  carding  machines  and  mills.  He  was  married  to  Catherine 
Wagoner,  a “Pennsylvania-Dutch”  girl,  at  Yocumtown,  and  here  was  born 
the  Doctor’s  mother,  Caroline  Matilda  Yocum,  in  1813.  Doctor  Todd’s 
paternal  great-grandfather,  Capt.  James  Todd,  was  born  in  county  Antrim, 
north  Ireland,  of  Protestant  parents,  in  1690,  and  came  to  America  with  a 
Welsh  wife  about  1740  and  located  at  Baltimore,  Maryland.  He  had  the 
mariner’s  thirst  for  the  sea,  the  skill  and  education  of  the  mechanic  and 
sailor  in  building  and  sailing  his  craft.  He  was  a sea  captain  and  became 
the  owner  of  vessels  plying  between  his  home  city  and  the  Bermudas.  Ba- 


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hamas  and  Cuba,  as  well  as  an  importer  of  Arabian  horses.  But.  like  many 
who  go  out  on  the  sea  in  ships,  he  met  with  disaster,  and  the  requiem  of  his 
hopes  was  chanted  in  tempest  and  storm.  His  two  ships  went  down  off  Hat- 
teras.  The  losses  were  heavy,  his  spirit  broken,  and  he  retired  to  a small 
farm  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  his  family  had  a summer  home 
in  his  absence.  Here  the  Doctor's  grandfather,  James  Todd,  was  born 
in  1750,  who  as  a boy  frequently  went  on  voyages  with  his  father,  for  he, 
too,  loved  the  sea;  but  when  disaster  destroyed  their  wealth,  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  a saddler  in  York.  He  learned  the  trade,  but  later  was  a teacher  in 
a Quaker  school,  where  he  married  a Quaker  maiden  and  returned  to  the 
old  farm.  He  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  Governor  Trimble  and 
made  captain  of  militia.  The  Doctor’s  father,  James  Todd,  was  born  on 
this  farm  in  1796  (the  name  James  had  been  given  to  the  eldest  son  for 
many  generations).  After  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1828,  he  came  to  Ohio 
and  located  in  Wayne  county,  dealing  in  land  and  horses.  He  was  married 
in  1836  to  Caroline  Matilda  M unhall,  a widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Yocum.  To  them  two  children  were  born,  Joe  H.  and  Lunette  Yocum,  the 
former  of  which  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

A number  of  Doctor  Todd's  earlier  years  were  spent  upon  his  father’s 
farm  near  Millbrook,  where  he  attended  the  old  conventional,  but  now  tradi- 
tional, country  school,  subsequently  registering  as  a student  at  Vermilion 
Institute,  Hayesville,  Ohio,  under  the  presidency  of  Rev.  Sanders  Diefendorf, 
then  one  of  the  foremost  academic  educators  of  Ohio.  From  here  he  went 
to  Fredericksburg  Academy.  On  the  completion  of  his  disciplinary  course 
of  institutional  drill  and  methods  in  1861,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine.  After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  in  response  to  the  national  gov- 
ernment call  for  medical  aid,  although  yet  a student,  he  hastened  to  the 
scene  of  that  desperate  struggle,  which  supplied  him  extraordinary  opportuni- 
ties in  the  practical  part  of  surgery,  both  as  an  operator  and  assistant  in 
those  crucial  tests  to  the  unfortunate  which  resulted  from  the  iron  game 
of  war.  Here  and  at  Chambersburgh  and  Harrisburg  he  remained  during 
the  summer,  when  he  proceeded  to  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York,  remaining 
there  during  the  winter  of  1863-64.  Here  were  afforded  him  special  les- 
sons in  surgery  by  Professor  Smith  of  Bellevue,  and  private  instruction  from 
Austin  Flint,  Sr.,  directly  in  the  branches  of  percussion  and  auscultation  of 
the  lungs,  from  whom  came  a strong  and  merited  endorsement  of  his  skill 
and  accomplishments.  In  1864  he  was  a private  student  of  Frank  Hamilton. 
In  1865  he  received  his  diploma  and  commenced  practice  with  a clientage 
from  the  beginning  that  prognosticated  his  future  success.  In  1869  he  was 


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a delegate  to  the  National  Medical  Society  at  New  Orleans,  being  commis- 
sioned by  the  Medical  Society  of  Wayne  County.  To  further  gratify  his 
aspiration  to  attain  the  highest  possible  skill  and  excellence  in  the  various 
departments  of  his  profession,  he  returned  to  New  York,  placing  himself 
under  the  special  care  of  Austin  Flint,  Jr.,  as  second  assistant  in  the  depart- 
ment of  physiology,  receiving  private  instruction  in  surgery  from  Professor 
Hamilton  and  also  from  Delafield,  in  microscopy.  In  1870  he  again  visited 
New  York,  where  he  was  for  a period  assistant  to  Austin  Flint,  Jr.,  in 
physiology  laboratory. 

In  1876  Doctor  Tood  purchased  a home  in  Wooster  and  permanently 
located  there.  He  is  a member  of  the  American  Public  Health  Association, 
and  has  been  since  1892.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  International  Medical 
Congress  at  Washington.  D.  C,  in  1885,  and  again  to  Berlin,  Germany, 
in  1890,  visiting  the  hospitals  of  Europe  in  the  interests  of  his  profession. 
He  assisted  in  founding  the  Ohio  Archaeology  and  Historical  Society  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1881,  and  was  one  of  its  earliest  members.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  chosen 
in  1892.  He  was  present  at  the  second  meeting  of  the  Ohio  Academy  of 
Science  after  its  organization,  was  elected  a member  and  is  uniform  in  his 
attendance  of  its  meetings,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  it  was  established 
in  1892.  Its  first  president  was  Edward  W.  Claypool.  It  is  composed  of 
about  two  hundred  members.  He  has  read  three  papers  before  the  academy 
on  the  preglacial  drainage  of  Wayne  and  associated  counties. 

The  investigations  and  researches  that  Doctor  Todd  has  made  in  his 
various  fields  of  scientific  thought  have  been  most  valuable  contributions 
and  have  served  a distinctive  purpose  with  other  scientists  and  specialists 
of  the  institutions  of  which  he  is  a member,  in  establishing  and  sustaining 
organized  societies  and  institutes  for  original  research. 

In  the  processes  along  these  lines  of  scientific  and  antiquarian  research 
there  seem  to  be  three  stages  of  development.  In  the  first  there  comes  a 
period  of  discovery,  during  which  the  region  is  traversed  by  traveling  special- 
ists, either  as  independent  investigators  with  a laudable  and  instinctive  love 
for  their  work,  anticipating  no  special  reward  for  their  labors,  only  so 
far  as  thev  can  enlighten  mankind,  stimulate  inquiry  into  the  mysteries  of 
the  arcanum  of  nature  and  add  some  new  chapters  to  the  folios  of  science, 
or  by  such  persons  attached  to  expeditions  sent  out  by  government  or  by 
scientific  institutions.  In  this  way  the  general  nature  of  the  anthropologic, 
ethnologic,  archaelogic  and  biologic  conditions  are  made  known  to  science, 
and  in  most  cases  much  data  and  many  hitherto  unknown  facts,  truths  and 


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results  are  attained  and  described.  In  the  second  stage  the  field  is  occupied 
by  local  residents,  collectors,  persons  who  are  able  to  devote  a portion  of 
their  time  to  observation  and  research  and  to  the  preservation  of  the  speci- 
mens that  they  find,  without  the  opportunities  and  accessories  of  libraries  and 
other  facilities  for  original  research.  Such  persons  seldom  publish  the  re- 
sults of  their  labors  and  accumulations,  but  send  their  treasure  to  specialists, 
more  favorably  situated,  who  know  the  discoveries  of  their  correspondents. 
In  the  third  stage  comes  the  development  of  local  research,  by  resident  anti- 
quarians and  scientists,  who  spend  years  of  patient  toil,  extracted  from  busi- 
ness or  professional  life,  in  studying  the  conditions  that  surround  them, 
traversing  home  and  adjacent  districts,  and  by  publishing  the  results  of 
their  exploitations  gradually  introduce  to  the  light  a rich  profusion  of  scien- 
tific data.  As  the  resident  specialists  increase  in  number  they  specialize  by 
degrees,  so  that  in  time  all  phases  of  the  subject  receive  proper  attention. 
The  culmination  of  these  conditions  is  the  founding  of  great  establishments 
for  original  research. 

The  labors  of  Doctor  Todd  have  proven  to  be  substantial  auxiliaries 
in  these  directions,  and  his  observations  and  researches  from  a local  stand- 
point have  found  expression  in  valuable  publications  and  aided  in  accom- 
plishing the  organization,  permanence  and  security  of  the  Academy  of  Science, 
at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Independent  of  his  studies  and  investigations  and 
writings  in  testimony  of  his  persistence,  energy  and  enterprise,  he  has  accu- 
mulated a cabinet  of  thirty  thousand  specimens,  the  largest  private  collection 
in  Ohio,  twenty  thousand  of  which  are  historic  and  absolutely  perfect,  the 
remaining  ten  thousand  being  equally  historic  but  partly  incomplete.  He 
lately  presented  five  thousand  to  the  Wooster  City  Library. 

Doctor  Todd  is  advanced  in  years  to  beyond  middle  life,  is  of  medium 
height,  with  strong,  wiry  nerves,  has  black  hair,  faintly  touched  by  the  sil- 
very spray  of  years,  with  darting,  dark,  perceiving  eyes,  a clean,  classic  face, 
in  which  are  mirrored  his  thoughts,  feelings  and  emotions,  the  silent  languages 
of  the  soul  and  heart  as  they  are  radiated  from  intellectual  centers  of  acute 
and  deep  intensity.  His  faculties  are  in  their  zenith  and  in  the  highest  de- 
gree capable  of  action,  work  and  achievement,  his  physical  forces  ever  ready 
to  sustain  his  best  promotive  mental  enterprise.  He  possesses  the  genius  of 
adaptation  to  the  subject  in  hand,  and  practices  surgery  on  Time  by  cut- 
ting it  into  divisions  and  sub-divisions  for  the  better  and  more  systematic 
accomplishment  of  his  professional,  historic  and  scientific  designs.  Circum- 
stances, however  iron-clad,  are  seldom  permitted  to  interfere  with  his  dis- 
tribution of  work,  for  which  he  is  in  a state  of  constant  preparation  and 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


adjustment  to  it.  All  his  bases  and  foundations  are  well  and  strongly  laid. 
This  has  been  emphasized  from  the  beginning  of  his  professional  career. 
In  the  battle  with  disease  he  must  first  reconnoiter  the  field  and  locate  the 
enemy,  bringing  tact,  judgment,  reason  and  strategy  to  his  assistance  before 
assaulting  the  citadel.  Nor  does  he  rely  on  tactics  of  the  books  or  the 
speculations  of  the  old  teachers,  writers  and  theorists  or  depend  upon  a set 
of  stereotyped  methods  to  attain  conclusions  or  achieve  results.  The  entire 
human  cosmos  must  be  studied,  its  springs  and  action,  temperament  and  con- 
stitutional peculiarities,  the  vibrations  and  relations  of  every  chord  of  the 
poetic  thousand  on  the  human  harp.  He  must  seek  and  know,  “For  knowl- 
edge is  of  things  we  see.”  Nothing  is  taken  for  granted,  nothing  suspended 
in  uncertainty,  refusing  to  doubt  when  there  is  a rational  possibility  of  being 
sure.  He  has,  therefore,  found  it  necessary  to  implicitly  trust  himself, 
others  only  so  far  as  he  may  not  be  damaged  in  their  disappointment. 

In  his  divisions  of  study,  experiments,  and  investigations  and  travel,  ' 
Doctor  Todd  finds  an  inspiriting  life;  he  finds  it  in  the  forests  and  fields, 
among  the  pebbles  and  stones,  the  grasses  and  grains,  the  vines  and  orchards 
of  his  farm,  in  his  beautiful  home,  with  its  stabilities  of  brick  and  stone,  and 
its  multiform  tenantry  of  flowers  and  trees,  overlooking  the  beautiful  valley, 
whose  preglacial  history  he  has  revealed  to  geologic  science,  and  the  irregular, 
undulating  and  hilly  landscapes  beyond  with  unraveled  signs  and  legends, 
costumed  in  summer  in  delightful  colors,  lifting  a robe  of  purity  to  the  dawn 
and  bursting  into  primal  beauty  at  the  touch  of  the  sinking  sun.  In  the 
enjoyment  of  this  selected  life  an  unusual  importance  is  attached  to  the 
interest  with  which  he  invests  it  by  word  or  conversation.  He  talks  fluently 
on  the  subject-matter  under  consideration,  with  a familiarity  with  it  that 
indicate  how  clearly  he  comprehends  it;  talks  readily  and  quick  and  to  the 
point,  with  singular  accuracy  and  conciseness  and  invariably  with  an  ob- 
jective. In  his  written  productions  is  found  remarkable  perspicacity,  strength 
and  compactness  of  statements,  an  orderly  and  logical  marshalling  of  ideals, 
in  which  is  employed  vigorous,  but  plain,  pure  English  words,  having  but 
little  use  for  superlatives,  yet  recognizing  the  fact  that  they  are  frequently 
decorations,  but  neither  strengthen  nor  vitalize  expression.  There  is  a strict 
form  and  technical  directness  and  transparency  of  thought  and  elucidation 
in  all  emanations  from  his  pen.  His  habit  is  to  think  intently  and  well  of  his 
subject,  hold  it  with  a firm  mental  sub-maxillary  grip,  and  when  the  time 
comes  he  rapidly  unreels  the  finished  fabric  from  his  mind. 

As  a man  Doctor  Todd  is  substantial  and  intrinsic  in  his  personality,  a 
self-adjusting,  independent,  veritable  entity,  without  a proxy,  always  stand- 


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ing  and  answering  for  himself,  maintains  the  essentials  of  proper  equipoise 
and  a lofty  spirit,  is  benevolent,  sympathetic,  and  humorous,  all  of  which 
qualities  pre-eminently  characterize  him.  If  the  impulsiveness  of  some 
of  the  Celtic  grit  that  is  him  crosses  his  orbit,  the  steadier  and  safer  equilib- 
riums of  his  Dutch  maternal  blood  act  as  a repellant  and  counter-force, 
when  the  shadow  on  the  disc  suddenly  disappears.  His  student  hours  are 
tense  and  dense  amid  the  silences  of  inquisitive  and  contemplative  thought. 
To  such  minds  relief  to  reflection  is  best  assured  by  further  reflection.  What 
he  reads,  sees,  hears  and  thinks,  serves  his  premises;  with  these  he  cares, 
first,  to  improve  himself.  He  deeply  enjoys  both  ancient  and  modem  litera- 
ture, the  old  poets  and  masters,  the  classic  authors,  the  heralds  and  voices 
of  antiquity,  kneels  at  the  shrines  of  the  great  artists  and  the  fame-winners 
in  sculpture  and  painting  and  architecture,  participates  in  the  acclamations 
of  the  triumphs  of  art  and  “the  blaze  of  every  science.”  For  all  of  these  and 
for  maps  and  charts  and  models  “and  dusty  tomes  crowded  with  heavy  but 
profound  philosophies  and  researches,”  he  possesses  an  exalted  if  not  spirit- 
ualized appreciation.  He  enjoys,  not  alone,  the  distinguished  merit  and 
scholasticism  of  the  literature  of  his  profession,  but  the  learning  of  men  of 
learning,  the  best  literary  productions,  whether  those  of  Tacitus  or  Macaulay, 
and  Chaucer  or  Tennyson — those  composing  and  embodying  the  highest 
results  of  knowledge  and  fancy,  preserved  and  transmitted  by  the  old  or 
later  authors.  He  does  not  incline  to  a literature  which  exclusively  regards 
the  personal,  the  romantic  and  beautiful,  as  the  cardinal  objects  of  thought 
and  expression,  but  rather  one  that  combines  those  characteristics  with  defi- 
nite and  accurate  description,  exact  analysis,  and  the  bringing  together  of 
true  cause  and  effect  as  the  chief  end. 

A scholar  himself,  with  the  training  of  the  schools  and  familiar  with 
college  curriculums  and  the  courses  of  study,  the  Doctor  cherished  the  as- 
sumptions of  his  own  line  of  study,  and  with  due  regard  to  preordained 
thinkers  he  has  chiseled  lines  which  are  modest  historical  testimonies.  And 
here  he  rests,  as  is  his  right.  Among  the  possibilities  of  those  existing  are 
his  incredulity  in  methods  of  education  in  this  or  any  period  of  spasmic 
culture.  His  convictions  of  conscience  are  not  absolutely  in  colleges  and 
universities — men  factories,  in  which  you  can  make  a man  a real,  live  illum- 
inating genius  out  of  the  raw  masticated  material  of  creation.  There  must 
be  a touch  of  the  Master  in  it ; the  spirit  of  the  Designer  behind  it.  In  a Greek 
quarry,  like  ancient  Oxford,  there  is  a major  portion  who  would  make  better 
operators  as  carpet-weavers  in  the  mills  of  Wilton  or  steel  grinders  in  Shef- 
field. 


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Significally  characteristic  of  the  Doctor  is  his  diligence  in  circumscrib- 
ing himself  to  the  circle  of  his  own  affairs,  whether  in  the  administrations  of 
his  profession,  the  fascinating  seclusion  of  his  reliquaries  or  in  perigrinations 
through  the  forests  and  fields  or  the  slenderly  wooded  acres  of  the  streams, 
challenging  the  outposts  of  landscapes  for  their  buried  or  unburied,  or  even 
their  semi-articulate  tones  of  time,  their  resonant,  choiceful  antiquarian  le- 
gends and  secrets. 

If  Dr.  Todd  were  objectless  he  would  be  a brilliant,  if  apparently  fading, 
taper,  but  never  invisible  in  the  toneless  halls  of  sleep.  Not  true  is  this. 
There  is  constantly  an  object  impelling  him,  and  such  is  his  self-balance  that 
he  floats  steadily  on,  whether  on  smooth  or  troubled  currents,  where  and  when 
he  can  afford  to  wait,  accounting  expectations  as  no  punishment  and  willing 
to  abide,  if  necessary,  the  adjournment  of  his  hopes  until  the  next  day.  If 
he  has  formality,  it  is  that  of  his  style  and  greeting,  and  upon  meeting  him 
his  social  and  mental  circumferences  are  at  once  visible.  If  there  be  a state- 
liness and  a degree  of  selfhood,  they  are  appurtenances  belonging  to  him, 
but  this  is  not  sutre,  or  unbending,  but  native  qualities  which  adhere  and 
dwell  in  so  metropolitan  and  composite  a nature. 

There  are  times  when  solitude,  the  compressed  silences  of  the  ages, 
break  the  limit  and  the  eternal  mandate  of  the  world,  when  the  thinker  must 
retire  and  in  the  sweet  martyrdom  of  seclusion  speak  to  himself  and  address 
himself  in  the  untold,  unwritten  language  of  the  human  soul,  and  in  this  sense, 
with  what  the  eye  can  see  in  sight,  or  the  mind  can  compass,  more  specially 
in  looking  back,  he  seeks  his  days  and  periods  of  tranquil  quietness  in  seclu- 
sion, in  his  quaint  libraries,  his  museum,  among  his  geologic  fossils,  his  In- 
dian quarries  and  prehistoric  repositories,  his  aggregated  things  of  antiquity 
and  old  atmosphere.  Here  he  can  conceal  himself  to  be  guessed  at  by  those 
who  do  not  know\  to  be  understood  by  those  who  understand,  to  see  and 
work  unseen  and  when  he  emerges  to  the  light  again  to  be  known  by  his 
vitalizations  and  actions  that  his  retirement  was  not  affection.  From  the 
effect  of  his  exact  professional  habits  he  is  discriminate  and  technical  in 
place,  time  and  order  and  is  self- regulated  to  a degree  which  sometimes 
excites  a suggestion,  but  this  is  essentially  associated  with  the  conscientious- 
ness which  forms  a conspicuous  future  of  his  character.  He  would  be  re- 
garded as  a man  well  born,  well  derived,  well  disciplined  and  well  finished, 
the  strongest  representative  of  his  own  personality,  the  sentinel  of  each  of 
his  own  particular  wards,  a rampart  to  himself,  testifying  to  the  relations 
which  he  finds  in  life.  He  aims,  first,  to  do  justice  to  himself:  this  done,  he 
can  dismiss  all  menace  of  opposition  or  lack  of  appreciation  or  superstition. 


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847 


He  who  keeps  the  door  of  a mine,  whether  of  galena,  mercury,  plumbago, 
or  aluminum,  will  soon  know  that  the  people  want  to  see  him,  as  real  men 
always  prefer  to  see  and  know  real  men. 

The  possession  of  the  instinct  of  a man  of  historic  and  scientific  ven- 
tures implies  the  boldness  to  do  and  accomplish ; it  carries  in  it  the  symptoms 
of  determination  and  courage,  for  the  culminations  of  all  battles,  whether 
fought  in  the  interest  of  science  or  themselves,  are  pivoted  on  courage.  The 
fibers  and  sinews  of  the  scholar  and  thinker  then  reaches  the  stage  and  fills 
the  proscenium.  It  is  superbly  gallant  to  be  brave  at  cannon  points,  but 
better  to  be  brave  when  better  issues  are  joined.  With  Doctor  Todd,  he 
would  sooner  be  the  defendant  than  the  challenger,  but  he  in  his  inmost  heart 
detests  cowardice.  If,  however,  he  resolves  to  do  or  act,  he  would,  with  the 
mariner  s instinct  of  his  ancestry,  plunge  into  the  ships  that  go  down  into 
the  sea,  and  in  the  delicious  peril  of  death  hammer  at  the  doors  that  had 
never  been  opened.  Even  then,  he  would  violate  his  attachments  to  his 
curios,  and  experience  an  ambiguous  sound  in  the  tender,  holy  and  potential 
celestialities  of  a divinely  Miltonic  scene. 

Of  his  curios!  But  he  is  not  English  enough  to  swing  in  hammocks, 
from  the  boughs  of  the  Upas  tree,  or  put  the  blood  of  a martyr  in  an  elembic, 
or  to  saw  a hole  in  the  head  of  the“Winking  Virgin”  to  know  why  she  winks, 
but,  if  he  won  a Croesus  or  was  the  successor  to  the  earldom  of  Arundel, 
he  would  beg  the  secrets  of  nature  and,  like  Sir  George,  enrich  the  universi- 
ties of  the  world  with  his  gifts. 

— By  Ben  Douglas. 


JOSEPH  PERILSTEIN. 

The  record  of  Joseph  Perilstein  is  that  of  a man  who,  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts,  has  worked  his  way  from  a modest  beginning  to  a position  of 
influence  and  prosperity.  His  life  has  been  one  of  unceasing  industry  and 
perseverance,  and  the  systematic  and  honorable  methods  he  has  followed  have 
won  him  the  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Joseph  Perilstein, 
a well-known  merchant  of  Orrville,  is  an  American  by  adoption  only,  but  he 
has  always  been  loyal  to  our  institutions  since  his  coming  here.  He  was 
born  in  Austria-Hungary  in  1873,  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Molly  Perilstein, 
both  of  whom  are  still  living  in  the  old  country. 

Young  Joseph  in  his  boyhood  assisted  his  father  about  the  home  place 
and  dreamed  of  the  great  republic  across  the  Atlantic  of  which  he  had  been 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


told  so  much,  and,  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  got  enough  money  together 
to  come  to  America.  He  landed  in  New  York,  but  later  came  on  to  Cleve- 
land. He  was  penniless,  but,  being  ambitious  and  possessing  many  of  the 
qualities  that  always  make  for  success,  he  soon  found  employment  in  selling 
goods  to  individual  families.  He  could  not  speak  English,  but  study  and  ob- 
servation soon  acquired  our  language.  He  was  on  the  road  for  four  and 
one-half  years.  Then  in  1896  he  came  to  Orrville,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  the 
dry  goods  business  and,  being  successful  from  the  first,  he  has  been  here  ever 
since,  having  built  up  an  excellent  trade  with  the  town  and  surrounding 
country.  He  had  but  little  capital  when  he  came  here,  but  he  has  been  very 
successful  and  is  now  carrying  a large  stock  of  merchandise,  carefully  se- 
lected and  up  to  date,  and  his  prices  are  always  right,  according  to  many  of 
his  customers,  who  come  from  all  parts  of  the  county  to  deal.  At  first  his 
store  was  very  small,  but  now  it  requires  three  large  rooms  to  accommodate 
his  large  stocks,  occupying  the  first,  second  and  third  floors  of  a substantial 
building  in  the  best  business  part  of  the  city.  He  carries  a full  line  of  dry 
goods,  cloaks,  carpets,  rugs  and  lace  curtains,  and  his  store  is  always  a busy 
place.  He  requires  a number  of  clerks  and  other  employes  to  assist  in  car- 
rying on  his  rapidly  growing  business.  Here  customers  always  get  courteous 
consideration  and  a square  deal.  In  other  words,  he  conducts  “The  Growing 
Store  of  Wayne  County.” 

Mr.  Perilstein  was  married  in  1889  to  Edith  Warner,  a native  of  Aus- 
tria, but  she  came  to  America  when  young,  having  spent  her  early  girlhood 
in  Vienna.  Their  marriage  occurred  in  New  York.  They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Perilstein  is  a stockholder  in  the  Orrville  National  Bank  and  he  also 
has  valuable  real  estate  holdings.  He  has  a beautiful  home  and  is  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Orrville.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  an  obliging,  genteel,  progressive  business  man, 
who  has  won  a reputation  for  both  industry  and  fair  dealing. 


JAMES  M.  WARD. 

One  of  the  well  known  and  influential  citizens  of  Congress  township, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  James  M.  Ward,  who  for  a number  of  years  has 
resided  here  and  successfully  conducted  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town- 
ship. He  has  always  been  actively  interested  in  everything  which  tended  to 
promote  the  development  of  this  region,  and  has  been  confidently  counted 


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upon  at  all  times  to  endorse  progressive  measures  and  to  uphold  the  law, 
right  and  justice.  Mr.  Ward  was  born  in  the  township  of  Canaan,  this 
county,  his  natal  day  having  been  the  25th  of  December,  1852.  His  father 
was  John  W.  Ward,  who  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1821,  and 
who  married  Mary  Magdeline  Ritter,  who  was  born  in  Chester  township, 
this  county,  in  1829.  John  W.  Ward  was  a prominent  and  successful  farmer 
near  Burbank,  this  county,  and  died  in  1898.  In  politics  he  was  a Democrat 
and  took  a live  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  and  his  family  were  active 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
six  children,  a remarkable  feature  in  connection  therewith  being  the  fact  that 
they  included  three  pairs  of  twins.  They  are  mentioned  as  follows:  John 

and  James,  the  former  being  deceased,  and  the  latter  being  the  subject  of  this 
sketch ; Christina  and  Lucy,  the  former  the  wife  of  Frank  Myers,  of  Bur- 
bank, and  the  latter  the  wife  of  Daniel  Hartman,  of  Greene  county,  Ohio; 
John  Leander  and  Mary  Esther,  the  former  living  in  this  state,  and  the  latter 
being  a nurse  in  California.  A further  notable  fact  regarding  the  five  sur- 
viving children  is  that  their  aggregate  weight  is  over  half  a ton.  The 
subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Robert  Ward,  was  a native  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  and  was  a stone-mason  by  trade.  He  came  from  Maryland  to 
Ohio  in  1836,  locating  in  Canaan  township.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  Jacob  Ritter,  native  of  Pennsylvania  who  came  to  Ohio  sometime 
before  the  twenties  and  settled  in  Chester  township,  Wayne  county,  where 
he  operated  the  large  farm  now  owned  by  John  Raudebaugh. 

James  M.  Ward  secured  his  preliminary  education  in  the  common  school 
near  his  home,  after  which  he  took  the  literary  course  at  Lodi  Academy, 
He  was  then  engaged  for  eight  winters  in  teaching  school,  in  which  he 
was  eminently  successful.  He  had  decided  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine 
his  life  work  and  to  this  end  his  leisure  hours  during  this  period  were 
spent  in  the  study  of  medicine  and  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  J.  Warner, 
of  Congress.  By  dint  of  rigid  economy,  the  subject  managed  to  save  five 
hundred  dollars  and  with  this  he  matriculated  in  the  Cincinnati  College  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery.  He  completed  his  technical  studies  in  the  medical 
department  of  Wooster  University,  graduating  in  1878  with  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine.  During  the  following  two  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  practice  with  Dr.  Warner,  his  former  tutor,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
period  he  opened  an  office  alone  in  that  town.  He  also  owned  and  operated 
a drug  store,  and  was  highly  successful  in  both  professional  and  commercial 
lines.  During  the  following  five  years  he  was  very  busily  engaged  ami 


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was  highly  gratified  with  his  success.  In  1885  his  father-in-law  died,  and 
it  became  necessary  for  him  to  supervise  the  large  Van  Sweringen  farm  in 
Congress  township.  I11  order  to  properly  do  this,  the  Doctor  found  it  nec- 
essary to  give  up  his  practice,  which  he  did  and  moved  onto  the  farm.  He 
has  since  continued  to  manage  this  property  and  has  been  equally  as  suc- 
cessful in  this  line  as  he  formerly  was  in  his  profession.  He  and  his  wife 
together  own  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Wayne  county 
and  they  have  been  greatly  prospered  in  the  operation  of  this  land.  The 
Doctor  is  progressive  in  his  methods  and  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the 
most  advanced  methods  of  agriculture.  He  keeps  the  place  up  to  the  highest 
standard  of  excellence  and  the  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the  owner 
to  be  a man  of  good  taste  and  sound  judgment. 

In  politics  the  subject  gives  an  enthusiastic  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  but  is  not  in  any  sense  a seeker  for  public  office.  He  gives  his  unre- 
served support  to  every  measure  that  promises  to  benefit  the  community 
in  any  way. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1878,  Mr.  Ward  wedded  Martha  H.  Van 
Sweringen,  who  was  born  in  Congress  township,  this  county,  October  31, 
i860.  Her  father  was  Thomas  Van  Sweringen,  a prominent  farmer  of 
that  township.  Her  mother  was  a member  of  the  Miller  family,  being  Mary 
A.  Miller.  To  this  union  have  been  born  two  children,  namely:  Roy  M.. 

born  April  30,  1890,  and  Georgia  May,  born  September  15,  1880,  and  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Hugh  Johnson,  a prominent  farmer  of  this  county.  So- 
cially, Mr.  Ward  is  a member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Me- 
chanics. Mr.  Ward  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  township  and  is 
well  worthy  of  the  regard  in  which  he  is  universally  held.  Mrs.  Ward  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Congress. 


JOHN  CRAMER. 

The  office  of  biography  is  not  to  give  voice  to  a man’s  modest  estimate 
of  himself  and  his  accomplishments,  but  rather  to  leave  upon  the  record  the 
verdict  establishing  his  character  by  the  consensus  of  opinion  on  the  part 
of  his  neighbors  and  fellow  citizens.  In  touching  upon  the  life  history  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  the  writer  aims  to  avoid  fulsome  encomium  and  extrav- 
agant praise,  yet  he  desires  to  hold  up  for  consideration  those  facts  which 


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have  shown  the  distinction  of  a true,  useful  and  honorable  life — a life  char- 
acterized by  perseverance,  energy,  broad  charity  and  well-defined  purpose. 
To  do  this  will  be  but  to  reiterate  the  dictum  pronounced  upon  the  man  by 
the  people  who  have  known  him  long  and  well. 

John  Cramer,  who  is  numbered  among  the  enterprising  and  successful 
agriculturists  of  Wayne  county,  was  born  at  West  Lebanon,  this  county,  on 
the  26th  of  June,  1851,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Nancy  (Gramling) 
Cramer.  The  Cramer  family  is  traced  to  a German  origin,  though  the  sub- 
ject’s maternal  grandmother  was  a native  of  England.  Michael  Cramer  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1815,  and  in  his  youth  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Ohio,  they  locating  at  Fredericksburg.  The  father 
was  a tanner  by  trade  and  established  a tannery  at  that  place,  which  soon 
grew  to  an  important  industry.  He  was  an  expert  in  his  line  and  commanded 
a large  patronage,  the  farmers  from  all  the  surrounding  country  bringing 
their  hides  to  his  tannery.  Michael  Cramer  followed  in  his  father’s  foot- 
steps and  learned  the  trade  of  a tanner,  establishing  himself  in  business  at 
West  Lebanon,  where  he  continued  in  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-one  years.  He  was  one  of 
the  best  known  men  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  he  too  commanded  the 
patronage  of  all  the  farmers  in  his  community.  He  was  industrious  and  a 
good  manager  and  was  considered  a very  successful  man  for  his  day.  He 
built  one  of  the  first  brick  houses  in  West  Lebanon,  and  in  its  construction 
he  paid  the  masons  seventy-five  cents  a day,  a wage  that  at  the  present  day 
would  hardly  be  an  inducement  for  a man  to  lay  brick.  He  was  a man  of 
decided  domestx  tastes  and  did  not  care  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  public 
affairs  of  his  day.  At  that  time  Massillon  was  the  only  town  of  any  impor- 
tance in  this  section  of  the  state,  being  the  main  trading  point,  and  West 
Lebanon  was  a common  stopping  place  for  farmers  on  their  way  to  Massillon. 
Mr.  Cramer  and  his  wife  were  faithful  members  of  the  Church  of  God,  and 
he  was  generous  in  support  of  the  society.  He  married  Nancy  Gramling,  who 
was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Ohio  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  the 
family  making  the  trip  in  a covered  wagon.  Her  father  had  previously  been 
in  Ohio  inspecting  the  land  and  had  walked  the  entire  distance  from  his  home 
both  ways.  The  ancestors  of  the  Gramling  family  are  supposed  to  have 
come  from  Holland.  Mrs.  Cramer’s  father  was  a cabinet-maker  by  trade,  in 
which  he  was  employed  all  his  life.  He  was  of  an  inventive  turn  of  mind  and 
constructed  the  first  fanning  mill  ever  in  use  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
Michael  and  Nancy  Cramer  were  married  at  West  Lebanon,  and  their  union 
was  blessed  in  the  birth  of  five  children,  namely:  Henry,  who  died  at  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


age  of  nineteen  years,  the  result  of  wounds  received  during  the  Civil  war, 
while  engaged  in  the  battle  at  Floyd  Mountain.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Twenty-third  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  had  served  all  but 
twelve  days  of  his  three-year  period  of  enlistment.  Sarah  married  a Mr. 
Frantz  and  lives  in  Sugarcreek  township,  this  county.  Two  children  died 
in  infancy  unnamed.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  of  the 
children. 

John  Cramer  was  reared  under  the  parental  rooftree  and  was  given  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages.  He  received  his  elementary  training  in  the 
common  schools  at  West  Lebanon,  and  supplemented  this  by  attendance  at 
the  Smithville  Academy  and  Mount  Union  College.  He  then  entered  the  Leb- 
anon Normal  School  in  Warren  county,  taking  the  course  in  surveying  and 
civil  engineering,  but  left  school  before  graduating.  After  completing  his 
studies  he  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Wavne  and 
Stark  counties,  but  at  length  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
in  which  he  has  been  engaged  continuously  since.  Mr.  Cramer  has  resided 
on  his  present  place  practically  since  he  was  three  years  old.  His  father 
dying  at  that  time,  he  was  placed  in  the  home  of  his  Grandfather  Gramling, 
and  the  farm  then  owned  by  the  latter  is  that  now  owned  and  operated  by 
the  subject.  It  is  a fine  and  fertile  tract  of  land,  considered  one  of  the  best 
pieces  of  land  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  it  is  splendidly  improved  and  is 
constantly  maintained  at  the  highest  standard  of  excellence.  Mr.  Cramer 
is  practical  and  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  he  has  left  no  stone  unturned 
to  bring  the  science  of  agriculture  up  to  the  highest  possible  plane.  In  tlr’s 
laudable  effort  he  has  succeeded  to  a gratifying  degree.  Mr.  Cramer  lives 
in  a conveniently  arranged  and  attractive  residence,  which  is  fitted  with 
many  modern  and  up-to-date  conveniences,  including  a complete  acetylene 
lighting  plant  and  running  water  in  all  parts  of  the  house  where  desired. 
The  other  buildings  on  the  place  are  in  keeping  with  the  residence  and  the 
general  appearance  of  the  whole  property  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a man 
of  exceptional  taste  and  sound  judgment.  He  raises  all  the  crops  common  to 
this  latitude,  also  giving  considerable  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising 
of  livestock,  and  is  practical  and  progressive  in  his  methods.  Mr.  Cramer’s 
property  is  of  additional  value  from  the  fact  that  underlying  it  is  a magnifi- 
cent bed  of  coal.  Mr.  Cramer  has  leased  the  coal  rights  to  a Cleveland  com- 
pany which  has  sunk  a shaft  and  is  engaged  in  mining  it.  Large  quantities 
of  the  fuel  are  shipped  constantly  and  from  this  source  Mr.  Cramer  derives  a 
handsome  royalty. 

In  1882  Mr.  Cramer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emmeline  Fisher,  who 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


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was  born  February  12,  1862,  near  Mount  Eaton,  Paint  township,  this  county, 
the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Fisher.  Her  paternal  grandfather, 
Solomon  Fisher,  was  a native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  this  part  of  Ohio.  Hiram  Fisher  was  well  known  and  for 
a number  of  years  he  served  as  court  constable  at  Wooster.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cramer  have  been  bom  six  children,  namely:  Bryant,  of  Alliance,  Ohio, 

where  he  is  employed  by  a railroad;  Mary,  at  home;  George,  who  is  a stu- 
dent at  Wooster  University,  where  he  is  fitting  himself  for  the  profession 
of  civil  engineering;  Leroy,  who  is  at  home;  the  fourth  and  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Cramer  has  not  been  an  office-seeker  in  the  popular  acceptation  of 
the  term,  but  he  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  a member  of  the  township 
school  board,  having  always  taken  a deep  and  commendable  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters.  Mrs.  Cramer  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Mount  Eaton.  Mr.  Cramer  is  not  a member  of  the  church,  but  gives 
to  it  a liberal  financial  support.  His  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

The  subject  is  one  of  the  strong  and  sturdy  men  of  his  community  and 
has  justly  merited  the  high  position  which  he  now  occupies  in  the  estima- 
tion of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  ever  found  on  the  right  side  of  every 
moral  issue,  and  his  support  is  freely  given  to  every  movement  looking  to 
the  advancement  of  the  community  in  any  way.  Because  of  his  sterling  quali- 
ties of  character  he  is  eminently  deserving  of  representation  in  a work  of  this 
character. 


DANIEL  BEALS. 

Few  men  of  Wayne  county  are  as  widely  and  favorably  known  as  Daniel 
Beals,  of  Paint  township,  where  he  was  born  on  the  7th  of  February,  1833. 
He  is  one  of  the  strong  and  influential  citizens  whose  lives  have  become 
an  essential  part  of  the  history  of  this  section  of  the  state  and  for  years 
his  name  has  been  synonymous  for  all  that  constitutes  honorable  and  upright 
manhood.  Tireless  energy,  keen  perception  and  honesty  of  purpose,  com- 
bined with  every-day  common  sense,  were  among  his  chief  characteristics, 
and  while  advancing  individual  success  he  also  largely  promoted  the  moral 
and  material  welfare  of  his  community. 

The  subject's  parents  were  Jacob  and  Besanba  (Bowers)  Beals,  and 
the  former  was  the  son  of  Abraham  Beals,  who  came  to  Ohio  in  1812  and  en- 


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tered  large  tracts  of  land  in  this  part  of  Wayne  county,  of  which  he  gave 
each  of  his  children  a quarter  section.  He  was  a native  of  Lebanon  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  he  rode  all  the  way  to  his  new  western  home  on  horse- 
back. He  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  here.  At  that  time  there  was  an 
Indian  reservation  at  Canal  Dover,  from  which  point  there  was  a foot  trail 
to  New  Sandusky,  to  which  place  the  early  settlers  had  to  go  to  secure  salt. 
Abraham  Beals  and  his  wife  both  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Jacob  Beals  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  married  in  that  state, 
though  all  his  children  were  born  after  his  removal  to  Ohio.  These  chil- 
dren were  Philip,  Sarah,  Rebecca,  Solomon,  Sabie,  Elizabeth,  Rachael  and 
Daniel,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead  excepting  the  subject.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  She  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  two  brothers  and  a sister  also  came  to  Ohio.  When  she  and 
her  husband  came  to  Ohio  and  took  up  land,  not  a stick  of  it  had  been  dis- 
turbed by  white  hands,  and  to  create  a farm  out  of  this  dense  wilderness  was 
a task  of  herculean  proportions.  But  the  sturdy  pioneer  had  reckoned  the  cost 
and  courageously  went  to  work  cutting  and  burning  the  timber,  building  a 
log  house  and  cultivating  the  land.  In  due  time  what  had  formerly  been  the 
primeval  forest  began  to  present  a changed  appearance,  and  soon  fields  of 
ripening  grain  characterized  what  had  been  almost  impenetrable  forests.  First 
operations  were  primitive  in  the  extreme  and,  as  the  nearest  grist  mill  was  at 
Massillon,  the  pioneers  grated  the  corn  from  which  they  made  their  first 
bread  or  pone.  Jacob  Beals  was  considered  a very  successful  man  for  his 
day  and  was  active  in  many  lines  of  endeavor.  In  the  work  of  the  Methodist 
church  he  took  a very  leading  and  prominent  part,  in  this  respect  following 
in  the  wake  of  his  father,  who  had  been  instrumental  in  building  the  first 
church  in  this  part  of  the  state,  it  being  located  in  Stark  county.  Jacob 
Beals  was  a justice  of  the  peace  in  his  community  for  eighteen  years  and  also 
at  different  times  held  all  the  other  township  offices,  being  also  a notary  public. 
He  was  a man  of  unusual  strength  of  character  and  possessed  in  a large  de- 
gree that  quality  commonly  called  '‘horse  sense,”  his  counsel  and  advice  being 
often  sought  by  those  in  need  of  counsel.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Whig,  but  on  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  allied  himself  with 
it  and  remained  an  ardent  supporter  of  that  party  ever  after.  No  man  was 
more  prominent  or  better  known  throughout  this  section  of  the  state  than 
was  Jacob  Beals,  and  his  memory  remains  sacred  to  those  who  knew  him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  secured  his  early  education  in  the  primitive  log 
school  house  of  the  early  days,  the  school  being  in  the  beginning  supported 
by  subscription.  Later  the  free  schools  were  inaugurated  and  the  subject 


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aided  in  the  building  of  the  first  free  school  house  in  this  section  and  was 
himself  made  a member  of  the  first  school  board,  though  then  but  a youth. 
He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of 
age,  and  then,  acquiring  the  ownership  of  the  farm,  his  parents  remained 
with  h;m,  he  taking  the  most  painstaking  and  careful  regard  for  their  com- 
fort. About  twenty-eight  years  ago  Mr.  Beals  relinquished  active  farm  work 
and  moved  to  Orrville,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  his  children  better  oppor- 
tunities for  education,  and  remained  there  eighteen  years.  While  residing  in 
that  city  he  engaged  in  the  buggy  business,  in  which  he  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful, having  made  the  record  of  selling  two  hundred  and  eighty-three  bug- 
gies in  twelve  months.  He  also  engaged  in  handling  livestock,  buying  and 
shipping  large  numbers  annually  to  the  eastern  markets.  About  1899  Mr. 
Beals  and  his  family  returned  to  the  old  home  in  Paint  township,  where  he  is 
now  living  practically  a retired  life,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a rest  which  he  has 
richly  earned.  He  has  been  a very  successful  man  and,  despite  much  trouble 
and  many  material  losses,  he  is  considered  today  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing and  successful  men  in  his  part  of  the  county.  He  has  ever  evinced  a 
spirit  of  progress  and  has  always  given  an  enthusiastic  support  to  every  object 
or  movement  having  for  its  ultimate  end  the  advancement  of  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  A man  of  sterling  qualities  of  character,  he  has 
ever  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  the  best  people  in  the  community,  and  he  now 
enjoys  the  unbounded  confidence  and  respect  of  all. 

Mr.  Beals  has  been  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Mary  Scott,  a daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Scott,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children,  namely:  Ottie 

became  the  wife  of  Isaac  Blackstone,  of  Orrville,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren; John  married  Adele  Taggart  and  resides  near  Orrville;  Emma  is  the 
wife  of  Solon  Byall,  of  Orrville,  and  they  have  two  children ; William,  of 
Orrville,  married  a Miss  Gardner  and  they  have  one  child.  Mrs.  Mary  (Scott) 
Beals  died  October  20,  1885,  and  was  buried  in  Crow  Hill  cemetery  in  Orr- 
ville. She  was  a good  woman  and  her  friends  mounied  her  loss.  On  October 
20,  1899,  Mr.  Beals  married  Elizabeth  Bookwalter,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Martm  Bookwalter.  She  died  October  7,  1909,  and  was  buried  at  Mount 
Eaton.  She  was  a lady  of  splendid  personal  qualities  and  was  well  liked  by 
all  who  knew  her.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  came  to  Ohio  in  about  1831. 

In  politics  Mr.  Beals  has  always  been  actively  interested  in  the  success  of 
the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  been  a seeker  after  office.  Regardless  of 
this  fact,  he  has  been  selected  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  serve  in  a number  of 
township  offices  and  is  now  the  incumbent  of  the  office  of  township  trustee,  in 


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which  he  is  rendering  the  most  satisfactory  service.  Religiously,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  belonging  to  the  church  of  that 
denomination  at  Orrville.  Mrs.  Beals  is  a member  of  the  Universalist  church 
at  Akron,  Ohio. 


WILLIAM  ADDLEMAN. 

There  is  no  positive  rule  for  achieving  success  and  yet  in  the  life  of  the 
successful  man  there  are  always  lessons  which  might  well  be  followed.  The 
man  who  gains  prosperity  is  he  who  can  see  and  utilize  the  opportunity  that 
came  in  his  path.  The  essential  conditions  of  human  life  are  ever  the  same, 
the  surroundings  of  individuals  differ  but  slightly;  and  when  one  man  passes 
another  on  the  highway  of  life  to  reach  the  goal  of  prosperity  before  others 
who  perhaps  started  out  before  him,  it  is  because  he  has  the  power  to  use 
advantages  which  probably  encompass  the  whole  human  race.  Today  among 
the  prominent  citizens  and  successful  business  men  of  Burbank,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  stands  William  Addleman.  The  qualities  of  keen  discrimina- 
tion, sound  judgment  and  executive  ability  enter  very  largely  into  his  make-up 
and  have  been  contributing  elements  to  the  material  success  which  has  come 
to  him. 

William  Addleman  was  born  February  9,  1838,  in  Berlin  township. 
Holmes  county.  Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Shidler)  Addleman. 
The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather,  John  Addleman,  was  a native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  came  to  Ohio  in  a very  early  day,  settling  in  Holmes  county, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  years,  and  died.  The  maternal  grandparents, 
John  and  Katherine  Shidler,  were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  likewise 
early  settlers  of  Holmes  county.  The  subject’s  parents  were  both  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  father  in  Greene  county  and  the  mother  in  Washington 
county.  They  were  married  in  their  native  state  and  in  the  early  thirties 
came  to  Ohio.  There  the  father  died  in  1840  and  in  1846  the  mother  re- 
married and  came  to  Wayne  county,  where  she  lived  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  on  June  3,  1891.  Adam  Addleman  was  a farmer  by  vocation  and 
was  of  a quiet  and  retiring  disposition.  He  was,  nevertheless,  a man  of  ster- 
ling qualities  of  character  and  enjoyed  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 

William  Addleman  was  born  and  reared  in  a typical  log  cabin  of  the 
pioneer  period  and  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer,  being  at  an  early  age 
inured  to  the  strenuous  labor  incident  to  farm  life  of  that  early  day.  He 
secured  a fair  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  until  he  attained  his 


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majority  he  was  occupied  in  assisting  his  father  ’ in  the  tilling  of  the  soil. 
In  i860  he  went  to  Iowa  and  in  October  of  the  following  year,  responding 
to  his  country’s  call  for  aid  in  the  suppression  of  the  southern  insurrection, 
he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  D,  Fifteenth  Regiment  Iowa  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  rendered  faithful  service  for  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  discharged  because  of  sickness.  He  took  part  in  a number  of 
sanguinary  conflicts,  including  the  battles  of  Shiloh.  Corinth  and  Iuka,  be- 
sides a number  of  minor  engagements  and  skirmishes.  He  was  employed  on 
guard  duty  a large  part  of  the  time.  Enlisting  as  a private,  he  was  suc- 
cessively promoted,  being  a second  lieutenant  at  the  time  of  his  discharge. 
After  leaving  the  army,  Mr.  Addleman  remained  in  Iowa  until  the  spring  of 
1863,  when  he  returned  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  began  working  by  the 
month  on  farms.  In  1864  he  married  and  located  on  an  eighty -acre  farm  in 
Congress  township,  on  which  he  remained  during  the  following  twenty 
years.  In  1884  he  moved  to  Burbank  and,  forming  a business  partnership 
with  A.  H.  Overs,  went  into  the  hardware  business,  which  he  continued  until 
1887,  when  he  turned  his  interest  over  to  his  son  and  has  since  that  time 
lived  a retired  life.  During  President  Cleveland’s  first  administration  he 
served  one  year  as  postmaster  of  Burbank,  giving  a satisfactory  administra- 
tion. A man  of  strong  mentality  and  naturally  a keen  business  sense,  Mr. 
Addleman  made  a success  of  whatever  he  undertook  and  is  now  able  to  enjoy 
that  rest  which  he  so  richly  earned  during  his  active  years. 

In  politics  a Democrat,  Mr.  Addleman  has  taken  a deep  interest  in  local 
public  affairs,  and  in  1890  served  as  land  appraiser.  During  the  period 
that  he  resided  on  his  farm  he  served  two  terms  as  township  trustee,  school 
director  nine  consecutive  years  and  other  minor  local  offices,  the  duties  of 
which  he  discharged  with  an  eye  single  to  the  benefit  of  the  community  alone. 
Socially  he  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  while  his  re- 
ligious affiliation  is  with  the  Evangelical  Association,  to  which  he  gives  an 
earnest  support. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1864,  Mr.  Addleman  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Susan  Byers,  a native  of  Congress  township,  this  county,  and  a daughter  of 
David  and  Hettie  Byers,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  early  settlers  of  Wayne 
county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Addleman  have  been  born  two  children,  namely: 
John  E.,  who,  after  completing  his  common  school  education,  attended  Ash- 
land College  and  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  entered  the  drug  business 
at  Burbank,  and  served  as  postmaster  during  Cleveland’s  second  administra- 
tion ; Bertha  R.  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  the  foregoing  lines  have  been  briefly  set  forth  the  salient  facts  and 
some  of  the  leading  characteristics  in  the  life  of  one  of  Wayne  county's 
most  highly  respected  citizens.  Commencing  with  a limited  capital,  but  with 
an  inborn  determination  to  succeed,  and  paving  the  way  to  prosperity  only 
with  the  solid  rocks  of  honest  industry,  true  stability  of  character  and  cor- 
rect conduct,  he  has  achieved  success  in  the  face  of  every  obstacle  and  won 
a name  which  when  transmitted  to  posterity  will  ever  shine  with  a radiance 
emanating  from  a life  of  honor  and  integrity. 


JOHN  MESSNER. 

In  nearly  every  community  are  individuals  who  by  innate  ability  and 
sheer  force  of  character  rise  above  their  fellows  and  win  for  themselves  con- 
spicuous places  in  public  esteem.  Such  a one  is  the  well-known  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  above,  a man  who  has  been  identified  with  the  history  of 
Wayne  county  for  over  sixty-seven  years,  during  which  period  his  life  has 
been  closely  interwoven  with  the  material  growth  and  development  of  his 
county,  while  his  career  as  a progressive  man  of  affairs  has  been  synonymous 
with  all  that  is  upright  and  honorable  in  citizenship. 

John  Messner  was  born  on  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  his  natal 
day  having  been  January  5,  1842.  He  is  the  son  of  John  M.,  Sr.,  and  Hannah 
(Schweigert)  Messner,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of 
sturdy  German  antecedents.  They  were  married  in  their  native  state  and 
came  to  Ohio  with  their  two  children,  locating  about  two  miles  from  Mas- 
sillon. There  they  remained  about  two  years  and  then  came  to  Wayne  county 
and  bought  the  land  which  is  now  owned  by  the  subject  and  which  at  that 
time  was  in  its  original  wild  state,  densely  covered  with  the  primeval  forest 
growth  and  inhabited  by  many  varieties  of  wild  animals.  ’ To  the  arduous 
task  of  clearing  this  land  and  putting  it  in  cultivation  the  father  applied 
himself,  and  in  due  time  saw  the  reward  for  his  toil.  John  Messner,  Sr., 
was  a good  farmer  and  did  well  everything  he  undertook.  In  connection  with 
farming  he  also  raised  large  numbers  of  stock,  and  was  considered  a very 
successful  man  for  his  day.  He  was  a Democrat  in  political  proclivities  and 
took  a prominent  part  in  local  public  affairs.  He  was  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  this  section  of  the  county.  His  religious  belief  was  that 
of  the  German  Reformed  church  and  he  belonged  to  the  church  at  Mount 
Eaton.  He  was  ninety  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  his  wife  was 


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eighty-five.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely : Amos,  de- 

ceased; Sarah  is  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Jarvis  and  lives  in  the  West;  Josiah  is 
deceased;  William  lives  in  Oklahoma;  Savilla  is  deceased;  Fyan  married 
Mr.  Adams,  an  inspector  of  cattle  for  the  government;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Rebecca;  Matilda,  who  is  the  wife  of  a 
Mr.  Ruch  and  lives  at  Mount  Eaton. 

John  Messner  received  his  education  in  the  district  school  of  his  home 
neighborhood,  the  schools  of  that  early  day  being  somewhat  primitive  in 
methods  and  equipment.  The  pupils  were  required  to  chop  wood  for  the 
big  fireplace  and  the  building  was  furnished  with  rough  puncheon  seats  and 
floors,  oftentimes  greased  paper  serving  as  a substitute  for  glass  in  the  win- 
dows. The  subject  remained  on  the  homestead  during  his  young  manhood 
with  the  exception  of  six  years  spent  on  another  farm  in  the  county,  and  he 
has  always  followed  the  vocation  of  farming,  in  which  he  has  been  uniformly 
successful.  He  is  now  managing  the  home  farm  and  is  accounted  one  of 
the  most  progressive  and  enterprising  farmers  in  this  section  of  the  county. 
He  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  most  advanced  ideas  relating  to  the  science 
of  agriculture  and  is  not  slow  to  adopt  new  methods  when  their  practica- 
bility has  been  demonstrated.  The  place  is  adorned  with  a full  set  of  commo- 
dious and  well-arranged  farm  buildings  and  the  general  appearance  of  the 
place  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a man  of  sound  judgment  and  excellent 
taste.  He  carries  on  general  farming,  raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  in  connection  with  his  tilling  of  the  soil  he  also  gives 
some  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock,  in  which  also  he  is  successful. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1864,  Mr.  Messner  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  Graber,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county  August  8,  1843,  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Stauffer)  Graber.  Her  parents  were  both  born  in 
Germany,  her  father  being  ten  years  old  and  her  mother  seven  years  old 
when  they  accompanied  their  respective  families  to  the  United  States.  They 
came  over  in  the  old-time  sailing  vessels  and  were  among  the  earliest  for- 
eign-born families  to  settle  in  Wayne  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messner 
have  been  born  seven  children,  namely:  Lee,  who  married  Ida  Beal,  was  for- 
merly a school  teacher,  but  now  owns  a farm  west  of  Apple  Creek,  where 
he  res:des;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Senff,  a miller  at  Canton,  Ohio,  and 
they  have  two  children;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Edward  P.  Schaffter,  for- 
merly a veterinarian  of  Mount  Eaton,  and  then  became  meat  inspector  for  the 
government,  first  at  Kansas  City  and  then  at  Cleveland  and  from  there  was 
sent  by  the  government  to  Liverpool,  England,  as  inspector  of  cattle,  where 
he  now  resides  with  his  wife  and  three  children;  Edwin,  who  married  Laura 


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Blosser,  owns  a farm  east  of  Mount  Eaton;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Alton 
Etling,  superintendent  of  the  Orrville  public  schools,  and  they  have  two 
children ; Wilson,  who  is  a school  teacher,  living  at  Mount  Eaton,  married 
Esta  Schaffter,  and  they  have  one  child;  Nora  is  the  wife  of  Harvey  Blosser, 
a school  teacher,  living  at  Mount  Eaton,  and  they  have  two  children,  twins. 
Of  these  children,  all  have  been  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  some  period 
of  their  lives  excepting  Emma,  Minnie  and  Edwin. 

A stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  Mr.  Messner  has  been  actively  interested 
in  the  success  of  his  party  and  has  himself  held  a number  of  local  offices. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Reforrrfed  church 
at  Mount  Eaton  and  are  interested  in  all  the  activities  of  the  society.  Their 
comfortable  and  attractive  home  is  known  far  and  wide  because  of  the  hos- 
pitality ever  in  evidence  there,  and  the  members  of  this  family  are  numbered 
among  the  most  popular  residents  of  this  section  of  the  county.  Mr.  Messner 
is  a man  of  fine  personal  qualities  and  makes  a friend  of  every  one  he  meets. 


WOOSTER  NURSERY  COMPANY. 

No  history  of  Wayne  county  would  be  complete  without  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  famous  Wooster  Nursery  Company,  an  institution  of  which 
any  community  might  be  justly  proud.  This  flourishing  company  was  incor- 
porated four  years  ago  under  the  laws  of  Ohio,  wThich  means  that  the  stock- 
holder is  secure  in  every  way.  Starting  from  a small  beginning,  it  has  rap- 
idly grown  through  the  judicious  and  honest  management  of  its  officials  until 
its  products  are  eagerly  sought  after  throughout  northern  Ohio  and  other 
sections  of  the  Middle  West.  This  is  the  result  of  the  ambition  and  splendid 
management  of  Thomas  E.  Ewing,  the  founder,  who  came  to  Wayne  county 
from  Ashland,  Ohio,  in  1902,  in  which  year,  by  his  personal  efforts,  the 
company,  then  in  its  infancy,  received  a great  impetus,  which  it  so  much 
needed.  In  1903  he  planted  fruit  and  ornamental  trees.  There  was  a large 
increase  in  the  business  in  1904  and  at  that  time  an  increased  acreage  was 
planted.  They  began  growing  garden  and  farm  seeds  in  addition  to  their 
trees  in  1905.  After  the  incorporation  the  company  purchased  twenty-six 
and  one-half  acres  adjoining  the  Experiment  Station  and  this  has  proved  to 
be  another  one  of  the  wise  moves  engineered  by  Mr.  Ewing,  as  it  could  not 
be  excelled  anywhere  in  Ohio  for  the  nursery  business.  Their  trees  have  given 
the  utmost  satisfaction  in  every  respect,  one  of  their  best  points  being  a great 


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fibrous  root  system  and  the  trees  can  be  dug  without  injury.  Trees  grown 
on  sand  or  low  muck  land  are  not  so  hardy  or  vigorous.  In  1907  the  busi- 
ness increased  to  such  proportions  that  more  than  twice  the  usual  assistance 
was  required  to  properly  handle  the  output.  It  also  declared  at  that  time  a 
ten  per  cent,  dividend.  This  has  been  kept  up  ever  since  and  it  is  possible 
that  the  present  year  will  see  a much  larger  dividend  declared,  since  large  in- 
creases in  sales  and  orders  have  already  been  reported.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  company  has  been  increased  and  is  being  offered  in  a limited  way  to  the 
public.  According  to  those  in  position  to  judge  such  matters,  the  company's 
offer  is  certainly  a safe  and  sane  investment  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  subscribed 
faster  than  the  officials  anticipate. 

The  local  trade  increased  so  rap’dly  that  in  1908  it  became  necessary 
to  establish  a down-town  office,  which  was  located  on  South  Walnut  street. 
The  well-known  firm  of  seed  men,  E.  C.  Green  & Son,  of  Medina,  Ohio,  was 
consolidated  with  that  of  the  local  company  and  the  combination  is  proving 
to  be  a very  strong  one  and  a very  satisfactory  business  is  the  result.  Mr. 
Green  was  brought  up  in  the  nursery  business,  his  father  being  one  of  the 
foremost  nurserymen  in  Oh:o,  and  for  a number  of  years  Mr.  Green  was  con- 
nected with  the  Experiment  Station.  The  location  of  these  combined  inter- 
ests seems  to  have  been  a most  fortunate  one  in  every  way. 

The  local  trade  grew  to  such  proportions  in  1909  that  the  company  was 
compelled  to  seek  larger  quarters  and  No.  40  South  Market  street  was  se- 
lected. This  soon  proved  too  small  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  of- 
fices were  moved  across  the  street  to  the  Foss  building.  No.  35  South  Mar- 
ket street,  where  they  now  occupy  the  entire  first  floor  and  basement  with 
their  stocks  and  seeds  for  farm  and  garden,  nursery  stock  in  season,  poultry 
and  bee  supplies.  They  carry  the  Canton  fertilizer  exclusively  and  their 
trade  on  this  one  article  alone  is  over  ten  car  loads  per  year.  They  also 
handle  spray  materials  and  spray  pumps.  All  the  latest  and  best  devices  for 
the  care  of  orchards  and  gardens  are  to  be  found  here  in  their  neat  and  well- 
arranged  quarters  where  they  have  a floor  space  of  nineteen  by  one  hundred 
and  eighty  feet  and  nineteen  by  one  hundred  and  forty  feet.  Last  year  the 
grounds  of  the  nursery  were  planted  heavier  than  ever,  the  trees,  shrubs,  etc., 
then  on  the  place  being  valued  at  over  ten  thousand  dollars. 

This  company  has  a number  of  interesting  phases  that  commend  them- 
selves: It  is  a home  concern  and  can  be  seen  any  time;  the  stockholders  pay 
no  taxes  on  their  holdings;  the  management  is  thoroughly  experienced  and 
capable;  they  have  been  in  business  for  a number  of  years  and  have  proven 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  be  entirely  safe,  sane  and  conservative,  good  organizers  and  promoters 
along  legitimate  lines.  There  is  no  reason  why,  in  the  language  of  Mr. 
Ewing,  they  should  not  grow — they  have  the  land,  the  men  and  the  business. 

The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  such  men  of  unquestioned  integ- 
rity as  T.  E.  Ewing,  president  and  manager ; E.  C.  Green,  vice-pres’dent ; H. 
L.  Sanborn,  secretary:  W.  J.  Giffin.  treasurer;  T.  E.  Ewing,  R.  F.  Wal- 
lace, W.  J.  Giffin.  Calvin  and  S.  X.  Green  compose  the  board  of  directors. 

Some  insight  into  the  life  history  of  Thomas  Edwin  Ewing,  the  prime 
mover  in  this  noted  enterprise  and  one  of  Wayne  county's  most  progressive 
and  highly-esteemed  citizens,  would  doubtless  be  appreciated  by  the  readers 
of  this  work,  and  in  closing  this  sketch  of  the  Wooster  Nursery  Company 
we  are  glad  to  give  the  following  facts  in  his  life  record.  He  was  born  near 
Hayesville.  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  June  21,  1866,  the  oldest  child  of  Sam- 
uel J.  and  Elizabeth  D.  (Dobbs)  Ewing,  a h:ghly  respected  and  influential 
family  of  that  place.  His  early  education  was  gained  in  the  common  schools, 
and  he  took  a preparatory  course  in  the  academy  at  Hayesville,  later  attend- 
ing Muskingum  College  at  New  Concord.  He  made  a splendid  record  and 
began  teaching  soon  after  finishing  his  school  work,  being  well  equipped 
for  this  line  of  work,  which  he  followed  with  marked  success  for  a period  of 
three  years,  from  1884  to  1886  inclusive.  But  not  taking  kindly  to  the 
school  room  and  believing  that  his  true  forte  lay  in  the  business  world,  he 
went  to  Mansfield,  Ohio,  in  November,  1887.  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  entered  the  implement  business,  in  which  he  was  very  successful 
and  in  which  he  remained  unt:l  1908.  After  engaging  in  business  for  himself 
for  a period  of  four  years,  he  came  to  Wooster  in  1902,  as  before  stated,  and 
organized  the  Wooster  Nursery  Company. 

Mr.  Ewing  was  married  in  1889  to  Minnie  E.  Long,  a lady  of  educa- 
tion and  culture,  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Adam  B.  Long,  of  Loudonville,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Ewing  is  a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he 
is  a liberal  supporter  and  interested  worker,  having  held  many  of  the  hon- 
orary offices  in  the  same,  and  he  is  at  this  writing  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school,  in  which  he  is  doing  a very  commendable  work.  He  belongs  to 
the  L7 nited  Commercial  Travelers,  Wooster  Council  No.  196,  and  at  present 
is  senior  counselor.  He  has  the  interests  of  Wayne  county  at  heart,  being 
public-spirted,  always  ready  to  assist  in  the  furtherance  of  any  cause  for  the 
general  good,  and  personally  he  is  a man  of  unswerving  integrity,  kindness, 
charitable,  genteel  and  trustworthy,  according  to  those  who  know  him  best, 
and  he  has  hosts  of  friends  wherever  he  is  known. 


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863 


WILLIAM  M.  MELLINGER. 

In  examining  the  life  record  of  William  M.  Mellinger,  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive and  well-known  citizens  of  Plain  township,  Wayne  county,  we  find 
that  he  is  the  possessor  of  those  elements  which  always  make  for  success. 
Earnest  labor,  unabating  perseverance,  good  management  and  a laudable  am- 
bition— these  are  the  elements  that  have  brought  him  a comfortable  compe- 
tency and  the  good  will  of  his  fellow  men.  His  career  has  ever  been  such 
as  to  warrant  the  trust  and  confidence  of  the  business  world,  for  he  has  ever 
transacted  all  business  on  the  strictest  principles  of  honor  and  integrity.  His 
devotion  to  the  public  good  is  unquestioned  and  arises  from  a sincere  interest 
in  his  fellow  men. 

William  M.  Mellinger  was  born  September  7,  1843,  on  °ld  home 
farm  in  Plain  township.  A history  of  his  parents  and  the  other  members  of 
the  family  will  be  found  complete  on  another  page  of  this  work,  entitled, 
“A  Brief  History  of  the  Mellinger  Family,”  consequently  only  those  items 
bearing  directly  on  the  subject  of  this  review  himself  will  be  brought  out 
here. 

Mr.  Mellinger  began  Working  on  the  old  home  farm  when  he  reached 
proper  age,  attending  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months  in  Plain 
township.  He  later  attended  the  Fredericksburg  Academy  under  V.  C. 
Smith,  obtaining  a very  good  education.  He  first  turned  his  attention  to 
teaching,  alternating  the  same  with  sawmilling  for  a period  of  seventeen  years, 
and  for  seven  years  additional  continued  teaching,  winning  a wide  reputa- 
tion throughout  this  locality  as  an  educator  second  to  none  in  Wayne  county, 
his  services  having  been  in  great  demand ; however,  only  ten  years  of  that 
time  were  spent  in  Wayne  county,  three  years  having  been  devoted  to  this 
work  in  Lake  county  and  twelve  years  in  Preble  county,  Winning,  in  each  of 
the  latter,  a reputation  for  thoroughness  and  ability  in  his  work  as  he  had 
done  in  Wayne  county.  After  he  abandoned  sawmilling  he  took  up  farming 
in  Summit  county;  but  in  1897  he  returned  to  Wayne  county  and  he  and  his 
sister  bought  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  of  the  fine  farm  his  grand- 
father had  taken  up  from  the  government.  It  is  located  in  Plain  township, 
the  original  farm  consisting  of  five  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres,  and  Mr. 
Mellinger  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  general  farming  with  his  usual 
success.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat  and  while  living  in  Preble  county  he 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  also  held  the  same  office  in  Wayne 
county,  in  all  twenty-one  years,  giving  entire  satisfaction  in  the  same.  The 
early  members  of  the  Mellinger  family  belonged  to  the  Mennonite  church, 
but  William  M.  belongs  to  the  Reformed  church. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


FRANKLIN  HOLMES. 

The  history  of  the  loyal  sons  and  representative  citizens  of  Wayne  county 
would  not  be  complete  should  the  name  that  heads  this  review  be  omitted. 
When  the  fierce  fire  of  rebellion  was  raging  throughout  the  Southland, 
threatening  to  destroy  the  Union,  he  responded  with  patriotic  fervor  to  the 
call  for  volunteers,  and  in  some  of  the  bloodiest  battles  for  which  that  great 
war  was  noted  proved  his  loyalty  to  the  government  he  loved  so  well.  Dur- 
ing a useful  life  in  the  locality  where  he  lives  he  has  labored  diligently  to 
promote  the  interests  of  the  people:  at  the  same  time  he  has  lived  up  to  a 
standard  of  citizenship  that  has  brought  to  him  the  friendship  and  regard 
of  all  who  know  him. 

Franklin  Holmes  is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  having  first  seen 
the  light  of  day  near  Pleasant  Home  on  the  4th  of  February,  1844.  He  is 
descended  from  German  ancestry  and  his  paternal  grandparents,  Daniel 
and  Charlotte  Holmes,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  in  1812.  Here  they  took  up  one  hundred  acres  of  land  and  the 
father  devoted  his  active  years  to  that  vocation.  They  are  both  now  deceased. 
The  subject's  maternal  grandparents.  David  and  Eve  Weaver,  were  also 
natives  of  the  Keystone  state,  who  came  here  in  1812  and  took  up  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land,  on  which  they  spent  their  re- 
maining (lavs.  Children  of  these  grandparents,  Jacob  Holmes  and  Chris- 
tena  Weaver,  married  and  settled  near  Pleasant  Home,  where  the  father  suc- 
cessfully prosecuted  agriculture,  having  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a quiet  and  unassuming  man, 
inclined  to  be  retiring  in  disposition,  but  was  possessed  of  sterling  qualities 
of  character  which  gained  for  him  the  sincere  respect  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. They  were  members  of  the  German  Reformed  church,  to  which 
they  were  generous  contributors.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living.  Jacob  Holmes  was  born  April  2.  1814.  and 
died  August  16.  1901.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1829,  died  March  27.  1891. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  secured  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  home  neighborhood  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  He  gave  unmistakable  evidence  of  his  patriotism 
by  enlisting,  on  August  15,  1862,  in  Company  E.  One  Hundred  and  Twen- 
tieth Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  faithfully  with  this  com- 
mand until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  some  of  the  most  sangui- 
nary conflicts  of  that  great  struggle,  including,  among  others,  Chickasaw 
Hluff.  Arkansas  Post,  Thompson  Hill.  Raymond.  Jackson,  Miss.,  twice,  siege 


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of  Vicksburg,  Champion  Hill,  besides  many  minor  engagements  and  skir- 
mishes. He  saw  much  arduous  duty  and  was  sick  four  weeks  at  Young's 
Point,  lying  under  an  ordinary  tent.  At  Snaggy  Point  Mr.  Holmes,  to- 
gether with  about  half  the  members  of  the  regiment,  was  captured  by  the 
enemy  and  they  spent  thirteen  months  in  the  Confederate  prison  at  Camp 
Ford,  Texas. 

At  the  close  of  hostilities,  Mr.  Holmes  and  his  fellow-prisoners  were  re- 
leased and  he  at  once  returned  home  and  took  up  again  the  vocation  of 
farming,  to  which  he  had  been  reared.  Buying  a comfortable  place  at  Pleas- 
ant Home,  he  has  here  made  his  home  ever  since.  He  has  done  a good  deal 
of  well  drilling  in  this  county,  being  considered  an  expert  in  this  line,  and 
he  has  also  farmed  much  rented  land.  He  is  a wide-awake  man  of  affairs 
and  has  been  active  in  prosecuting  his  affairs. 

In  1868  Mr.  Holmes  was  married  to  Clara  J.  Harbaugh,  the  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Mary  Harbaugh,  early  settlers  in  Wayne  county.  Her  father 
died  in  1862.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  have  been  bom  three  children, 
namely:  Xettie  is  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Matthews,  of  Ashland;  Jennie  Goldie 

is  the  wife  of  Frank  Clippinger,  of  Collingwood,  Ohio;  Clyde  Monroe  is  a 
carpenter  by  trade  and  lives  at  Ashland. 

In  politics  Mr.  Holmes  gives  a warm  support  to  the  Democratic  party, 
though  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office  of  any  nature.  His  fra- 
ternal relations  are  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  where  he  and  his 
old  comrades-in-arms  review  the  days  of  the  early  sixties  and  rejoice  to- 
gether in  a reunited  country.  In  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  support.  Mr. 
Holmes  is  a man  of  even  temperament,  calm  and  self-poised,  of  refined  char- 
acter, and  is  an  honored  and  interesting  gentleman.  He  has  earned  for  him- 
self an  enviable  reputation  as  a careful  man  of  business,  and  in  his  dealings 
is  known  for  his  prompt  and  honorable  methods,  which  have  won  for  him 
the  deserved  and  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow-men. 


JOHN  DAVID  BERGER. 

Of  the  sturdy  German  element  that  has  done  so  much  for  the  develop- 
ment of  Wayne  county  from  the  earliest  pioneer  times  to  the  present  day, 
the  name  Berger  is  ind:ssolubly  associated,  for  the  several  members  of  this 
hardv  and  industrious  familv  have  shown  that  thev  are  deserving  to  rank  with 
(55) 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  county’s  best  citizens  in  all  phases  of  life,  business,  political  and  social. 
One  of  the  best-known  representatives  of  the  present  generation  is  John  Da- 
vid Berger,  the  popular  proprietor  of  the  West  End  Restaurant,  Wooster. 
He  was  born  at  Mount  Eaton,  Paint  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  June 
4,  1856,  the  son  of  Gottlieb  and  Louisa  (Grosjean)  Berger,  a highly  respected 
family  and  well  known  in  Paint  township.  The  father  was  a stone-mason 
and  was  considered  an  excellent  mechanic  and  in  many  places  in  the  county 
may  be  seen  the  monuments  of  his  handicraft,  for  his  services  were  in  great 
demand  for  many  years.  Gottlieb  Berger  was  one  of  Wayne  county's  patri- 
otic citizens  who  gave  their  services  to  the  government  during  the  troublous 
days  of  the  sixties,  enlisting  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regi- 
ment Ohio.  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  r;ght  gallantly  he  participated  in  the 
trying  campaigns  and  bloody  engagements  of  the  same.  Owing  to  the  fact 
that  his  war  record  formed  one  of  the  principal  chapters  in  his  life,  the  history 
of  this  regiment  is  herewith  appended. 

Capt.  Gustave  Bueckling’s  company  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Ohio  Infantry  was  raised  chiefly  in  Wooster,  from  the  patriotic  Germans  of 
that  city.  Recruiting  for  it  commenced  the  latter  part  of  July,  1862,  and  the 
company  was  soon  filled  to  its  maximum.  In  August  it  was  ordered  to  Cleve- 
land, where  it  was  incorporated  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment  whose  fiel  ! 
officers  were : Seraphim  Meyer,  colonel ; Charles  Mueller,  lieutenant-colonel ; 
George  Arnold,  major.  Soon  after  organization  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Its  first  important  battle  was  Chancellors- 
ville,  where,  as  a part  of  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard's  Eleventh  Corps,  it  was  terribly 
handled  by  Stonewall  Jackson,  this  regiment  losing  two  hundred  and  twenty 
men  killed,  wounded  and  captured  in  this  battle.  Its  next  general  engage- 
ment was  at  Gettysburg,  where  the  regiment  was  almost  annihilated,  losing 
over  four  hundred  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  out  of  five  hundred 
and  fifty  that  entered  the  battle.  August  1,  1863.  this  regiment  sailed  ;n 
transports  to  Folly  Island,  South  Carolina,  and  performed  picket  duty  there 
until  Tanuary,  1864.  From  there  the  regiment  was  taken  to  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  where  it  had  several  skirmishes  with  the  Confederates.  It  returned 
to  South  Carolina  on  March  23,  1865,  and  met  a detachment  of  the  enemy, 
defeating  him,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery,  six  horses  and  fifteen  pris- 
oners. The  regiment  did  provost  duty  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  dur- 
ing the  balance  of  the  service  until  July  10,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out 
and  sent  home  to  Cleveland,  where  it  was  discharged.  The  regiment  was 
made  up  of  Germans,  and  was  considered  a very  fine  one,  its  members  dis- 
playing their  earnest  patriotism  and  heroic  valor  on  many  occasions. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


867 


Gottlieb  Berger  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Brooks  Station.  Virginia,  leav- 
ing a widow  and  four  small  children.  The  mother,  a woman  of  strong  mind 
and  willing  hands,  reared  her  children  in  comfort  and  respectability,  educat- 
ing them  and  starting  them  out  on  life's,  highway  prepared  for  its  various 
vicissitudes,  and  she  is  still  living  at  Mount  Eaton ; however,  the  near  rela- 
tives of  the  children  assisted  in  their  bringing  up,  John  David,  of  this  review, 
having  lived  with  an  aunt  near  Mt.  Eaton  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 
and  in  that  district  he  attended  the  common  schools.  He  then  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age.  In  March,  1878,  he  mar- 
ried Johanna  L.  Tracy,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Phoebe  Tracy,  a highlv-re- 
spected  family  living  near  Apple  Creek,  and  to  this  union  one  child  was  born, 
Mrs.  Carrie  Olive,  who  lives  in  Akron,  Ohio. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Berger  bu;lt  the  Maysville  Drain  Tile 
Works  at  Maysville,  this  county,  and  for  five  years  operated  the  same  very 
successfully,  then  sold  out  to  the  Sauvine  Brothers,  who  now  manage  it. 
Mr.  Berger  then  traveled  for  the  Underwood  Whip  Company  for  a period  of 
five  years,  the  factory  being  located  in  Wooster.  He  succeeded  in  building  up 
an  excellent  patronage  for  this  firm.  Then  for  several  years  Mr.  Berger  en- 
gaged in  the  laundry  business  on  East  South  street,  his  business  increasing 
gradually;  but  he  desired  to  launch  into  the  restaurant  business  and  is  now 
and  for  the  past  four  years  has  been  proprietor  of  a well-conducted,  attractive 
and  exceptionally  well  managed  restaurant  at  No.  26  West  Liberty  street, 
enjoying  a very  substantial  trade  which  is  rapidly  increasing,  owing  to  his 
quick  and  courteous  treatment  of  patrons,  his  desire  to  please  and  his  con- 
scientious business  methods,  which  have  characterized  his  entire  career.  He 
serves  meals,  hot  and  cold  lunches  at  all  hours  and  handles  fine  cigars  and 
tobaccos.  This  is  a meeting  place  for  farmers.  He  is  politically  a Democrat. 


DAVID  P.  SHIE,  M.  D. 

Starting  in  life  under  unfavorable  environment  and  beset  by  many  obsta- 
cles, Dr.  David  P.  Shie  is  deserving  of  a great  deal  of  credit  for  what  he  has 
accomplished  in  subsequent  years,  for  he  stands  today  in  the  front  rank  of  one 
of  the  most  exacting  and  trying  professions  and  is  comfortably  established  in 
Orrville  and  known  throughout  Wayne  county  as  one  of  her  leading  citizens. 
He  was  born  at  Bedford,  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  February  22,  1862,  the 
son  of  Peter  Shie,  a native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  when  fourteen 


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years  of  age,  locating  with  his  father  in  Ohio.  He  is  still  living  on  a farm 
at  Monroeville,  Allen  county,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  He 
owns  one  hundred  acres  of  excellent  land  and  is  prosperous.  He  married 
Lucy  Rowe,  who  was  born  near  Farmerstown,  Holmes  county,  Oh:o,  and  she 
died  when  her  son,  David  P.,  was  seven  years  of  age.  She  was  the  mother 
of  four  children,  namely:  J.  \V.  is  living  at  Piqua,  this  state;  W.  H.  died  in 
1892  at  Hastings,  Michigan;  David  P.,  of  this  review;  Mary,  wife  of  P.  W. 
Riffle,  a pob'ceman  of  Canton,  Ohio.  Peter  Shie  married  a second  time,  his 
last  wife  being  Elizabeth  Middough,  of  Farmerstown,  Holmes  county,  and 
ten  children  were  born  to  this  union,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  Peter  Shie, 
grandfather  of  the  Doctor,  was  a fanner,  as  was  also  Grandfather  Jacob 
Rowe,  who  lived  in  Holmes  county. 

Doctor  Shie  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  1873,  assist:ng  with  the  various 
duties  on  the  same  and  attending  the  neighboring  schools.  When  his  father 
removed  to  Allen  county,  Indiana,  young  David  P.  remained  on  the  parental 
farm  until  1879.  In  that  year  he  left  Indiana  and  returned  to  Ohio.  He 
received  his  education  principally  at  Berlin,  Holmes  county;  he  began  teach- 
ing school  in  1881  and  continued  teaching  for  nine  years  during  the  winter 
months.  He  made  a success  in  this  profession,  but  desiring  to  enter  the 
medical  profession,  he  studied  medicine  during  the  last  three  years  he  was 
teaching.  In  1890  he  entered  Starling  Medical  College  at  Columbus,  where 
he  remained  for  one  year,  then  finished  his  medical  education  in  the  Ken- 
tucky School  of  Medicine  at  Louisville,  graduating  from  the  same  on  June 
22.  1892.  In  July  of  that  year  he  located  at  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  for  a period  of  nine  years.  On  Jan- 
uary i.  1902,  he  moved  to  Orrville,  Wayne  county,  and  has  been  practicing 
here  ever  since,  having  built  up  a lucrative  patronage  with  the  town  and 
surrounding  country  and  often  being  called  to  remote  parts  of  the  county. 
As  a general  practitioner  and  diagnostic’an  he  has  no  superiors  in  Wayne 
county  and  he  is  kept  very  busy  attending  to  his  numerous  patients. 

Doctor  Shie  was  married  on  December  30,  1883,  to  Ella  G.  Kohr,  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  T.  Kohr,  of  Strasburg,  Ohio,  in  which  place  Mrs.  Shie  was 
born.  On  November  6,  1884,  their  oldest  child,  William  Ray,  was  born;  he 
is  now  seal  clerk  of  the  Pennsylvania  Company  and  has  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  the  company;  Marvin  DaCosta  was  born  December  2,  1893,  and  is 
now  in  high  school,  graduating  in  1911  ; a daughter,  Ida  Elizabeth,  was  born 
March  1,  1891,  and  died  when  eleven  days  old.  Both  the  sons  are  living  at 
home. 

Doctor  Shie  belongs  to  the  Wayne  County,  State  and  American  Medical 


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Associations.  He  has  served  on  the  local  school  hoard,  and  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church  since  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  His 
wife  and  sons  are  also  members  of  this  church.  Fraternally  the  Doctor  be- 
longs to  the  Masons,  Knights  Templar  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is 
a splendid  type  of  the  sturdy,  self-reliant,  progressive,  self-made  man,  hav- 
ing made  his  own  way  in  the  world  since  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
is  not  only  up-to-date  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  term  in  his  profession,  but 
he  is  a well-read  man  on  current  topics  and  deeply  interested  in  whatever 
tends  to  promote  the  general  good,  especially  of  Wayne  county.  He  is  known 
as  a man  of  strict  integrity  and  all  gentlemanly  qualities  and  is  therefore  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 


OLIVER  GEORGE  GRADY,  M.  D. 

Notwithstanding  the  long  strides  that  have  been  made  in  the  practice 
of  the  healing  art  within  the  past  half  century,  the  discovery  of  medical 
properties  in  hundreds  of  vegetable  and  mineral  substances  that  not  many 
years  ago  were  not  included  in  materia  medica  as  remedies  or  barely  men- 
tioned in  the  pharmacopeia  or  laid  dormant  as  far  as  the  dispensary  is  con- 
cerned; notwithstanding  the  charlatancy  practiced  by  adventurers  in  the 
legitimate  practice  of  the  art  and  the  quacks  that  claimed  particular  and 
special  gifts  in  the  treatment  of  human  ills;  and  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  legislatures  have  found  it  necessary  to  regulate  the  general  practice  by 
the  expulsion  of  diplomaless  pretenders  and  the  registration  of  legitimate  and 
truly  scientific  physicians,  there  are  some  of  the  latter  who  have  risen  to 
eminence  within  the  field  of  their  actual  labors,  and  their  examples  are  being 
emulated  by  younger  men  in  the  profession  who  are  conscientious  and  who 
are  wise  enough  to  see  that  the  greatest  and  best  success  must  come  to  them 
by  practicing  their  profession  along  legitimate  lines.  One  of  these  is  Dr.  O. 
G.  Grady,  one  of  the  youngest  but  most  promising  of  Wayne  county’s  physi- 
cians, whose  office  in  Orrville  is  already  a busy  place,  because  he  has,  during 
his  brief  practice,  proven  to  be  not  only  well  read,  capable  and  thoroughly 
competent  to  carry  on  the  work  of  a general  practitioner,  but  also  that  he  is 
a man  of  unswerving  integrity  and  honor,  therefore  inspiring  confidence  in 
his  patients,  who  are  rapidly  increasing. 

Doctor  Grady  was  born  in  Wheelersburg,  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  March 
28,  1884,  the  son  of  William  Henry  and  Mary  Preston  (Burke)  Grady,  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


latter  the  daughter  of  O.  H.  P.  Burke,  of  Burke’s  Point,  Ohio,  he  being 
one  of  the  pioneers  and  best  known  citizens  of  Scioto  county.  William 
Henry  Grady  was  for  a period  of  twenty- four  years  one  of  the  best  known 
school  teachers  of  Scioto  and  Adams  counties,  beginning  teaching  when  six- 
teen years  of  age;  he  was  superintendent  of  the  schools  at  Wheelersburg  and 
West  Union,  in  Adams  county,  and  he  taught  penmanship  in  the  Portsmouth 
school,  was  superintendent  of  the  schools  at  Union  Mills,  near  Portsmouth. 
He  left  the  school  room  where  he  had  been  very  successful  to  accept  a posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  for  the  Norfolk  & Western  Railroad  Company  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  one  year,  then  returned  to  Wheelersburg 
where  he  taught  for  three  years  and  then  took  a position  as  transfer  agent 
of  the  Norfolk  & Western  Railroad  Company  at  Columbus,  remaining  in 
that  capacity  until  1906  when  he  was  appointed  state  examiner  in  the  state 
bureau  of  inspection,  which  position  he  still  very  creditably  holds. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Henry  Grady  two  children  were  born : Dr. 

O.  G.,  of  this  review,  and  Newton  Burke,  who  is  at  this  writing  a medical 
student  in  the  Starling  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Columbus. 

Doctor  Grady  was  reared  on  a farm.  He  walked  one  mile  to  attend  the 
district  schools  for  five  years.  When  thirteen  years  old  he  moved  to  Colum- 
bus and  attended  the  graded  schools,  with  two  years  in  the  north  high  school, 
and  he  graduated  from  the  Wheelersburg  high  school  with  the  class  of  1901, 
and  during  the  summer  of  that  year  he  attended  the  normal  school  at  Lucas- 
ville,  Ohio.  From  November  1,  1901,  to  February  1,  1902,  he  worked  for  a 
grocery  company,  then  worked  for  the  Smith  Brothers  Shoe  Company  until 
September  21st  following,  foreman  of  the  finishing  department,  in  Columbus, 
Ohio.  He  then  began  work  for  the  Norfolk  & Western  Railroad  Company, 
having  been  appointed  general  storekeeper  and  chief  clerk  to  the  general 
foreman  of  the  Scioto  Valley  division,  which  position  he  filled  with  entire 
satisfaction  until  September  21.  1905,  when  lie  resigned,  for  the  purpose  of 
gratifying  an  ambition  of  long  standing — to  begin  the  study  of  medicine. 
He  at  once  entered  the  Starling  Medical  College  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  where 
he  studied  until  April  20,  1906.  From  that  date  until  September  12th  follow- 
ing he  worked  as  a machinist’s  helper  in  the  Norfolk  & Western  railroad 
shops  for  the  purpose  of  paying  his  expenses  through  college.  Then  he 
re-entered  the  above  mentioned  institution  where  he  studied  until  May  1, 
1907.  From  April,  1907,  to  October,  1908,  he  was  a locomotive  fireman 
on  the  Scioto  Valley  division  of  the  Norfolk  & Western  Railroad  Company. 
During  the  summer  of  1907  the  Starling  Medical  College  and  the  Ohio 


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Medical  University  combined,  forming  the  Starling  Ohio  Medical  College, 
from  which  Doctor  Grady  was  graduated  with  a most  excellent  record  on 
May  18,  1909,  successfully  passing  the  examination  of  the  state  board  the 
following  June.  He  at  once  opened  an  office  at  No.  310  East  Rich  street, 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until  August  5th  following,  when  he 
came  to  Orrville,  Ohio,  and  opened  an  office  where  he  expects  to  remain 
permanently,  having  now  built  up  a very  satisfactory  patronage,  his  services 
already  being  in  great  demand  throughout  the  eastern  part  of  Wayne  county. 

Doctor  Grady  was  married  on  June  11,  1906,  to  Jennie  Mae  Bowers,  a 
cultured  daughter  of  an  excellent  Columbus,  Ohio,  family  and  this  union 
has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  child,  a son,  bearing  the  name  of  James 
Henry,  who  was  born  on  April  24,  1907. 

The  Doctor  belongs  to  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen  and 
Engineers,  Lodge  No.  545,  also  to  a local  medical  frternity  in  Columbus — 
the  Phi  Sigma  Psi — and  to  the  national  medical  fraternity,  the  Alpha  Kappa 
Kappa;  he  also  belongs  to  the  Wayne  County  Medical  Association.  He  is 
medical  examiner  for  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers  and  the 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen  and  Engineers  and  the  Order  of  Rail- 
way Conductors,  also  for  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company.  He  also  be- 
longs to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Asso- 
ciation. 


GEORGE  A.  McILVAINE. 

To  a great  extent  the  prosperity  of  the  agricultural  sections  of  our  coun- 
try is  due  to  the  honest  industry,  the  sturdy  persistence,  the  unswerving  per- 
severance and  the  wise  economy  which  so  prominently  characterize  the  farm- 
ing element  in  the  Buckeye  state.  Among  this  class  may  be  mentioned  the 
Mcllvaine  family,  members  of  which  have  not  only  attained  a well-merited 
material  prosperity,  but  have  established  a reputation  for  honesty  that  any 
community  might  be  proud  of.  The  earliest  representative  of  this  family 
came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  the  pioneer  days  and  ever  since  that  time 
his  descendants  have  been  active  in  developing  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  county. 

George  A.  Mcllvaine  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  at  Jackson,  Canaan 
township,  Wayne  county,  in  1851,  the  son  of  George  Mcllvaine.  The  reader 
is  referred  to  the  sketch  of  D.  W.  Mcllvaine,  on  another  page  of  this  work, 
for  a full  history  of  the  ancestry  of  this  family.  Suffice  it  to  say  here  that 


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both  the  grandfather  and  father  of  the  subject  were  men  of  sterling  worth  and 
succeeded  in  establishing  good  homes  here. 

George  A.  Mcllvaine  was  reared  on  the  old  home  farm  in  this  county, 
assisting  his  father  in  completing  the  clearing  of  his  place  and  developing 
the  farm.  The  former  was  born  in  the  second  log  house  built  by  his  grand- 
father. He  was  educated  in  the  home  schools  of  Canaan  township,  also  at- 
tended the  Canaan  Academy,  obtaining  a good  education.  After  leaving 
school  he  chose  farming  as  a life  work,  and  accordingly  rented  a farm  which 
he  worked  until  his  father’s  death,  when  he  built  a house  on  a part  of  the 
home  place  and  continued  farming  there  on  twenty-six  acres,  which  he  still 
owns  and  which  he  now  devotes  to  truck  and  general  farming,  making  a 
very  comfortable  living,  finding  a ready  market  for  his  products.  He  has 
a neat  and  cozy  home  and  everything  about  his  little  place  is  kept  in  first- 
class  condition. 

George  A.  Mcllvaine  was  married  in  1875  to  Anna  Marsh,  daughter  of 
William  and  Syntha  (Benjamin)  Marsh;  the  former  was  an  early  settler 
in  Creston,  Wayne  county,  where  he  farmed  for  some  time,  then  engaged  in 
merchandising  until  his  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  A.  Mcllvaine  the 
following  children  have  been  born : Roy,  Earl,  deceased;  Benjamin,  Ross 

and  Deane. 

Mr.  Mcllvaine  and  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church;  he 
is  a Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations. 


PETER  WEIKER. 

Upon  the  roll  of  the  representative  citizens  and  prominent  and  progressive 
farmers  of  Wayne  county  consistently  appears  the  name  which  appears  at 
the  head  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Weiker  has  been  a resident  of  this  county 
since  his  youth  and  has  worked  his  way  to  a position  of  marked  precedence 
in  connection  with  agricultural  affairs,  while  he  is  held  in  unqualified  esteem 
by  the  people  of  the  community. 

Sturdy  German  blood  flows  in  Mr.  Weiker’s  veins,  his  ancestors  having 
been  natives  of  the  Fatherland.  His  paternal  grandfather.  George  Weiker, 
was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  came  to  Wayne  county.  Ohio,  some  time 
in  the  twenties.  Ilis  son.  Adam  Weiker,  father  of  the  subject,  and  who 
had  preceded  his  father  to  this  state,  was  a gunsmith  bv  trade  and  had  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  during  his  life  in  his  native  state.  During  the  twenties 


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he  emigrated  to  Wayne  county,  and  after  a time  he  bought  a fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  located  in  Franklin  township,  which  he 
greatly  improved  and  on  which  he  lived  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  Mary  Read,  also  a native  of  that  state,  and 
their  union  was  blessed  in  the  birth  of  ten  children,  namely : Mary,  deceased ; 
Samuel,  William,  Jane,  Peter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch : Rachael,  Margaret, 
Sarah,  Elmira  and  Caroline. 

Peter  Weiker,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  this  county,  April 
7,  1834,  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  as  soon  as  old  enough  he 
was  put  to  work  assisting  in  the  manifold  duties  of  the  farm.  His  opportu- 
nities for  securing  an  education  were  meager,  his  attendance  at  the  district 
school  having  been  limited,  but  this  deprivation  was  largely  made  up  in  after 
years  by  much  reading  and  deep  thinking,  as  well  as  through  habits  of  close 
observation,  so  that  Mr.  Weiker  has  been  considered  a very  well-informed 
man.  He  remained  with  his  father,  assisting  on  the  farm,  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority,  and  then  he  and  his  brother  Samuel  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm  and  for  twenty-one  years  they  operated  it  together.  In  1877 
the  subject  purchased  his  present  splendid  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
acres  in  Congress  township,  to  which  he  has  since  given  his  undivided  atten- 
tion. On  this  place  he  erected  a splendid  residence  and  a good  set  of  farm 
buildings,  commodious  and  well  arranged,  and  he  has  been  successful  here 
to  a very  gratifying  degree.  He  is  progressive  in  his  methods  and  energetic 
and  persistent  in  his  efforts,  so  that  he  has  been  able  to  realize  large  returns 
for  the  labor  which  he  has  bestowed  so  unstintingly.  The  appearance  of  the 
place  indicates  to  the  passerby  that  the  owner  is  a man  of  excellent  taste 
and  good  judgment. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1858,  Mr.  Weiker  was  married  to  Mary  Cutter, 
who  was  born  in  Franklin  township,  this  county,  the  daughter  of  John  Cutter, 
an  early  settler  and  prominent  farmer  of  that  township.  To  this  union  were 
born  these  children,  namely:  Walter,  a carpenter  living  at  Cleveland:  Harry, 
deceased;  Maggie  died  in  infancy;  Anna  M.  Mrs.  Mary  Weiker  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1876,  and  on  May  22,  1879,  Mr.  Weiker  married  Savilla  Coup,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Jacob  Coup,  of  Plain,  Ohio.  Her  death  occurred  June  22, 
1899.  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Holmes,  the  wife  of  Horace  B.  Holmes,  now  lives  on 
the  old  homestead  and  keeps  house  for  the  subject. 

In  politics  Mr.  Weiker  has  given  a consistent  support  to  the  Democratic 
party  and  has  always  been  interested  in  his  party's  success.  He  has  not,  how- 
ever, ever  sought  office  for  himself.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Progressive  Brethren  church,  a branch  of  the  Dunkards.  In  every  relation 
of  life  Mr.  Weiker  has  proven  himself  the  possessor  of  such  qualities  as  are 
bound  to  win  in  any  line  of  effort  and  he  has  won  and  retains  the  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him. 


DAVID  C.  AMSTUTZ. 

A highly  respected  and  influential  citizen  of  Milton  township,  Wayne 
county,  is  David  C.  Amstutz,  who  was  born  January  4,  1842,  in  this  town- 
ship, on  the  old  homestead,  the  son  of  Ulrich  and  Katherine  (Logabill) 
Amstutz,  the  former  a native  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  born  April  26,  1801, 
and  died  March  19,  1881.  Katherine  Logabill  was  also  born  in  Switzerland, 
May  14,  1809,  and  her  death  occurred  September  6,  1873.  They  were  of  ex- 
cellent families  of  the  little  republic  that  has  sent  so  many  good  citizens  to 
this  country.  It  was  about  1826  when  they  came  to  America  with  their  par- 
ents. They  came  to  Wayne  county  direct,  locating  in  Greene  township,  and 
after  a few  years  they  were  married  here  and  bought  a farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Milton  township,  where  Mr.  Amstutz  lived  until  his 
death.  He  was  a hard-working  man  and  made  a very  comfortable  living  for 
himself  and  family.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  prominent  in  the  affairs  of 
the  Mennonite  church.  They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  two  dy- 
ing in  childhood ; two  sons  and  two  daughters  died  after  reaching  maturity ; 
five  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living. 

David  C.  Amstutz  received  a common  school  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Milton  township,  assisting  in  the  meantime  in  clearing  the  home 
place,  and  there  lived  until  his  marriage,  which  event  occurred  on  July  15, 
1865,  and  was  solemnized  with  Fannie  5teiner.  On  March  20,  1866,  he  re- 
turned to  his  father’s  place  and  began  farming,  which  he  continued  there  until 
1872,  in  which  year  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  the  homestead  and  in  1882 
bought  another  eighty  acres  of  the  old  farm.  There  he  lived  and  prospered 
until  1883,  when  he  moved  to  about  one-fourth  mile  south,  where  he  had 
built  a fine  home,  and  since  then  he  has  lived  there,  the  date  of  his  occupation 
of  the  new  home  having  been  January  18,  1883.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  but  since  1882  he  has  lived  practically  retired, 
merely  overseeing  his  farnvng  operations.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged.  Mrs. 
Amstutz  passed  to  her  rest  on  November  3,  1902,  without  issue. 


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Mr.  Amstutz  was  married  a second  time,  his  last  wife  being  named 
Fannie  Steiner  also,  but  no  relation  to  his  first  wife;  this  wedding  occurred 
on  July  1,  1906. 

Mr.  Amstutz  has  been  very  loyal  to  the  church  and  has  so  fixed  his  will 
that  his  entire  real  estate  will  divert  to  the  Mennonite  board  of  missions  and 
charities,  with  the  charge  that  it  shall  be  devoted  to  the  Old  People’s  Home. 

In  1899  Mr*  Amstutz  was  the  organizer  and  promoter  of  the  building  of 
the  Old  People’s  Home,  and  in  1901  several  persons  were  placed  in  the  home, 
since  which  time  it  has  been  under  the  management  of  a superintendent  and 
matron. 

Mr.  Amstutz’s  first  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Christian  Steiner,  who  was 
born  July  29,  1806,  and  died  May  16,  1885,  when  seventy-eight  years  old 
He  married  Maria  Steiner  (no  relation).  This  was  his  third  wife;  the  other 
two  wives  were  Stanfer  and  Katherine  Amstutz.  To  his  first  wife  two  chil- 
dren were  born,  both  dying  in  childhood,  then  Mrs.  Steiner  died.  He  had 
six  children  by  his  second  wife,  two  dying  in  infancy;  then  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Steiner  occurred.  Fifteen  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian 
Steiner,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  six  still  living. 

The  parents  of  the  second  wife  of  David  Amstutz  were  Daniel  Steiner, 
born  December  2,  1822,  and  Magdalena  Steiner,  born  February  2,  1829.  Mr. 
Steiner  died  December  16,  1909,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years  and  four- 
teen days.  His  widow  is  still  living  north  of  Orrville,  at  an  advanced  age. 

On  February  15,  1872,  Mr.  Amstutz  was  ordained  a minister  in  the 
Mennonite  church  and  in  1885  he  was  ordained  as  bishop,  thus  proving  that 
he  is  a man  of  unusual  force  of  character  and  intellect. 

The  children  of  Christian  and  Katherine  Steiner  were:  Lydia,  born 
March  22,  1832;  Peter,  July  17,  1833;  Christian,  March  11,  1835,  died  in 
April,  1909;  Barbara,  born  August  27,  1836;  John,  born  July  25,  1838,  is  de- 
ceased; Anna,  born  December  29,  1840,  died  December  28,  1906.  The  broth- 
ers and  sisters  of  David  C.  Amstutz  are  as  follows,  those  deceased  named 
first:  Katherne,  March  27,  1838,  died  March  16,  1873;  married  Peter  J. 

Steiner,  who  was  born  May  24,  1835,  and  died  March  8,  1883;  Frederick, 
born  March  17,  1828,  died  January  10.  1899;  John,  October  17,  1829,  died 
February  11,  1899;  Lavina,  wife  of  Abraham  Burkholder,  was  born  July 
9,  1853,  died  August  3,  1903;  those  living  are,  Peter,  at  Smithville;  Jacob, 
at  Sterling;  Daniel;  Joel  B.,  living  at  Sterling;  Fannie,  widow  of  Abraham 
Fisher,  who  was  born  in  1838  and  d:ed  November  15,  1876;  Lydia  is  the  wife 
of  Daniel  Steiner. 


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876 


WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


A BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE  MELLINGER  FAMILY. 

The  history  of  the  Mellinger  family  may  be  accurately  traced  to  Melchor 
Mellinger,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  writer,  who  was  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
many. In  1772,  while  yet  a young  man,  with  his  wife  and  two  children, — a 
son,  Benedict,  and  a daughter,  Anna, — he  started  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
colonies  of  the  new  world.  His  wife  fell  ill  while  crossing  the  Atlantic  ocean 
and  died,  her  remains  being  left  in  the  sea.  After  landing  in  America,  he  set- 
tled in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  a few  years  married  again,  to 
which  union  were  born  a number  of  sons  and  daughters,  who,  as  they  grew 
up,  were  scattered,  some  of  them  going  to  other  states  and  some  remaining 
in  Pennsylvania.  One  son,  Jacob,  and  one  daughter,  Elizabeth — as  far  as 
known  to  the  writer — came  to  Ohio  and  lived  in  Columbiana  county,  where 
the  city  of  Letonia  is  now  situated.  The  dates  of  the  birth  and  death  of 
Melchor  Mellinger  are  unknown  to  the  writer. 

In  both  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  Columbiana  county,  Ohio, 
are  still  living  quite  a number  of  descendants  of  Melchor  Mellinger.  Bene- 
dict, the  son  of  the  first  marriage,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  October  25, 
1770.  He  lived  with  his  father  and  stepmother  in  Pennsylvania  till  grown 
to  manhood,  and  was  married  to  Barbara  Binkley,  to  which  union  were  born 
the  following  children  while  living  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania:  Fro- 
nica,  born  February  6,  1794;  David,  December  31,  1795;  Anna,  April  12, 
1797;  Barbara,  March  18,  1799;  Mary,  September  22,  1800;  Elizabeth,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1803.  They  owned  a little  home  and  followed  weaving  for  a liveli- 
hood; also  raised  flax,  prepared  it  for  the  loom,  and  wove  it  into  cloth  suit- 
able for  clothing  such  as  was  then  used  by  both  men  and  women  during  the 
summer  season.  They  also  carded  wool  by  the  use  of  hand-cards,  spun  it, 
and  wove  it  into  cloth.  Money  being  very  scarce  and  hard  to  get,  even  for 
the  products  of  labor,  they,  in  this  way,  were  enabled  to  make  the  necessary 
clothing  for  the  family,  and  the  little  money  that  could  be  made  by  weaving 
and  selling  cloth,  was  carefully  laid  by  for  a larger  and  better  home  in  the 
future.  By  the  most  rigid  economy  they  were  enabled  to  accumulate  suffi- 
cient money  with  which  to  purchase  more  land,  and  in  1805  they  removed 
from  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Columbiana  county.  Ohio, 
where  they  purchased  a small  farm.  They  hired  their  farming  done  in  part, 
and  devoted  their  attention  to  raising  flax  and  the  manufacture  of  cloth 
from  it : also  the  Wool  of  their  own  growing,  together  with  that  brought  to 
them  to  be  spun  and  woven  into  cloth. 


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While  living  in  Columbiana  county  the  following  children  were  added 
to  the  family:  John,  born  September  20,  1805;  Benedict,  March  20,  1808; 
Catherine,  December  4,  1810;  Esther,  January  30,  1814.  While  living  there, 
Benedict  Mellinger’s  full  sister,  Anna,  who  came  with  the  family  from  Ger- 
many, settled  there  and  bought  land  adjoining  that  owned  by  the  Mellingers, 
she  being  married  to  Harmon  Brown.  They  remained  in  Columbiana  county 
until  1816,  when  both  families  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  one 
son,  Christian,  was  born  April  7,  1818.  Mr.  Mellinger  bought  a large  tract 
of  land  in  Plain  township  from  the  government,  all  in  timber,  which  was 
cleared  by  the  family,  with  some  outside  help,  and  prepared  for  the  plow.  The 
Indians,  bears  and  deer  were  their  neighbors.  But  in  a few  years  other  white 
settlers  came  from  the  eastern  states  and  a community  was  formed.  When 
they  had  cleared  a part  of  the  land  and  had  erected  suitable  buildings,  Bene- 
dict Mellinger  and  the  family  began  ra:sing  flax  and  wool  and  started  the 
spinning-wheel  and  the  looms,  which  were  the  products  of  his  skill  as  a me- 
chanic. They  became  experts  in  designing  patterns  for  woolen  coverlets 
and  linen  tablecloths,  and  the  products  of  their  ingenuity  and  skill  are  still 
to  be  met  with  in  the  form  of  linen  cloth  and  woolen  coverlets,  manufactured 
by  them  from  materials  in  their  crudest  form. 

After  living  in  a log  cab;n  for  some  years,  they  built  a large  two-story 
frame  house,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  which  was  looked  upon  as  almost  a marvel 
in  the  then  “back  woods.”  They  did  all  the  carpenter  work  themselves, 
employing  a mason  to  build  the  cellar  walls  and  a plasterer  to  plaster  the  walls 
inside.  Benedict  Mellinger  lived  to  see  the  country  cleared  of  its  timber  and 
prepared  for  agriculture,  the  hills  dotted  with  school  houses  and  churches. 

While  living  in  Wayne  county  the  following  members  of  this  family 
were  married:  John,  to  Hannah  Casebeer;  Benedict,  to  Sarah  Casebeer; 
Catherine,  to  William  Sp:ttler;  Esther,  to  Henry  Gines;  David,  to  Mary 
Felger:  and  Christian,  to  Elizabeth  Showalter.  The  three  oldest  sons,  John, 
Benedict  and  David,  each  received  a farm  from  their  father,  the  same  being 
parts  of  the  home  tract  purchased  from  the  government,  and  lived  there  to 
the  time  of  their  deaths,  except  Benedict,  who  spent  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
with  one  of  his  daughters.  Sp:ttler  bought  a farm  near  Mohicanville,  Ash- 
land county,  Ohio,  and  remained  in  that  vicinity  the  balance  of  his  life. 
Gines  went  to  Illinois,  which  was  then  the  “far  West,”  and  purchased  a farm 
there,  remaining  on  the  same  the  rest  of  his  life.  Christian  lived  with  his 
parents  until  their  deaths.  The  five  older  daughters,  Fronica,  Barbara,  Anna, 
Mary  and  Elizabeth,  never  married,  but  remained  on  the  farm  with  their  par- 
ents and  younger  brother  during  their  lifetime  and  were  cared  for  by  him  in 
the:r  old  age. 


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WAYN'T  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


The  family  is  remarkable  for  its  longevity.  The  following  are  the  dates 
of  death  and  age  of  the  family:  The  father,  Benedict  Mellinger,  died  Au- 
gust 11,  1851,  aged  eighty  years,  nine  months  and  seventeen  days;  Barbara, 
his  wife,  died  April  27,  1863,  aged  ninety  years  and  fifteen  days:  Fronica 
died  July  3,  1887,  aged  ninety-three  years,  four  months  and  twenty-seven 
days;  David  died  November  27,  1862,  aged  sixty-six  years,  ten  months  and 
twenty-six  days;  Anna,  February'  5,  1884,  aged  eighty-six  years,  nine  months 
and  twenty-three  days;  Barbara,  January  24,  1885,  aged  eighty-five  years, 
ten  months  and  six  days;  Mary,  December  4,  1890,  aged  ninety  years,  two 
months  and  six  days;  Elizabeth,  March  15,  1891,  aged  eighty-three  years, 
one  month  and  twelve  days;  John,  October  23,  1872,  aged  sixty-seven,  one 
month  and  thirteen  days;  Benedict,  Jr.,  May  12,  1892,  aged  eighty-three 
years,  one  month  and  twenty-three  days;  Catherine,  August  16,  1875,  aged 
sixty-four  years,  eight  months  and  twelve  days;  Esther,  February  12,  1890, 
aged  seventy-six  years  and  twelve  days;  Christian,  March  18,  1894,  aged  sev- 
enty-five years,  eleven  months  and  nine  days. 

The  wife  of  Christian  Mellinger  survived  him  twelve  years,  dying  June 
23,  1906,  aged  eighty-four  years,  eleven  months  and  thirteen  days.  The  chil- 
dren of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  Mellinger  are  William,  Darnel,  Belinda  and 
Franklin.  William  married  Samantha  Buckwalter,  October  26,  1869,  to 
which  union  were  born  three  children,  namely : Clement,  George  and  Har- 
vey. Clement  died  in  infancy;  the  other  two  boys  are  unmarried  in  1909. 
Franklin  married  Alice  Rouch  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  a daugh- 
ter, Odessa.  Belinda  and  Daniel  never  married. 

Benedict  Mellinger’s  full  sister,  Anna,  married  Harmon  Brown,  re- 
mained in  Wayne  county  for  some  time,  and  then  located  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  where  many  of  their  descendants  are  still  to  be  found.  Anna,  a daugh- 
ter of  the  Browns,  married  Jesse  Arnold,  some  of  whose  descendants  are  liv- 
ing in  Wayne  county. 

One  of  Benedict  Mellinger’s  half  sisters,  a descendant  from  the  second 
marriage  of  Melchor  Mellinger,  married  Jacob  Oberholtzer,  whose  descend- 
ants are  still  found  in  Wayne  county  and  in  some  other  parts  of  the  state. 

— By  William  M.  Mellinger. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  DEUELL. 

Admired  and  respected  for  his  general  intelligence  and  his  progressive 
spirit,  as  well  as  for  his  sterling  qualities  as  a neighbor  and  citizen,  no  man 
in  Canaan  township.  Wayne  county,  stands  higher  in  public  esteem  than  the 


vvayne  county,  ohio. 


879 


worthy  individual  the  salient  features  of  whose  life  and  characteristics  are 
herein  set  forth. 

William  H.  Deuell  was  born  at  Canton,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  on  July  12, 
1856,  and  is  the  son  of  Jesse  and  Martha  (Becher)  Deuell,  the  former  a na- 
tive of  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1831,  and  the  latter  born  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  in  1835.  The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather  was  Tobias  Deuell,  who 
was  a native  of  Maryland  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio. 
He  there  became  the  owner  of  a large  farm  and  lived  there  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  two 
years,  eleven  months  and  twenty-two  days.  The  maternal  grandparents  of 
the  subject,  John  and  Polly  Becher,  were  from  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  were  also  early  settlers  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where 
the  father  acquired  a half  section  of  government  land.  He  stood  high  in 
the  community,  having  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty-six  years, 
and  for  thirty-two  consecutive  years  he  served  as  postmaster  at  Sparta,  Ohio. 
Jesse  Deuell,  the  subject’s  father,  lived  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Carroll  county, 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Third  Regiment 
Ohio  Cavalry,  with  which  he  participated  in  a number  of  the  heaviest  engage- 
ments of  that  terrible  struggle,  including  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was 
captured  twice,  having  escaped  after  his  first  capture  on  the  way  to  Ander- 
sonville  prison,  and  after  his  recapture  he  again  escaped  and  found  his  way 
back  to  the  Union  lines.  During  the  last  two  years  of  his  service  he  was  an 
orderly  sergeant.  After  the  war  he  went  to  Canton,  Ohio,  first  carrying  on 
farming  operations  near  there,  and  subsequently  entering  the  contracting  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  was  successful.  He  was  a Republican  in  politics.  To  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  children:  Corvan,  William  H.,  Lizzie 
(who  married  Emanuel  Young),  Elmer,  Alfred,  Emma  (who  married  Perry 
Christy),  Harry  and  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Wolfred. 

William  H.  Deuell  received  a good  practical  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Canton,  but  at  an  early  age  he  went  to  work  on  farms  by  the  month, 
being  so  employed  for  ten  years.  He  then  went  into  the  sawmill  and  timber 
business  at  Canton,  and  shortly  afterward  became  a contractor,  and  in  this 
capacity  he  constructed  many  sewer  systems  and  pavements  at  many  points  in 
Ohio.  He  followed  that  line  of  business  until  the  spring  of  1909,  when  he 
retired  to  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  in  Canaan  township 
which  he  had  purchased  in  1904,  and  he  has  since  made  that  his  home.  He 
carries  on  agricultural  operations,  to  which  he  gives  a fair  amount  of  atten- 
tion, but  his  chief  interest  lies  in  the  breeding  and  racing  of  fine  horses,  in 
which  he  is  achieving  a distinctive  success.  He  has  three  fine  pure-bred  stal- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lions,  two  Percherons,  Sir  George  and  President,  and  a coach  horse,  Duke. 
These  are  fine  animals  and  Mr.  Deuell  is  justifiedly  proud  of  them. 

Mr.  Deuell  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Emma  Markley,  who  was 
born  in  Paradise,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  John  Markley,  a successful  farmer 
of  that  place.  To  this  union  was  born  one  child,  Harry,  born  February  2, 
1883.  On  February  5,  1901,  Mr.  Deuell  married  Emma  Boyce,  who  was 
born  in  August,  1872,  near  Mansfield,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  Josiah  Boyce, 
an  early  settler  and  farmer  there.  In  politics  Mr.  Deuell  is  a stanch  Repub- 
lican, but  in  local  elections  he  assumes  an  independent  attitude,  believing  that 
the  candidate’s  personal  fitness  for  office  should  be  paramount  to  all  other 
considerations.  Mr.  Deuell  is  a thorough  and  broad-gauged  business  man,  a 
progressive  and  public-spirited  citizen,  and  is  well  known  and  uniformly  re- 
spected throughout  the  county. 


THOMAS  ARMSTRONG,  JR. 

Wayne  county,  Ohio,  is  characterized  by  a full  share  of  the  honored 
pioneer  element  who  have  done  so  much  for  the  development  of  the  county 
and  the  state  and  the  establishment  of  the  institutions  of  higher  civilization 
in  this  fertile  and  well-favored  section  of  the  old  Buckeye  commonwealth. 
The  biographical  sketches  in  this  work  are  to  a large  extent  in  recognition 
of  those  who  are  pioneers  or  members  of  pioneer  families,  and  it  is  signally 
fitting  that  there  should  be  perpetuated  records  which  will  defy  the  ravages  of 
time  and  betoken  to  the  coming  generations  the  earnest  lives  and  devoted 
labors  of  those  who  have  been  such  noble  contributors  to  the  state's  pros- 
perity and  pride.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  honored  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  where  he  has  been  for  many  years  successfully  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  and  where  he  has  maintained  his  home  from  the 
days  of  his  childhood,  representing  a period  of  sixty-five  years  of  consecutive 
residence  in  the  county. 

Tracing  the  ancestral  history  of  the  Armstrong  family,  it  is  learned 
that  the  subject’s  paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  Armstrong,  Sr.,  was  born 
August  22,  1776.  in  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  and  lived  there  until  the  war  of  1812.  After  the  surrender  of  General 
Hull  at  Detroit,  the  subject  volunteered  and  was  commissioned  captain  and 


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WILLIAM  ARMSTRONG 


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88 1 

came  with  the  forces  under  General  Bell  to  Wooster,  Ohio.  On  the  con- 
clusion of  hostilities  he  returned  to  Columbiana  county,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1815  he  came  to  Wayne  county  and  settled  on  Clear  Creek.  Subsequently 
he  came  to  what  is  now  known  as  the  Armstrong  farm  in  Canaan  township, 
which  Jand  he  had  entered  from  the  government  in  1811.  Here  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  March  2,  1842.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
in  1779  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  survived  him  a number  of  years,  dying 
on  April  14,  1856.  His  children  were  William,  John,  Thomas,  Harrison, 
Eliza,  Juliana,  Hannah,  David,  Jane  and  Calvin.  Of  these  William,  who 
was  born  in  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1802,  .came  to  Wayne 
county  in  1815.  with  his  father  and  the  other  members  of  the  family,  and 
during  the  first  years  of  their  residence  here  much  strenuous  work  was  per- 
formed in  the  clearing  of  the  land  and  putting  it  in  shape  for  cultivation. 
William  was  extensively  associated  with  his  father  in  the  handling  of  land 
and  at  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  between  five  hundred  and  six  hun- 
dred acres.  William  Armstrong  was  twice  married,  first  to  Mary  Rose,  a 
native  of  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Mrs.  Jane  Smith,  of  Medina  county;  John,  of  Iowa;  Mrs.  Julia 

Slemmons,  deceased ; Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; Harrison,  of  Wayne 
township,  this  county;  Mrs.  Mary  Slemmons,  of  Sterling,  Ohio.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife.  William  Armstrong  married  Catherine  McFerson,  of 
Columbiana  county,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  William 
E.,  of  Wooster,  and  Mrs.  Isabelle  Elizabeth  Wilson,  of  Doylestown,  Ohio. 
The  subject’s  maternal  grandparents,  John  and  Mary  Rose,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  in  an  early  day  came  to  Wayne  county  and  took  up  land. 

The  life  record  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  presents  no  exciting  or  thrill- 
ing chapters.  He  was  born  on  the  home  farm  in  Canaan  township,  this 
county,  in  1844,  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
home  neighborhood.  He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  when  he  moved  to  another  farm  in  Canaan  township,  where  he 
has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  place  comprises 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres,  which  are  highly  improved,  and  here  Mr. 
Armstrong  carries  on  a general  line  of  farming,  and  in  this  line  he  has 
achieved  a distinctive  success.  The  property,  which  is  eligibly  located,  is 
well  improved  and  contains  a full  set  of  well  built  and  conveniently  arranged 
farm  1 nildings,  which  are  at  all  times  maintained  in  the  best  of  repair,  the 
general  appearance  of  the  place  indicating  the  owner  to  be  a man  of  sound 
judgment  and  good  taste. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


In  1864,  when  the  fires  of  southern  rebellion  were  burning  fiercely,  the 
subject  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  Old  Glory,  joining  Company  A.  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  the  one-hundred-day 
service,  but  he  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  struggle  and 
the  dove  of  peace  once  more  hovered  over  the  land. 

On  the  2Cth  of  October.  1868.  the  subject  was  married  to  Sarah  Keeney, 
who  was  born  in  1848,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Catherine  ( Elliott) 
Keeney.  The  father  was  born  in  Canaan  township,  this  county,  on  July  15, 
1825.  and  the  mother  was  born  at  Duncan’s  Island,  Pennsylvania,  May  17, 
1827;  they  were  married  March  18,  1847.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  the 
following  children  have  been  born:  Zeno,  born  October  1,  1869,  died  Sep- 

tember 5,  1872;  Frank,  born  January  13,  1872,  a farmer  of  Wayne  township, 
married  a Miss  Garver,  and  they  have  two  children.  Evelyn  and  Grace;  Clyde 
C,  born  April  8,  1880:  Grace  U.,  born  March  11,  1883,  married  Emmet 
Carmony,  of  Wayne  township.  Mrs.  Armstrong’s  paternal  grandparents 
were  Simon  and  Sarah  (Shankland)  Keeney,  the  former  born  at  East  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  September  29.  1790,  and  the  latter  born  December  27, 
1794,  their  marriage  being  consummated  on  July  26,  1821.  This  was  his 
second  marital  union,  his  first  wife  having  borne  the  maiden  name  of  Polly 
Daniels,  who  died  seven  years  after  their  marriage,  leaving  three  sons  and  a 
daughter.  After  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Keeney  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
first  on  the  Killbuck  river,  but,  because  of  the  prevalence  of  ague  there,  he 
came  to  Canaan  township,  Wayne  county,  where  he  made  his  home  for  fifty- 
five  years.  He  took  up  government  land  here  and  at  one  time  was  the  owner 
of  an  entire  section. 

Mr.  Armstrong  devotes  his  time  and  attention  closely  to  his  own  business 
affairs.  He  is  a man  of  strong  purpose  and  unfaltering  industry,  and  by 
the  capable  management  of  his  place  he  has  gained  a comfortable  compe- 
tence. His  friends — and  they  are  many — know  him  to  be  a reliable  and 
enterprising  gentleman,  faithful  to  his  duties  of  citizenship  and  working  in 
harmony  with  all  progressive  measures  for  the  general  good. 


W.  FRANK  SELL. 

In  reverting  to  the  lives  and  deeds  of  those  who  helped  to  initiate  and 
carry  on  the  onerous  work  of  developing  the  virgin  wilds  of  Wayne  county 
and  thus  laying  the  foundation  for  that  prosperity  and  precedence  which 
now  characterize  this  favored  section  of  the  Buckeye  state,  it  is  imperative 
that  recognition  be  had  of  the  Sell  family,  who  have  been  identified  with  the 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


883 


history  of  the  county  from  an  early  date  and  whose  members  have  invariably 
maintained  the  highest  standard  of  integrity  and  honor,  commanding  une- 
quivocal respect  and  esteem. 

The  subject’s  paternal  grandparents,  David  and  Elizabeth  Sell,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  early  settlers  in  Ohio,  having  settled  in 
Stark  county,  where  they  acquired  a tract  of  land  wh;ch  had  been  but  par- 
tially cleared.  This  task  was  completed  by  Mr.  Sell,  who  here  developed  a 
good  farm  and  established  a comfortable  home.  They  became  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Christina,  Samuel,  John,  Catherine,  David,  Louis, 
Elizabeth,  Daniel  and  Jacob.  Of  these,  John,  Catherine  and  Jacob  are  the 
only  ones  now  living.  On  the  maternal  side,  the  subject's  grandparents  were 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Read,  who  also  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  pioneer 
settlers  in  Stark  county,  Ohio. 

Jacob  Sell,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  the  paternal 
homestead  in  Stark  county  and  in  the  common  schools  of  that  neighborhood 
he  received  his  education.  When  he  attained  to  manhood’s  years  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a carpenter,  and  this  vocation  he  followed  for  some  years.  He 
then  returned  to  the  work  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  that  of  farming,  and 
was  so  engaged  during  the  following  five  years  in  his  home  county.  In  i860 
he  came  to  Canaan  township,  Wayne  county,  and  bought  a farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he  has  resided  continuously  since.  The  farm 
was  but  slightly  improved  when  he  acquired  possession  of  it,  but  he  has 
made  many  permanent  and  substantial  improvements  on  it  and  today  it  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Wayne  county.  Mr.  Sell  was  prospered 
in  his  farming  operations  and  was  enabled  to  add  to  his  original  possessions 
from  time  to  time,  having  bought  tracts  of  sixty-one  acres,  sixty-three  acres 
and  eighty  acres,  all  excepting  the  last  one  adjoining  the  homestead.  Mr. 
Sell  has  been  a hard-working  man  during  the  years  since  he  first  settled  on 
this  farm,  but  now  he  has  practically  retired  from  the  more  arduous  labor  of 
the  farm  and  is  enjoying  that  rest  which  he  has  so  richly  earned.  He  is  a Re- 
publican in  politics  and  has  ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of  his 
party  and  in  local  public  affairs.  In  religion,  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  they  give  a generous  support.  Jacob 
and  Ella  Read  were  married  in  1867  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  in  the 
birth  of  the  following  children:  Matilda,  Charles  E.,  W.  Frank  and  Ella. 

W.  Frank  Sell  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Canaan  town- 
ship, Wayne  county,  in  1869.  He  was  reared  by  his  parents  and  received  his 
educat:on  in  the  common  schools  of  Canaan  township.  His  education  was 
not  limited  to  his  school  training,  however,  for  he  has  throughout  his  life 
been  a close  reader  of  the  best  current  literature  and  has  been  a close  observer 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  men  and  things,  and  is  today  considered  a well-informed  man.  He  was 
early  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  successful  agriculture  and  continued  as 
h;s  father’s  assistant  on  the  home  place  until  his  marriage.  He  then  located 
on  a farm  immediately  adjoining  the  home  farm  on  the  south,  the  tract  com- 
prising eighty-seven  acres,  and  here  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  general 
farming.  He  is  diversified  in  his  operations,  raising  all  the  crops  common 
to  this  lat’tude.  and  in  connection  with  the  tilling  of  the  soil  he  also  devotes 
some  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  livestock,  and  in  both  of  these 
lines  he  has  been  fairly  successful,  being  considered  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  progressive  farmers  of  the  township.  The  property  is  adorned  with  a 
neat  and  well-arranged  set  of  farm  buildings,  which  are  kept  in  the  best  of 
repair,  and  the  general  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a 
man  of  good  judgment  and  sound  ideas.  In  addition  to  farming  his  own  land. 
Mr.  Sell  is  also  engaged  in  operating  his  father’s  land  comprising  the  old 
homestead. 

Mr.  Sell  is  essentially  public  spirited  in  his  attitude  toward  all  move- 
ments having  for  their  object  the  betterment  of  the  community  in  which  he 
lives  and  is  considered  one  of  the  influential  citizens  of  the  township.  In 
matters  political  he  has  rendered  a stanch  support  to  the  Republican  party’  and 
has  held  the  offices  of  township  supervisor  and  school  director,  discharging  his 
official  duties  to  the  ent;re  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  religious 
belief  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  lie  and  his  wife  belong, 
and  he  has  served  efficiently  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  for  three 
years. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1889,  Frank  Sell  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Clara  Brinkerhoff,  who  was  born  in  Canaan  township,  this  county,  on  Au- 
gust 13,  1870,  the  daughter  of  Amos  Brinkerhoff,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  To  this  union  have  been  born  three  children,  Goldy  Macy, 
Jacob  Glenn  and  Eva  Lucile.  Mr.  Sell  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  Throughout  his  career  he  has  been  emphatically  a man  of 
enterprise,  positive  character,  indomitable  energy  and  liberal  views,  and  is 
thoroughly  identified  in  feeling  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  county 
which  has  so  long  been  his  home. 


ORANGE  W.  FRARY. 

This  sterling  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  is  a native  son  of  the  county  in  which  he  now  lives,  where  he 
was  reared  to  maturity  on  a farm,  early  beginning  to  assume  the  practical 


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responsibilities  of  life  and  lending  his  aid  in  connection  with  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm.  That  he  has  l;ved  and  labored  to  goodly  ends  is  clearly  in- 
dicated in  the  position  which  he  holds  in  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 
his  fellow  men  and  in  the  success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts  as  an  ex- 
ponent of  the  basic  art  of  agriculture,  which  has  been  his  vocation  throughout 
his  entire  business  career.  His  fine  farm  is  located  in  Canaan  township  and 
no  resident  of  the  community  commands  a fuller  measure  of  respect  and  es- 
teem. This  brief  epitome  of  his  life  history  will  be  read  with  interest  by  his 
many  friends  and  will  serve  as  a permanent  memorial  to  his  sterling  character 
and  worthy  life. 

Orange  W.  Frary  was  born  on  the  paternal  homestead  in  Canaan  town- 
ship, Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on  the  10th  day  of  July,  1868,  and  is  a son  of 
Asa  Frary.  His  paternal  ancestors  as  far  back  as  can  be  traced  were  New 
England  Yankees  and  in  that  section  of  the  country  were  born  and  reared 
his  paternal  grandparents,  Orange  and  Jerusha  Frary.  They  were  married 
in  their  native  state,  and  in  a very  early  day  they  emigrated  to  Ohio,  which 
at  that  time  was  considered  a frontier  state.  Locating  in  Wayne  county,  they 
created  a comfortable  home  and  acquired  a modest  estate,  where  they  spent 
their  remaining  years  and  died.  The  subject's  maternal  grandfather,  Cor- 
nelius Seeley,  was  a native  of  Ohio,  his  family  having  been  among  the  first 
comers  here.  Mr.  Frary’s  parents  were  O.  Asa  and  Florentine  (Seeley) 
Frary,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1830  and  the  latter 
near  Evans,  Ohio.  The  father  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer,  which  pur- 
suit he  followed  throughout  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in  February,  1906. 
His  wife  had  died  in  1878.  Asa  Frary  was  a great  home  man.  He  was  an 
enthusiastic  farmer  and  nothing  diverted  him  from  his  family  and  his  farm. 
In  politics  he  was  a Republican  and  gave  a proper  attention  to  public  affairs, 
giving  h;s  support  to  every  movement  calculated  to  benefit  the  community. 
He  was  not  an  office-seeker,  however,  and  public  preferment  would  have 
been  extremely  distasteful  to  him.  He  was  at  one  time,  however,  induced  to 
serve  as  trustee  of  Canaan  township  and  gave  to  the  discharge  of  his  official 
duties  the  same  careful  and  painstaking  attention  that  he  gave  to  his  private 
affairs,  retiring  from  the  office  with  the  highest  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Orange  \Y.  Frary  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  secured  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools  near  his  home.  His  youth  was  spent  as  the 
assistant  of  his  father  in  the  cultivat:on  of  the  farmstead  and  upon  attaining 
his  majority  he  started  out  on  his  own  account.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  finest  farms  in  Canaan  township,  which  he  is  operating  with  a very 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


gratifying  degree  of  success.  The  farm,  which  comprises  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  acres,  is  what  was  formerly  known  as  the  Bowman  farm,  and  is  very 
eligibly  located,  including  some  of  the  most  fertile  soil  in  this  section  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Frary  is  wide-awake  and  progressive  in  his  methods  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  cultivat;on  of  the  soil  he  is  engaged  quite  extensively  in  the 
poultry  business,  in  which  he  has  achieved  a distinctive  success.  He  is  a close 
student  of  the  latest  ideas  relating  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  the  feath- 
ered fowl  and  is  considered  an  expert  in  this  line. 

Mr.  Frary  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ora  Whonsetler,  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  L.  and  Adeline  (Snell)  Whonsetler,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
on  the  Showalter  farm  in  this  county  and  the  latter  in  Pennsylvania.  Samuel 
Whonsetler  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a farmer  and  followed  that  pursuit  until 
his  retirement  from  active  life,  when  he  removed  to  Canaan  Center,  where  he 
now  makes  his  home.  He  is  one  of  a family  of  thirteen  children,  seven 
of  whom  lived  to  mature  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frary  have  been  born  six 
children,  namely : May,  Effie,  Bertha,  Zenas,  Oliver  and  Alice.  The  paternal 
grandparents  of  Mrs.  Frary  were  Daniel  and  Susana  (Hewitt)  Whonsetler, 
Who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  former  came  to  Ohio  on  horseback, 
took  up  land  located  just  north  of  Canaan  Center,  and  after  clearing  a small 
tract  of  land,  built  a small  house.  He  then  returned  to  his  native  state  and 
brought  his  family  to  their  new  home,  the  family  and  household  goods  being 
brought  by  wagon.  He  then  proceeded  with  the  clearing  of  the  land  and  in 
due  time  found  himself  the  possessor  of  a fine  farm.  He  lived  there  until 
his  death  and  acquired  not  only  material  property  but  also  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  Mrs.  Frary’ s maternal  grandparents  were 
Jacob  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Snell,  who  also  were  natives  of  the  old  Key- 
stone state.  They  came  here  at  an  early  day  and  settled  on  land  just  south  of 
Canaan  Center,  where  they  rented  for  a short  time.  Eventually  they  bought  a 
fine  farm  located  four  miles  south  of  where  the  subject  now  fives  and  there 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days. 

In  politics  Mr.  Frary  gives  his  support  to  the  Republican  ticket  on  na- 
tional elections,  but  in  local  affairs,  where  no  great  issues  are  involved,  he 
supports  the  men  he  considers  the  best  qualified  for  the  offices  to  which  they 
aspire.  He  is  classed  among  the  representative  agriculturalists  of  Wayne 
county  and  his  career  is  in  many  respects  worthy  of  emulation.  A man  of 
independent  and  earnest  thought,  his  line  of  action  has  come  from  a line  of 
reasoning  based  upon  his  own  observation  and  familiarity  with  passing  events, 
not  being  governed  by  the  ideas  of  others  unless  they  seem  to  him  based  on 
sound  principle  and  reason. 


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ELMER  F.  MYERS. 

The  family  of  this  name  in  Wayne  county  was  founded  by  Samuel  and 
Hannah  Myers,  who  came  to  this  section  in  1832  and  settled  on  a half  sec- 
tion of  land  in  the  eastern  part  of  Congress  township.  They  farmed  this 
land  successfully  after  the  methods  prevailing  at  that  early  time,  lived  the 
quiet  lives  usual  to  people  in  sparsely  settled  neighborhoods  and  were  finally 
gathered  to  their  fathers  without  blame  or  reproach.  They  were  interred 
in  the  cemetery  located  on  their  homestead,  where  also  three  others  of  the 
name  have  been  laid  by  their  side.  Among  their  children  was  Solomon 
Myers,  who  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1829,  and  came  to 
Ohio  with  his  parents.  He  married  Elizabeth  Xaftzger,  a descendant  of 
early  pioneers  and  a native  of  Harrison  county,  Ohio.  Her  grandparents, 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Xaftzger,  were  very  prominent  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  and  the  first  meeting  of  this  denomination  in  Ohio  was  held 
at  their  home.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Myers  were  David  and  Susan  Xaftzger, 
natives  of  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  and  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Congress  township,  in  Wayne  county.  They  took  up  a quarter  section  of 
land  and  spent  all  their  active  lives  in  clearing,  improving  and  cultivating  it, 
eventually  making  it  quite  valuable.  They  were,  like  their  ancestors,  quite 
enthusiastic  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  always  took  much 
interest  in  the  local  gatherings  of  the  denomination.  The  Xaftzgers,  for 
generations,  were  always  considered  good  citizens,  good  neighbors  and  re- 
liable in  all  the  relations  of  life.  Solomon  Myers  lived  on  a part  of  his  father's 
farm  in  Congress  township  during  the  entire  period  of  his  activity.  He  was 
successful  as  a farmer  and  a man  of  sterling  integrity  and  supported  the 
Democratic  party,  but  later  became  an  ardent  Prohibitionist,  voting  the  ticket 
of  that  party  for  many  years.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married 
Maggie  Guthrie,  the  full  list  of  his  children  being  as  follows:  David  A., 

deceased;  John  F.,  a resident  of  Burbank;  Emma,  deceased;  Elmer  F. ; 
Susan,  deceased;  Zeno,  of  Congress  township,  and  Annabelle,  the  latter 
being  the  only  child  by  the  second  wife.  He  was  also  a very  active  Chris- 
tian marr,  being  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  all  his  life.  He 
was  class  leader  for  fifty-five  years. 

Elmer  F.  Myers,  son  of  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  Myers,  was  born  in 
Congress  township,  Wayne  county.  Ohio.  March  15,  1862.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools  near  his  home,  and  later  attended  the  Xorth- 
v estern  Ohio  Xormal  University  at  Ada.  He  remained  on  the  farm,  help- 


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ing  his  father,  until  the  completion  of  his  twenty-third  year,  when  he  de- 
cided to  begin  life  on  his  own  account.  Matrimony  is  usually  the  prime  cause 
of  this  step  in  the  case  of  young  men  and  Mr.  Myers  was  no  exception  1 * 
the  rule.  On  December  18,  1884,  he  was  married  to  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Susanna  Whonsetler,  a well-to-do  and  highly  respected  family 
of  Wayne  county.  In  1840  Mr.  Whonsetler  came  from  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Canaan  township,  whfere  he  pros- 
pered by  hard  work  and  good  management  and  at  his  death  owned  two  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  acres  of  land.  Mrs.  Myers  was  born  on  this  farm,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1862,  and  besides  herself  there  were  ten  other  children.  To  E.  F. 
Myers  and  wife  were  born  two  children:  Zora,  wife  of  Merton  Talley,  of 

the  commercial  department  of  the  Denison  high  school,  and  Clyde,  who  is 
his  father’s  assistant  on  the  farm.  In  1885  Mr.  Myers  began  renting  the 
home  farm  of  his  father-in-law  and  after  the  mother-in-law’s  death  he 
purchased  one  hundred  forty-one  acres  in  iyoo.  since  which  time  he  has  occu- 
pied and  cultivated  it  with  entire  success,  giving  much  attention  with  gratify- 
ing success  to  livestock.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  are  very  active  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  he  is  a Democrat  in  politics.  He  is  public-spirited 
and  was  a member  of  the  school  board  a number  of  years. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON  WERTZ. 

The  name  of  this  prominent  citizen  of  Dalton,  Sugar  Creek  township, 
Wayne  county.  Ohio,  would  indicate  that  he  was  named  for  one  of  the  great- 
est generals  and  presidents  of  America,  and  while  he  may  not  have  the 
capacity  and  necessary  qualifications  for  either  a leader  of  men  in  battle  or 
statesmanship,  he  has  shown  by  his  successful  life  work  that  he  is  the  pos- 
sessor of  sterling  qualities  which  in  every  cummunity  must  command  the 
highest  respect.  As  a matter  of  fact  in  1838.  General  Harrison  gave  Mr. 
Wertz's  father  a dollar  to  name  his  son  after  him.  Mr.  Wertz  was  bom 
in  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives  in  Dalton,  January  14.  1838.  which  was 
the  first  two-story  house  to  be  erected  in  that  place.  It  is  of  hewn  logs,  but 
has  been  weatherboarded ; however,  the  many  fine  walnut  logs  used  in  its 
original  construction  would  be  very  valuable  for  luml>er  now.  He  is  the 
<011  of  John  and  Priscilla  ( Hemperty ) Wertz,  who  were  married  in  Wooster, 
Hliio.  in  1828.  Locating  in  Dalton,  they  remained  here  the  rest  of  their  lives, 
establishing  a hotel,  which  they  conducted  successfully.  Later  Mr.  Wertz 


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purchased  land  and  became  a well-to-do  farmer,  although  he  continued  to 
give  most  of  his  attention  to  his  hotel.  John  Wertz  was  the  son  of  Henry 
Wertz,  a native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  former  having  mi- 
grated to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  about  1826.  He  took  considerable  inter- 
est in  the  affairs  of  the  Whig  party.  He  was  the  father  of  fifteen  children, 
twelve  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  ; those  living  at  present  are:  C.  S.,  R.  V., 
W.  H.  H.  (subject),  Mrs.  J.  M.  Palmer  and  Mrs.  Florence  McGill.  The 
father  of  these  children  died  in  1856,  a highly  honored  and  influential  man. 

W.  H.  H.  Wertz  was  reared  in  his  native  community,  having  assisted 
his  father  with  the  work  on  the  farm  and  about  the  hotel.  He  was  a very 
industrious  and  ambitious  lad,  and  at  an  early  age  was  sent  to  a subscription 
school  and  received  a good  education  for  those  days.  He  was  enabled  to  begin 
teaching,  which  he  did  very  successfully,  later  using  the  money  he  saved  from 
his  labors  as  teacher  to  take  him  to  the  West,  where  he  soon  spent  all  he 
had  saved;  but,  nothing  daunted,  he  cast  about  for  something  to  do  in  order 
to  start  over  again.  He  was  prospered  and  has  ever  since  worked  for  himself 
and  given  employment  to  many  others.  He  is  still  actively  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, having  acquired  large  possessions  through  his  able  management  and 
thrift,  holding  both  valuable  landed  possessions  and  other  property,  owing 
at  this  time  over  four  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  could  be  found  in 
Wayne  county,  which  means  that  it  is  as  good  as  any  in  the  United  States, 
for  this  county  ranks  second  in  the  Union  in  point  of  wealth  and  productive- 
ness. Besides  his  personal  property  of  this  nature,  he  is  a large  stockholder 
in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Dalton,  of  which  he  is  president,  ably  discharg- 
ing the  duties  of  the  same  and  giving  this  institution  a prestige  second  to 
none  in  the  county.  He  has  long  ago  established  a reputation  for  industrious- 
ness and  rare  business  acumen,  managing  his  many  affairs  with  ease  and  dis- 
patch. having  innate  ability  as  an  organizer  and  promoter.  He  is  deserving 
of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  this  community  owing  to  the  fact 
that  he  has  made  what  he  has  unaided  and  in  an  honest  manner.  But  while 
he  has  labored  to  advance  his  own  interests  he  has  not  neglected  the  general 
interest  of  the  community  which  he  has  long  honored  with  his  citizenship, 
being  liberal  in  his  support  of  all  movements  having  for  their  object  the 
public  good,  whether  political,  civic  or  material. 

Mr.  Wertz  was  married  in  i860  to  Caroline  Shusser,  a native  of  York 
county.  Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  there  in  1843.  a woman  of  culture 
and  many  praiseworthy  characteristics  and  a member  of  a fine  old  family. 
She  has  proven  a great  helpmeet  to  Mr.  Wertz  and  much  of  his  large  success 
has  been  due  in  no  small  measure  to  her  encouragement  and  counsel.  Mr. 


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and  Mrs.  Wertz  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Mrs.  C.  J.  Harrold,  wife  of  the  present  county  clerk  of  Wayne 

county  and  a prominent  attorney  of  Wooster.  E.  S.  Wertz  is  the  other  child. 

When  Mr.  Wertz  was  married  he  was  not  blessed  with  an  abundance  of 
this  world’s  goods,  but  he  went  to  work  with  a will,  having  those  qualities 
of  determination  and  perseverance,  and  in  a short  time  had  a good  start.  He 
opened  a grocery  and  drug  business  in  Dalton,  which  he  followed  with  marked 
success  for  a period  of  twenty-five  years,  and  in  connection  with  his  store 
he  at  one  time  added  a nursery  line,  making  it  a very  thriving  business.  Dis- 
posing of  his  grocery  and  drug  store,  he  entered  the  lumber  business  and 
soon  had  a liberal  patronage, — in  fact,  in  whatever  he  has  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  he  has  been  rewarded  with  abundant  success,  owing  to  his  exercise  of 
good  common  sense  and  his  fairness  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  his 
integrity  having  never  been  questioned. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Wertz  is  a Mason,  a member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  encampment,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a char- 
ter member  of  the  last  two  named.  No  people  in  the  eastern  part  of  Wayne 
county  are  more  highly  honored  or  better  known  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wertz, 
and  their  pleasant  and  substantial  home  is  often  the  gathering  place  for 
numerous  friends  and  admirers,  for  here  they  always  find  a free  hospitality 
that  smacks  of  “ye  olden  tyme.,, 


CLINTON  M.  ORR. 

When  Hugh  Orr,  founder  of  the  family  of  that  name  in  the  West, 
left  his  native  Ireland  in  1801  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World,  the 
trip  across  the  Atlantic  was  something  of  a venture.  Fulton  had  not  as  yet 
invented  steamboats  and  those  wonders  of  the  deep  did  not  come  into  vogue 
until  many  years  later.  The  only  mode  of  ocean  travel  was  by  sailing  boat, 
which  was  slow  and  uncertain,  often  taking  from  six  weeks  to  two  months  to 
cross  over.  The  young  Irish  boy,  like  many  others  of  his  unhappy  land, 
secured  steerage  passage,  as  his  funds  were  low.  and  turned  his  face  reso- 
lutely toward  the  free  land  beyond  the  deep  waters.  He  had  courage,  youth, 
strength  and  ambition,  but  these  were  his  only  equipment  and  when  he 
stepped  ashore  at  New  York  he  felt  that  he  was  a stranger  in  a strange  land. 
The  tide  of  emigration  was  at  that  time  setting  strongly  towards  the  new 
territories  beyond  the  Alleghanies  and  he  determined  to  join  the  rush.  The 
journey  was  long  and  tedious,  over  rough  roads,  high  mountains  and  down 


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the  various  water  courses  which  intersected  the  vast  region  south  of  Lake 
Erie.  Hugh  Orr  finally  reached  his  destination  and  began  looking  for  an 
available  situation  in  the  county  of  Wayne,  a part  of  Ohio  Territory,  which 
at  that  time  had  not  been  admitted  into  the  Union  and  was  cheap,  it 
being  possible  to  obtain  land  from  the  government  for  a mere  pittance.  Hugh 
Orr  secured  a quarter  section  in  East  Union  township,  adjoining  what  was 
afterwards  known  as  the  county  infirmary  farm.  It  was  all  wild  land  and 
in  fact  that  whole  section  was  still  little  changed  from  the  primeval  wilder- 
ness. The  labor  of  clearing  and  improving  such  a tract  could  only  be  known 
to  the  sturdy  pioneers  who  went  through  them  and  cannot  even  be  guessed  at 
by  those  who  now  own  the  smiling  farms  and  highly  cultivated  acres  of 
modern  Wayne  county.  In  1830  Hugh  Orr  bought  the  farm  in  Canaan 
township  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death.  The  place  descended  to  his  son, 
James  Orr,  who  managed  and  worked  it  successfully  for  many  years  and 
also  ended  his  days  on  the  same  old  homestead.  He  was  born  in  East  Union 
township,  before  the  removal  to  Canaan,  and  in  early  manhood  was  married 
to  Melissa  Barnes,  a native  of  West  Virginia  who  had  come  to  Ohio  with 
her  parents  at  an  early  day.  This  union  resulted  in  a large  family,  most  of 
whom  are  still  living  and  have  done  fairly  well  in  the  various  walks  of  life. 
The  list  as  compiled  from  the  family  register  reads  thus  in  consecutive 
order:  Meroa  (who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-four),  Sarah,  Emma,  Sophronia, 
Hugh,  Robert  (who  died  in  infancy),  Levi,  George  (who  died  in  infancy), 
Naomi,  Charles,  William  and  Clinton. 

Clinton  M.  Orr,  youngest  of  this  large  family,  was  born  in  Canaan 
township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on  November  9,  1873.  His  birthplace  was 
on  the  old  farm  owned  and  occupied  by  his  father  during  his  lifetime  and 
now  his  own  property  and  place  of  residence.  Mr.  Orr  grew  up  on  this 
farm  and  attended  the  nearby  district  school  during  the  winter  months.  He 
was  thoroughly  trained  to  farm  work  in  his  youth,  learning  all  about  the 
putting  in  and  the  gathering  of  crops,  the  feeding,  breeding  and  caring  for 
livestock,  and  all  the  other  things  which  enter  into  the  making  of  a good 
farmer.  So  when  he  became  the  landowner  on  his  own  account  he  was  well 
qualified  to  take  charge  of  the  business.  He  has  always  lived  on  the  home 
place  and  knows  no  other  business  than  farming  and  he  has  made  a success, 
being  regarded  as  one  of  the  progressive  young  farmers  of  the  later  genera- 
tion. He  leads  a quiet,  unobtrusive  life,  attends  strictly  to  his  own  business, 
is  just  in  his  dealings  and  enjoys  the  good  will  of  his  neighbors.  In  1903 
Mr.  Orr  married  Daisy,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Emily  (Leiter)  Hawk,  of 
Stark  county,  where  the  family  is  well  known. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


IRA  BRINKERHOFF. 

For  many  years  Ira  Brinkerhoff  has  occupied  a conspicuous  place 
among  the  agriculturalists  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  His  career  has  been 
that  of  an  honorable,  enterprising  and  progressive  business  man,  whose  well- 
rounded  character  has  enabled  him  to  take  an  active  interest  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  advancement  of  the  community  and  to  keep  well  informed 
concerning  the  momentous  questions  affecting  the  nation..  In  all  life's  rela- 
tions he  has  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he 
has  come  in  contact  and  his  upright  life  is  an  inspiration  to  all  who  know  him 
well  and  arc  familiar  with  his  character. 

Ira  Brinkerhoff  was  born  on  the  old  Brinkerhoff  homestead  in  Con- 
gress township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  on  the  29th  of  June,  1858.  and  is  the 
son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Ewing) Brinkerhoff,  the  former  a native  of 
Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  October  11,  1817,  and  the  latter  born 
March  30,  1825.  in  Congress  township,  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  The  subject’s 
paternal  grandfather,  Daniel  Brinkerhoff,  was  born  March  14,  1780,  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Pennsylvania,  and  he  married  Rebecca  Frazier,  who  was 
born  June  15,  1783.  They  were  married  in  1809  ancl  his  death  occurred  in 
1848;  she  died  in  1892.  Daniel  Brinkerhoff  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
settling  first  in  Wayne  township,  but  a short  time  afterwards  he  bought  the 
place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Congress  township  on  which  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  now  lives.  The  place  was  densely  covered  with  the 
primeval  forest  growth  and  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  entered  at  once  upon  the  hercu- 
lean task  of  clearing  this  and  putting  it  under  cultivation.  A log  cabin  was 
erected  where  the  present  residence  stands  and  a happy  and  comfortable 
home  was  established,  albeit  lacked  many  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries 
which  characterize  the  homes  of  the  present  day.  Here  the  subject's  father, 
James  Brinkerhoff,  labored  in  the  arduous  toil  of  the  first  few  years  and  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  here.  James  and  Elizabeth  Brinkerhoff  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Amos,  born  February  11.  1846: 
Rebecca,  born  January  14,  1848,  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Fetzer,  of  Chester 
township:  Elizabeth  Jane,  born  March  30,  1850.  died  December  15,  1854: 
William,  born  September  7.  1854.  living  in  Canaan  township:  Martha,  born 
January  3,  1855.  married  John  Winters,  of  Wooster;  Ira,  born  June  29, 
1858.  lives  on  the  home  place,  and  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch: 
Anna,  born  May  22,  i860,  died  March  9,  1892.  was  the  wife  of  William 
Barnard,  of  Congress  township:  James,  born  July  30,  1864,  lives  in  Canaan 
township : Jane,  born  August  7,  1867.  died  in  infancy.  James  Brinkerhoff. 
Sr.,  was  a stanch  Democrat  in  politics  and  in  religion  he  gave  his  support 


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to  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Ewing,  was  one  of  the  very  earliest  residents  of  Canaan  township  and  his 
brother  Simon  was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  the  township,  1817. 

Ira  Brinkerhoff  was  reared  by  his  parents  and  secured  his  education 
in  the  district  school  at  Golden  Comers,  supplementing  this  by  attendance 
at  the  high  school  at  Burbank.  He  has,  with  the  exception  of  one  year 
spent  in  Michigan,  spent  his  entire  life  with  his  parents  on  the  old  home 
farm.  He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a fanner  and  in  his  early  years  he  saw 
much  arduous  toil,  assisting  in  bringing  the  farm  to  that  splendid  condition 
which  has  since  characterized  it.  After  completing  his  education,  he  was 
for  a time  employed  as  a collector  and  in  various  other  capacities,  but  event- 
ually he  went  to  farming  and  stockraising  on  shares  with  his  father,  in  both 
of  which  lines  he  was  eminently  successful.  At  his  father’s  death,  he  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  home  fann,  and  has  since  continued  its  operation.  He 
has  proven  himself  a man  of  progressive  ideas,  keeping  in  close  touch  with 
the  latest  advances  in  the  science  of  agriculture  and  he  is  not  slow  to  adopt 
those  methods  which  appear  to  him  as  sound  and  practical.  He  has  thus 
acquired  a well-merited  reputation  in  his  community  as  a thoroughgoing  and 
up-to-date  agriculturalist.  The  home  and  other  farm  buildings  are  kept  in 
the  best  of  repair  and  the  general  appearance  of  the  place  reflects  great  credit 
on  Mr.  Brinkerhoff. 

In  politics  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  is  a Democrat  and  takes  a commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs,  but  he  has  never  consented  to  run  for  public  office 
of  any  character.  While  not  a member  of  any  church,  he  is  a firm  believer 
in  their  efficiency  as  a moral  agency  and  their  influence  for  good  in  any  com- 
munity, and  he  gives  a liberal  support  to  the  various  churches  in  this  con\- 
munity. 

On  the  25th  of  July,  1898,  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  wedded  Nettie  Wagner, 
the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Hawk)  Wagner,  the  former  a native 
of  Alsace,  Germany,  and  the  latter  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  They  have 
become  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Charles  Ira.  born  November 

19.  1899;  Harry  Clement,  bom  November  29,  1900;  Erma  June,  bom  Jun^ 
(\  1903,  died  October  15th  of  the  same  year;  Fay.  born  September  6,  1904; 
George,  born  September  2c,  1906;  Fern,  born  May  14.  1908.  Socially  Mr. 
Brinkerhoff  is  an  appreciative  member  of  Rising  Star  Lodge  No.  22,  Knights 
of  Pythias.  He  is  a man  of  splendid  personal  qualifications  and  has  lent  his 
influence  to  the  support  of  every  movement  calculated  to  benefit  the  commu- 
nity, morally,  educationally  or  materially.  A man  of  genial  disposition  and 
kindly  manner,  he  enjoys  the  friendship  of  all  who  know  him. 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


WILLIAM  BELL. 

The  names  of  those  men  who  have  distinguished  themselves  through  the 
possession  of  those  qualities  which  dady  contribute  to  the  success  of  private 
life  and  to  the  public  stability,  and  who  have  enjoyed  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  those  about  them,  should  not  be  permitted  to  perish.  Such  a one 
is  William  Bell,  whose  name  needs  no  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
book,  and  whose  reputation  is  internat;onal,  having  long  been  one  of  America's 
importers  of  blooded  horses.  He  is  one  of  Wayne  county’s  leading  citizens 
and  takes  an  abiding  interest  in  whatever  pertains  to  the  general  upbuilding 
of  the  community. 

Mr.  Bell  was  born  in  Bole,  Nottinghamshire,  England,  December  17, 
1861,  the  son  of  Samuel  Bell,  Sr.,  and  Martha  (Ell:s)  Bell.  The  father,  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  excellent  business  traits,  was  born  at  Gainsboro, 
England.  He  was  a stock  man  and  well  known  in  that  line  of  business. 

William  Bell  was  educated  in  the  village  schools  of  Bole,  finishing  his 
education  at  Wesleyan  school,  Gainsboro.  Soon  after  finishing  school  he 
came  to  Amerca,  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  bringing  some  horses  with 
him,  for  he  had  early  in  his  youth  decided  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  his 
father  in  the  stock  business.  He  established  himself  at  Montreal,  Canada, 
and  began  importing  horses,  but  believing  that  a better  field  for  his  opera- 
tions existed  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  he  soon  afterwards  came  here.  He  had  some 
valuable  experience  before  coming  west,  shipping  horses  from  New  York, 
where  he  first  landed,  to  Boston  and  other  points,  gradually  becoming  a more 
expert  judge  of  horses  and  learning  how  to  manage  the  business  profitably, 
having  by  this  time  gained  a very  extensive  knowledge  of  the  commercial 
side  of  stock  raising  and  selling.  He  formed  a partnership  with  his  brother, 
Samuel,  the  firm  being  known  as  the  Bell  Brothers,  in  1880.  They  were  suc- 
cessful from  the  first  in  this  venture  and  the  business  grew  from  year  to  year, 
until  today  it  has  a national  prestige.  They  have  imported  one  hundred  stal- 
lions a vear  for  the  past  five  years.  The  first  few  years  was  not  especially 
"‘easy  sailing"  and  the  business  has  gradually  grown  until  it  has  reached  im- 
mense proportions.  They  are  importers  of  shires, — Tercherons,  Belgian,  and 
German  coach  horses. — all  full  blooded,  and  they  are  greatly  admired  by  all 
who  see  them.  They  also  handle  large  numbers  of  American  bred  horses. 

That  Mr.  Bell  is  an  excellent  judge  of  livestock  is  shown  by  the  fol- 
lowing letter,  which  he  received  from  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposi- 
tion at  ( hicago.  where  he  was  a judge  in  1909.  which  is  self-explanatory: 


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“Union  Stock  Yards, 

“Chicago,  111.,  December  22,  1909. 

“Mr.  William  Bell, 

“Wooster,  Oh;o. 

“Dear  Sir:  The  able  and  efficient  service  rendered  our  Exposition  by 
your  worthy  self,  as  judge  of  the  Percheron  horses,  is  deserving  of  more  than 
passing  comment,  for  you  not  only  justified  the  action  of  the  board  who  se- 
lected you  to  act  in  this  important  capacity,  but  you  also  acquitted  yourself 
with  such  credit  that  your  splendid  service  was  a subject  of  much  commenda- 
tion, and  I am  pleased  to  be  able  to  report  that  not  a single  complaint  of  any 
description  was  brought  to  my  attention  in  connection  with  your  work.  This 
must  be  exceedingly  gratifying  to  you  when  you  consider  that  your  decisions 
were  watched  also  by  the  entire  livestock  world,  so  to  speak;  for,  as  the  In- 
ternational is  regarded  as  the  ‘Court  of  Last  Appeal,’  you,  therefore,  descrip- 
tively speaking,  held  the  position  of  a judge  of  the  supreme  court. 

“I  desire  to  thank  you  most  heartily  for  your  painstaking  efforts,  and  sin- 
cerely trust  that  you  will  not  hesitate  to  command  me  should  I,  at  any  future 
time,  be  able  to  prove  myself  of  service  to  you. 

“Wishing  you  the  compliments  of  the  season  and  hoping  that  the  New 
Year  will  bring  you  much  happiness  and  increased  prosperity,  I am, 

“Yours  very  truly, 

“B.  H.  Heide, 

“General  Superintendent.” 

In  all  his  extensive  and  varied  interests  Mr.  Bell  has  shown  himself  to 
be  a master  of  details,  possessing  rare  executive  ability  and  business  acumen 
of  a high  order.  With  duties  that  would  greatly  worry  the  average  man, 
he  has  his  labors  so  systematized  that  he  experiences  little  or  no  trouble  in 
do:ng  them.  He  is  a vigorous  as  well  as  an  independent  thinker,  a wide 
reader,  and  he  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions  upon  all  subjects  which  he 
investigates.  He  is  also  strikingly  original  and  fearless,  having  a keen  dis- 
cernment, prosecuting  his  researches  after  his  own  peculiar  fashion,  caring 
Fttle  for  conventionalism  or  for  the  sanctity  attaching  to  person  or  place  by 
reason  of  artificial  distinction,  tradition  or  the  accident  of  birth.  He  is  essen- 
tially cosmopolitan  in  his  ideas,  a man  of  the  people  in  all  that  the  term  im- 
plies, and  in  the  l est  sense  of  the  word  a representative  of  that  virile  man- 
hood which  commands  and  retains  respect  by  reason  of  inherent  merit,  sound 
sense  and  correct  conduct. 

Mr.  Bell  was  married  in  Wooster  March  28.  1888,  to  Ella  Camp.  Her 
parents  were  Ferdinand  and  Elizabeth  (Brosius)  Camp,  who  lived  in  North- 


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WAYNE  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


umberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  mother  died  in  1876  and  the  father 
in  1893.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  had  two  children,  a son,  William  Ellis,  born 
October  29,  1894,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years  and  seven  months;  a daugh- 
ter, Esta  Elizabeth,  born  June  7,  1901,  and  who  is  attending  school.  She 
is  a bright  little  girl  and  the  joy  of  her  parents. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Bell  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. His  religious  membership  is  with  the  Lutheran  church,  to  which  his 
wife  also  belongs.  Politically  he  is  a Republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  are 
whole-souled  and  very  pleasant  people  to  meet  in  their  home  at  No.  in  South 
Market  street,  where  every  one  is  made  welcome. 


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